HISTORY OF ATAGO

Century	Month	Current events
1940	Sep	"Amamiya Seiki Corporation" established by Kiheiji Amamiya in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Releases ABBE Refractometers, chromatometers, and spectroscopes.
1951	Sep	Construction and opening of a new office in Yushima.
1953	Apr	Develops "Hand-Held Refractometer"
1956	Nov	"Corporate name is changed to ""ATAGO Optical Instrument Co., Ltd." Construction and opeing of Yorii Factory in Yorii".
1957	Apr	Develops new ABBE Refractometers, serving as the foundation for ATAGO's future development.
1960	Feb	Develops "Densitometers"
1960	Apr	Headquarters relocates to Yushima.
1967	Feb	Reaches the record of "One million-hour" of operation mark without an accident.
1967	Aug	Develops "Densitometers Quick - with IC technology"
1971	May	Develops In-Line Refractometer
1974	Oct	Develops "Hand-Held Refractometer N1" with high contrast and brighter view.
1974	Sep	Reaches the record of "Two million-hour" of operation mark without an accident.
1975	Nov	Corporate name changed to "ATAGO CO., LTD.", and the headquarters is relocated to Itabashi, Tokyo.
1976	Aug	Develops the world's first "Digital Refractometer DBX-25"
1976	Oct	Awarded “Tokyo Science Technology Achievement Awards” for the development of the optical measurement instruments.
1976	Oct	The Emperor and Empress of Japan (Crown Prince and Princess at that time) in a fruit examination station looking at an ATAGO instrument.
1977	Oct	Prince Takamatsumiya of Japan makes a visit to Yorii Factory.
1977	Nov	Awarded the Medal of Yellow Ribbon from the Prime Minister of Japan, Takeo Fukuda, for the contributions in the optical industry.
1979	Jun	Develops "Digital Refractometer DBX-50"
1981	Jun	Develops "Digital Refractometers (RX Series)"
1983	Oct	Develops "In-Line Refractometer PRM-100"
1984	Jan	Commendation from the Small and Mid-sized Business Center.
1984	Apr	Kiheiji Amamiya is awarded the "Orders of the Sacred Treasure" by the Emperor.
1985	Aug	Reaches the record of "Three million-hour" of operation mark without an accident.
1985	Sep	Kiheiji Amamiya is named as CEO, and Shigeo Amamiya as President.
1986	Feb	Develops the world's smallest "Digital Refractometer PR-1"
1986	Mar	Develops "Digital Specific Gravity Refractometer (SG Series)"
1986	Oct	Awarded the Good Design Prize for the new "Digital Refractometer PR-1".
1990	Jun	Develops the water-resistant "Hand-Held refractometer P-1"
1990	Dec	A gymnasium is donated, "ATAGO Memorial Hall" (50 million yen) to the town of Yorii on the company's 50th anniversary.
1991	Mar	Awarded SME's prize for outstanding business achievements.
1991	Jun	Develops the small water-resistant "Digital Refractometer Palette Series"
1993	Jun	Develops "Digital Refractometer RX-2000", allowing for the measurement of solid sampless for the first time in the world.
1993	Aug	Develops "Digital Differential Refractometer DD-7" Develops "Digital Salt-Meter ES-421"
1997	Jun	Awarded the "Metropolitan Industry Grand Prize" for honorable community business outreach.
1998	Jan	Completes the ISO 9001 certification requirements.
1998	Jun	Develops "Multi-Wavelength ABBE Refractometer DR-M2"
2000	Oct	Develops "Digital Refractometer RX-5000α " featuring a Peltier system for maintaining a constant measuring temperature without the use of an external waterbath.
2001	Mar	Awarded Commendation from the Chairman of the Saitama Labor Association Federation.
2001	Aug	Establishes "ATAGO U.S.A. Inc." in North America.
2002	May	ATAGO received recognition as superior company from the Itabasi revenue office.
2003	Mar	Develops "Automatic Polarimeter AP-100"
2003	Apr	Launches the world's smallest digital Hand-held "Pocket" refractometer , the PAL-1, featuring water-resistant design.
