History

Funai Electric has earned overwhelming trust in the digital consumer electronics industry for the high quality and cost performance of its products. We have pursued various paths involving new business development and production method innovations on its way to the present. Have a look at our road from its time of establishment to today.

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Corporate Advances

Product Advances

1959

Photo: Transistor Radios

Transistor Radios

The start of production of the transistor radio led to the establishment of our predecessor, FUNAI LIGHT MACHINERY MFG. CO., LTD. Explosive growth followed, as the company concentrated on OEM sales to leading U.S. and European manufacturers.

1960

1961

FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. established in Nakagawa-cho, Ikuno-ku, Osaka, capitalized at ¥20 million.

1961

CHUGOKU ELECTRIC WAVE CO., LTD. established as a production subsidiary in Okayama Prefecture.

1962

Representative office established in Chicago, United States.

1962

TOYO DENKI KOGYO established as a production joint venture in Taiwan.

1963

Open Reel-to-real Tape Recorders

Photo: Open Reel- to-real Tape Recorders

The application of mechatronics technology, centering on control technology for the rotating mechanism, led to the development of a host of product manufacturing technologies.

1964

CHUGOKU FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. established as a production subsidiary in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Photo: 新本社ビル

1966

New headquarters building completed in Ikaino, Ikuno-ku, Osaka (present-day Momodani, Ikuno-ku).

1966

Photo: TOKUSHIMA FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.

TOKUSHIMA FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. established as a production subsidiary in Tokushima Prefecture (thereafter, set up three more factories in Tokushima, bringing the total to four).

1968

8-Track Car Stereos

Photo: 8-Track Car Stereos

Tape recorder for 8-track cartridges. In this years, set world record for unit production of 8-track car stereos.

Photo: FUNAI ELECTRIC COMPANY OF TAIWAN

1968

FUNAI ELECTRIC COMPANY OF TAIWAN established as a production subsidiary in Taiwan.

1969

OKAYAMA FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. established as a production subsidiary in Okayama Prefecture.

1969

Home Stereos

Commenced production.

Photo: Home Stereos

Photo: New headquarters building

1969

Construction of new headquarters building completed in the city of Daito, Osaka.

1970

1970

FUNAI AMERICA ELECTRIC SERVICE CORP. (later FUNAI U.S.A. CORPORATION) established in the United States as a sales subsidiary for North America.

1971

Radio Cassette Players

Commenced production.

Photo: Radio Cassette Players

1971

FUNAI ELECTRIC COMPANY OF TAICHUNG established as a production subsidiary in Taiwan.

1971

Cassette Car Stereos

Commenced production.

Photo: Cassette Car Stereos

1977

Stereo Cassette Tape Decks

Commenced production.

1977

Photo: FPS

Training at the Hamura Plant of Hino Motors, which formed the basis for establishing the Funai Production System (FPS).

1980

1980

CVC VCRs

Photo: CVC VCRs

Funai Electric led the world in the development of the compact video cassette recorder.
Attracted a great deal of interest when Japanese television broadcasters used these for a program on climbing Mt. Everest.

1980

Photo: FUNAI ELECTRIC TRADING (EUROPE) GmbH

FUNAI ELECTRIC TRADING (EUROPE) GmbH (later FUNAI EUROPE GmbH) established in Germany as a sales subsidiary for Europe.

1982

SYMPHONIC ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. (later TOKYO FUNAI, FUNAI SALES) established as a domestic sales company.

1983

VHS Videos

Photo: VHS Videos

Applied technology cultivated during the development of CVC to the development of the VHS video format.
Thereafter, succeeded in internalizing video deck mechanisms, including main parts such as motors and cylinders. Product competitiveness surged, and this became a major product underpinning the Company's rapid growth.

Photo: Cordless Telephones

1983

Cordless Telephones

Developed cordless home telephones, entering the telecommunications equipment business. Developed the world's first antenna-less cordless telephone.

Photo: Tokyo Branch Office

1983

Tokyo Branch Office opened.

1985

Microwave Ovens

Commenced production.

Photo: Microwave Ovens

1985

Photo: TV/VCR Combos

TV/VCR Combos

One example of a CRT TV/video combination: the TV with internal video.
Major sales growth in the late 1990s to early 2000s, acquiring a share of more than 60% in North America.

