Canon Inc.

History

The company was founded in 1933 with the name by Yoshida Gorō, his/her brother-in-law Uchida Saburō and Takeshi Mitarai, a friend close to Uchida. The original goal was to make research on the development of cameras of quality. In June 1934, they produced their first camera, the Kwanon , named according to the Guan Yin. Canon Inc. was born in 1937 pennies the name “Precision Optical Industry, Co, ltd”. It is only into 1947 that the company takes the name of “Canon camera Co, Inc. ”. In 1949, the Canon actions were registered with Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company launches out on the market of the copiers in 1965 with the CANOFAX 1000. Canon Camera Co, Inc. becomes Canon Inc. in 1969 and creates its first research center. The first copier color on plain paper is launched by Canon in 1973 and in 1975, the company successfully develops a printer with laser beam (LBP). In 1981, Canon introduces for the first time in the world technology with bubble of ink, and presents the smallest laser writer and lightest of the world. Between 1991 and 1994, Canon does not cease increasing its new technologies, thus, it makes a success of the development of the first posting FLC (liquid crystals ferroelectric). It develops to it first system anti-counterfeit and, the first laser copier color recto automatic back in the world. In 1996, Canon Launches its camera ultra compact IXUS, in parallel, the production of the printers with bubbles with inks reaches the 20 million units. In 1998, the company markets the numerical cameras “Powershot A5 and Pro70”, and of the DIGITAL Ixus in the year 2000. With this same date, the international exhibition is added Canon Expo 2000 to New York, Paris and Tokyo. In 2001, launching of the systems of impression and Ir/iRi communication. In 2004, Canon sold 14 million cameras numerical.

Current events

The current chairman of Canon, Fujio Mitarai, 70 years, yielded in 2006 his armchair following his designation to the head of the Japanese Keidanren, the powerful Japanese employers' confederation. Mitarai was replaced by Tsuneji Uchida, 64 years, former owner of photo divisions and digital video.

Since the arrival of Mr. Mitarai to the head of the group in 1995, Canon was freed of debts, removed from less profitable activities like the personal computers and invested much seeks some and advanced technologies. The company is today one of the most stable groups in its sector. The clear benefit record of 384,1 billion yens (2,709 billion euros) in 2005, in rise of 11,9% compared to 2004, mark its sixth consecutive exercise of rise.

Canon in France

In less than ten years, the Europe became one of the three poles of activities of the Canon group, at the sides of the Japan and the United States, carrying out a third of the world turnover of the group. Gathering the research, the development, the production and the distribution, the European entity illustrates perfectly the strategy of internationalization of Canon. Canon Brittany, installed with Liffré since 1983, constitutes one of the pillars of this European entity. Initially dedicated to the photocopy, the production extended with the passing of years to other office automation ranges. It thus followed the course of the needs for the customers and technological advances. By creating the first unit of recycling of worn cartridges in Europe, Canon Brittany innovates again and brings the proof of its environmental concerns. Completely autonomous activities and with human size function on the site of Liffré. Canon Brittany produces 10% for France and exports 90% towards the rest of Europe. Since 2006, the Breton activity of Cabasse, manufacturing French speakers of reputation also fell into the escarcelle one from Canon Brittany.

Canon also has an research activity in France with the research center of Cesson-Sévigné, also in Brittany, with a few kilometers only of the production site of Liffré. The research unit, named Canon Research Centers France, in summary Canon CRF, is mainly dedicated to technologies of The activities turn around the diffusions of applications multi-media, the services for numeric photography for the private individuals and the professionals. There exist also more fundamental research activities in video Compression, correct codes and Information theory.

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