Global instruments leader Shimadzu was founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan, when Buddhist altar craftsman Genzo Shimadzu had a dream to build educational chemistry and physics instruments to promote a widespread understanding of science in society. Since the equipment didn’t exist yet in Japan, he…
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Headquartered in Japan, Ulvac makes vacuum devices and instruments for manufacturers in the semiconductor, electronics, chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. Founded in 1952 as an importer of vacuum equipment—for which it hoped to spearhead widespread adoption in Japan–today Ulvac is a global leader in vacuum…
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Hoya is a global leader in the specialized glass used in eyeglass lenses, health care, and electronics products. The firm was founded in 1941 when brothers Shoichi and Shigeru Yamanaka set up a factory in the city of Hoya, Japan, with a plan to make…
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Headquartered in Japan, Sysmex is the No. 1 provider of blood diagnostics equipment in the world. The firm was founded in 1963, when it introduced Japan’s first machine for analyzing blood. Today, Sysmex is a leader in test instruments for blood and urine analysis plus…
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Based in Tokyo, Japan, Kurita Water is a global leader in water management and water treatment chemicals. Since its founding in 1949, when the firm began making chemicals to manage sediment buildup in boilers, Kurita Water has been at work innovating to solve water and…
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In this quarter’s strategy report, Forward Thinking 2022, we discuss the following: -US economic growth is expected to be quite robust in 2022, despite the disruptions from the Omicron variant. Capital spending is expected to lead economic growth, which makes sense as companies invest in…
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Japan’s Daikin is the world leader in air conditioning. Its products humidify, dehumidify, purify, clean and monitor spaces at every temperature from sizzling hot to freezing cold, in homes and offices, skyscrapers and stadiums, across the globe. What sets this Knowledge Leader apart is its…
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Since its founding in 1963, Tokyo Electron has been accumulating the technological expertise it builds on to deliver industry-leading production equipment in two product categories: semiconductors and flat panel displays. In a recent statement, the firm’s CEO observed that 2020 was a year marked not…
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Bicycle components leader Shimano was founded in 1921, when 26-year-old Shozaburo Shimano borrowed a single lathe and set up a small ironworks shop in Osaka, Japan. Deciding they were the most complex component to produce, Shimano began by making bicycle freewheels, those round spiked wheels…
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Recognized globally as one of the largest analytical test, measurement and inspection service providers, Australia’s ALS conducts environmental monitoring, food and pharmaceutical quality assurance, mining, minerals and commodities certification, and equipment maintenance. For example, ALS’s labs perform the analysis that identifies Salmonella and Listeria outbreaks…
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GEA is one of the largest global suppliers of food processing technology, building the machinery, plants, processes and systems that help producers deliver food to people. GEA aims to be the partner-of-choice in each industry it serves, including food, beverage, chemical, pharma, dairy and marine….
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Minerals Technologies makes specialty minerals for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications ranging from building, steel, glass, paints, ceramics and paper to the food, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. For example, the firm is the leader in clay-based cat litter. Its biggest business is…
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Martin Marietta Materials is a leader in high quality cement, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and aggregates made of crushed stone, sand and gravel, all of which are used in industrial, agricultural and environmental construction. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, the firm runs operations in 26 states,…
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Based in Switzerland, ABB Group makes products for electrification (like breakers and switches), robotics and motion, industrial automation, and power grids plus the software behind the scenes that runs them. The firm’s chief goal is to push the boundaries of technology and embed sustainability into…
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Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, KION Group is one of the world’s leading makers of forklifts, warehouse equipment, and associated integrated automation technologies. The company was founded in 2006 when Linde AG merged its truck business with STILL and OM under the umbrella of KION Group….
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