2003	May	The company’s logo is registered as a trademark for the establishment of its brand image.
2003	Aug	Awarded the prize "Special Award for Good Design" for the "Pocket" Refractometer PAL-1.
2003	Sep	ATAGO has been presented in a TV program named "Tokyo's Vitality! Japan's spirit ! Little Gulliver" in Tokyo MX TV Station
2003	Oct	Awarded the "Itabashi Product Technology Grand Prize" for the Fully Automatic Polarimeter AP-100.
2004	May	Develops "Near-infrared Ray Powder Moisture Meter PMM-1000"
2004	May	ATAGO has been presented in a TV program named "Tokyo's Vitality! Japan's spirit ! Little Gulliver" in Tokyo MX TV Station
2004	Jun	Reaches the record of "Five million-hour" of operation mark without an accident.
2004	Sep	ATAGO U.S.A., Inc. relocates to larger office facilities to meet business growth and demand.
2004	Oct	Releases 80 types of scales as part of "Pocket Refractomer PAL series".
2004	Oct	Awarded the "Excellence Prize for Tokyo Venture Technology Awards" for digital hand-held "Pocket" Refractometer, PAL-1.
2005	Feb	Establishes "ATAGO INDIA Instruments Pvt. Ltd."
2005	Jul	Develops the "MASTER-α " hand-held refractometer with ATC and a new water resistant body design.
2005	Sep	Develops the "Automatic Digital Refractometer RX-007α (alpha)"
2005	Oct	Courageous Business Management Award for Excellence
2005	Nov	Awarded the prize "Person of Food Industry Technology Merit" for the "Pocket" Refractometer PAL-1.
2005	Dec	ATAGO has been introduced by a TV program named "World business satellite" in TV Tokyo Station.
2005	Dec	ATAGO INDIA branch relocates .
2006	Jan	ATAGO celebrated 65th years aniversary with all employees. (Company trip to Australia)
2006	Sep	Shigeo Amamiya is named as CEO, and Hideyuki Amamiya as President.
2006	Oct	Awarded the prize "Special Award for Good Design" for the MASTER-Series.
2006	Nov	ATAGO increases the capital to 96 million yen.
2006	Nov	ATAGO Web site was selected for "The Web Design Annual 2007", published by Nikkei BP, as one of the good designed Web site. Our Web site evaluated the good design as well as the identity of the Web site.
2007	Feb	MASTER-Series were awarded "Invention Prize from Japan Invention Promotion Association" !
2007	Mar	Obtained a patent on Hand-held Refractometer MASTER series.
2007	May	ATAGO CO.,LTD. was selected as "Top 300 Lively Small and Mid-sized Manufacturers 2007"!
2007	Jul	ATAGO's promotion of blood donation was assessed and commended by Governor of Saitama prefecture.
2007	Aug	ATAGO CO.,LTD. has been rated the top grade "aaa" on the Japan SME Rating presented by STANDARD & POOR'S !
2007	Nov	MASTER-Series were awarded "Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Award for Encouragement" !
2008	Jan	ATAGO Co., Ltd. was selected as "Top 40 of Genki-100 bai cooperation in Saitama".
2008	May	The National Museum of Nature and Science has registered ATAGO products in the "History of Japanese Industrial Technology" database.
2008	May	Establishes "ATAGO Fund".
2008	Sep		ATAGO CO.,LTD. has been rated top grade “ aaa ” on the Japan SME Rating presented by STANDARD & POOR'S for the second straight year.
2008	Oct	Establishes “ATAGO Kansai Branch” in the City of Kobe, Hyogo-ken, Japan.
2009	Apr	Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Award
2009	Aug	ATAGO Hand-held Refractometers Selected by the Tokyo Tryout Order Program 2009
2009	Oct	PAL series " Kanto Bureau of Business Industry Chief Award "
2009	Nov	PEN series " Invention Association Chairman Encouragement Award 2009 "
2009	Nov	PEN series " Excellence Award at the 2009 Itabashi Product Technology Contest "
2009	Dec	ATAGO (THAILAND) Co.,LTD. is now opened !
2010	Feb	ATAGO BRASIL Ltda. is now opened !
2010	Oct	ATAGO ITALIA s.r.l. officially opened !
2010	Nov	Acidity Meter " Excellence Award at the 2009 Itabashi Product Technology Contest "
2011	Mar	ATAGO Has Been Accredited for JCSS Calibration
2011	Mar	ATAGO CHINA Guangzhou Co., Ltd, is now opened !
2011	May	Opening of Fukaya Factory