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History

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1873 Rokusaburo Sugiura began selling photographic and lithographic materials at Konishiya Rokubeiten in Kojimachi, Tokyo (the startup of the business of Konica Corporation).
1903 Marketed "Cherry Hand Camera," Japan's first brand name camera.
1928 Kazuo Tajima established Nichi-Doku Shashinki Shoten (Japan-Germany photo company; the precursor of Minolta Co., Ltd.) and launched production of cameras in Japan. Marketed the Company's first camera "Nifcalette" in the following year.
1940 Released the first made-in-Japan color film "Sakura Natural Color Film."
1956 Established the first American subsidiary in Philadelphia, USA.
1958 Completed the Company's first planetarium unit.
1960 Completed the Company's first copier "Minolta Copymaster."
1962 Established the first European subsidiary in Hamburg, Germany.
1971 Released high-performance photostatic plain paper copier "U-Bix480."
1973 Launched the operation of the Sakura driver's license printing system nationwide.
1975 Released the world's first 35mm camera with built-in flash and AE functions "C35EF."
1977 Released the world's first 35mm compact autofocus camera "C35AF."
1983 Released the world's first copier with zoom magnification/reduction function "EP450Z."
1984 Developed an ultra-high-precision aspheric plastic lens for CD players.
1985 Released SLR camera with autofocus function "7000."
1987 Released simple color-proofing system "Konsensus."
1989 Released medical digital imaging output system "Laser Imager Li-10."
1990 Released monochrome laser printer "SP101"; entered LBP market on a full scale.
Released digital full-color copier "CF70."
2000 Fully launched business for TAC films for LCD polarizers.
Established Konica Minolta Supplies Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a joint venture for the production of polymerized toners.
2003 Aug. Established a holding company Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc., by integrating the management of Konica Corporation and Minolta Co., Ltd.
Oct. Reorganized and integrated the businesses of the group companies and formed the new holding company structure with business companies and common function companies.
2004 Mar. Released "bizhub C350", as the first color MFP with new product brand for office equipment "bizhub".
Mar. Opened its own planetarium Sunshine Starlight Dome "Manten" in Tokyo, Japan.
Jul. Released non-contact 3D digitizer for industrial "VIVID 9i/VI-9i".
Nov. Released digital SLR camera with body-integral Anti-Shake technology "DYNAX-7D/MAXXUM 7D".
Nov. Released high-speed digital MFP for the production print "bizhub PRO 1050".
Nov. Released small and light A4 color laser printer "magicolor 2400 series".
Dec. Established subsidiary for the production of MFPs and printers in Wuxi, China, Konica Minolta Business Technologies (Wuxi) Co., Ltd..
2005 Jan. Established new business company for commercial use inkjet products, Konica Minolta IJ Technologies, Inc..
Feb. Released high-resolution color MFP with a variety of network functions "bizhub C450".
Feb. Released the world's first mammography to use phase contrast technology "PCM System".
Feb. Started to sponsor the world's most prominent motorcycle road racing, "MotoGP Class," as "KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team".
Jul. Established first optics business sales subsidiary in Shanghai, China, Konica Minolta Opto (Shanghai) Co., Ltd..
Aug. Acquired American Litho Inc., a major printing plate manufacturer in the United States, and entered the CTP business.
Nov. Established sales subsidiary for MFPs and printers in Shanghai, China, Konica Minolta Business Solutions (CHINA) Co., Ltd..
2006 Jan. Announced withdrawal of camera business and photo business.
Jan. Obtained integral ISO 14001 certification for all group companies in Japan.
Sep. Released high-speed digital color MFP for the production print "bizhub PRO C6500".
Sep. Completed constraction of the fourth plant for the production of TAC films for LCD polarizers, in kobe, Japan.
Dec. Completed constraction of the third plant for the production of polymerized toner, in Nagano, Japan.
2007 Mar. Formed strategic alliance with the General Electric Company (GE) to develop and commercialize organic light-emitting diode for lighting applications.
Mar. Two production sites for MFPs and printers in China (Wuxi and Shilong) achieved zero waste creteria.
Apr. Established Konica Minolta Healthcare Co., Ltd. by integrating the product planning, sales, and service functions of the medical businesses in Japan.

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©2007-2008 Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.