In the mid-Meiji period, many electric power companies were established across the nation. In 1897, an electric power company named “Yokkaichi Electric Light, Ltd.,” was founded in Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture. In February, 1917, Kuki Monshichi (VIII) as President of “Yokkaichi Electric Light, Ltd.,”, and Ito Kozaemon (VII) as President of Yokkaichi Bank, founded “Tokai Electric Wire Works” as the predecessor of Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., reflecting their firm belief in the future potential of the electric power business, and to their contribution to such a business by supplying electric wires. In December, 1917, they reorganized the company to establish “Tokai Electric Wire Ltd.” and started manufacturing cotton-coated wire called “Tokyo Wire” as their major product. They soon launched an integrated production system, starting with melting copper through the introduction of the reverberatory furnace and rolling equipment, and further opened sales offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Kokura to expand their business.

In 1931, the company saw a downturn in corporate results and faced a threat to its survival caused by a recession stemming from the reaction to the end of World War I, and disorder resulting from the Great Kanto Earthquake.

In October 1931, facing severe financial difficulties, they created a joint business with “Sumitomo Electric Wire & Cable Works " (later Sumitomo Electric Industries) through the intermediary “Yokkaichi Soko" (later Japan Transcity Corporation) by transferring the majority of shares as well as entrusting management and sales to the other party. With this cooperative relationship, they received guidance concerning sales and engineering from Sumitomo Electric Wire & Cable Works, and further received copper as raw material. It was 14 years after its foundation that the company became an affiliate of Sumitomo Densen Seizo-sho and made a new start.

• Prospectus
• Overview of the company at the time of its foundation
• Tokyo wire
• Copper melting facility
• Sales office in Osaka
• Sumitomo Electric Wire and Cable Works

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In 1937, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our founding.  However, the outbreak of the Pacific War drastically changed the company environment.  In wartime, we were dedicated to “military works” exclusively for the army and navy.  After the war, we achieved record-breaking sales and profits in the growing Japanese economy boosted by the progress of infrastructure improvement for reconstruction of the nation, and special procurement demand for the Korean War.

 Upon agreement on a cease-fire of the war in 1951, the Japanese economic situation plunged into recession.  In 1952, the company posted deficits for the first time in the postwar period.  In 1954, they had to carry out cuts in the workforce twice.

Facing a difficult situation, we looked for a product to solve our problems and chose the wire harness. Sumitomo Electric Industries decided to enter into the wire harness manufacturing business, and we were able to satisfy the needs of electric wires as well as the technology behind them.  In this way, we took on the responsibility for manufacturing the wire harness.

　 In 1957, we started manufacturing wire harnesses for buses, supplied to Kawasaki Aircraft (later Kawasaki Heavy Industries).  In 1959, after taking bulk orders of wire harness for two-wheeled vehicles from Suzuki  Motor Co., Ltd.,(later Suzuki Motor Corporation), and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., the full-scale manufacturing of wire harnesses began.  In 1960, we started manufacturing wire harnesses for three-wheeled vehicles, and in 1961, we did likewise for four-wheeled vehicles.  Meanwhile, in 1961, we started manufacturing of wire harnesses for vending machines and copy machines as well.

• Assembly of harness for buses
• Harness for two-wheeled vehicles
• Harness for four-wheeled vehicles
• Harness for machines
• Assembly of harness for two-wheeled vehicles
• Assembly of harness for four-wheeled vehicles

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As motorization has progressed, so has the wire harness business achieved significant growth.  To cope with the increased orders for the wire harnesses, plants and group companies were established.In this period, Japanese automakers started manufacturing overseas for business expansion.  In 1978, the company established a joint corporation with Sumitomo Electric Industries Co.,Ltd. in Sao Paulo, Brazil, intending to manufacture wire harnesses for two-wheeled vehicles to be produced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Company, both of which had expanded into Brazil.  The joint corporation was a further step along the path to becoming a global company.

Following this, the company advanced its business operations overseas by making an equity participation in a Taiwanese company and establishing a joint company in Malaysia.  Establishment of the joint corporation with Sumitomo Electric Industries Co.,Ltd. in the United States in 1986 was the great turning point.  The joint corporation manufactured the wire harnesses supplied to Japanese automakers which were expanding into the United States for the purpose of overcoming the Japan-US trade conflicts.  In 1987, the joint venture started in the U.K. with a local wire harness manufacturer for supplying products to Japanese automakers who were expanding into the U.K. market.

　Meanwhile, in 1990, wire harness manufacturing companies were established in the Philippines and Indonesia in order to improve price competitiveness and expand production capacity of the products for the domestic automakers.  Wire harness manufacturing companies have been established mainly in Southeast Asia and China and plans are made to broaden the scope.

Our activities for business expansion have been continuing through M&A, aiming at the suppliers for automakers all over the world.

• Brazil STB
• US SEWS
• Phillippines IWSP
• Indonesia SBI
• Italy SES-CI
• Germany SEBN

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The year 2017 is the 100th anniversary of foundation of us, and also the 60th anniversary of our entry into the wire harness business.  We have been expanding business operations, while diversifying the services offered to customers.

In the early stages of the wire harness business, we were involved in assembly of the components. It bought the majority of (non-wire) products and worked on assembly based on the drawings proposed by the automobile makers. This was however not enough to lead to expansion, so we aimed at involvement in all areas from product planning through to the completed product in order to be a more well-rounded, general harness maker.

 Initially, the company launched development of connectors, and succeeded in developing the world’s first waterproof connector for automobile use in 1976. The company developed the JB harness, and started manufacturing it in 1979.  In 1983, they developed the A-JB (derived from incorporation of the electronic control circuit with the JB), and started mass production.  Entering into the car electronics field in this way, the company has determined the direction for further expanding the business of electronic components as peripheral parts of the wire harness.  The company then proceeded to develop such products as PD (Power Distributor), ECU (Electronic Control Unit), GW (Gateway), and reactors, which have been incorporated into the business operations.

The Underfloor pipe harness for EV and HEV, and the wire harness using aluminum wire for weight reduction were developed, contributing to the  improvement of the automotive environment.

Thanks to active efforts to develop those parts and elements, our company has grown into a global company, working as a general automotive parts supplier to the entire automotive electric system, including more than 100 companies in more than 30 countries across the world.

• Waterproof connector
• Waterproof connector
• CIVIC JB
• Cresta JB
• Cresta JB
• CIVIC A-JB
• Pipe harnesses under the floor
• ECU
• PD
• Reactor
• GW

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