1985

HRS FUNAI CO., LTD. established as a video software sales subsidiary.

1986

CRT TVs

Commenced production.

1987

FUNAI AMSTRAD LIMITED (later FUNAI ELECTRIC (UK) LTD.) established as a production joint venture in U.K.

1987

Auto Bakeries

Photo: Auto Bakeries

The world's first automatic bread-making machine, sold as the Raku Raku Pan Da.
The first such product to make a full-fledged entry into the Japanese market.
Earned top-selling product award as the Nikkei Inc. "best-selling product of the year awards."
Year marked a boom in the Japanese market for bread-making machines.

1987

FUNAI ELECTRIC (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD. established as a production joint venture in Singapore.

1988

Faxes

Commenced production.

Photo: Faxes

Photo: New corporate symbol mark

1988

New corporate symbol mark formulated.

1988

Net sales surpassed ¥100.0 billion.

1988

FUNAI ELECTRIC (EUROPE) GmbH established as a production subsidiary in Germany.

1989

Photo: FUNAI ELECTRIC (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD.

FUNAI ELECTRIC (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD. established as a production subsidiary in Malaysia.

1989

Laser Disk Players

Photo: Laser Disk Players

Noteworthy as the first products marketed by all stores of Japanese leading mass retailers under the FUNAI brand.
Commercial versions sold later.

1990

1991

Photo: FUNAI CORPORATION, INC.

FUNAI CORPORATION, INC. established as a sales subsidiary in the United States.

1992

HIGHSONIC INDUSTRIAL LTD. (now FUNAI ELECTRIC (H.K.), LTD.) established in Hong Kong.

1992

Photo: DONG GUAN PLANT

DONG GUAN PLANT started operations as a consignment production plant in China (later, operations commenced at the CHANGPING, ZHONG SHAN, JIAXIANG and HUANGJIANG plants.

1994

CD-ROM Drives

Succeeded in bundled sales with U.S. PC board manufacturers. Later, developed and sold thin, 4x, 8x and 16x models.

1994

Air Conditioners

Commenced production.

Photo: Air Conditioners

1996

FUNAI SERVICE CO., LTD. established as a domestic service subsidiary.

1997

Inkjet Printers

Photo: Inkjet Printers

Supplied OEM products to leading U.S. printer manufacturer.
Succeeded in mass production of printers selling at the incredible price of only $99.

1999

Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange.

1999

DVD Players

Photo: DVD Players

In the 2000s, acquired a leading share of the North American market.

2000

Photo: Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange.

2000

Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange.

2000

Laser Beam Printers

Commenced production of monochrome laser beam printers on OEM basis for leading U.S. printer manufacturer.

Photo: DX ANTENNA CO., LTD.

2001

Acquired stake in DX ANTENNA CO., LTD. and converted the company to a subsidiary.

Photo: Projectors

2002

Projectors

Provision of OEM products to specialized projector manufacturer in United States.

2002

Photo: LCD TVs

LCD TVs

With a few years after commencing production, acquired top share of the North American market.

Photo: FUNAI (THAILAND) CO., LTD.

2003

FUNAI (THAILAND) CO., LTD. established as a production subsidiary in Thailand.

2004

DVD Recorders

Photo: DVD Recorders

In addition to our own brand, received orders for OEM production from other major manufacturers, leading to a top share of the global market.

Photo: Digital Still Cameras

2004

Digital Still Cameras

OEM supply to leading U.S. camera manufacturer.

2004

FUNAI ELECTRIC ADVANCED APPLIED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC. established.

2005

At headquarters, acquired certifications for environmental management system (ISO 14001) and quality management system (ISO 9001).

2006

FUNAI SERVICE CORPORATION established as a service subsidiary in the United States.

2006

Photo: FUNAI ELECTRIC (POLSKA) Sp. z o.o.

FUNAI ELECTRIC (POLSKA) Sp. z o.o. (now FUNAI ELECTRIC EUROPE Sp. z o.o.) established as a production subsidiary in Poland.

2007

BROADTEC TV R&D CENTER SDN. BHD. (now Funai Malaysia R and D SDN.BHD.) established as a development subsidiary in Malaysia.

2008

Blu-ray Disc Players

Photo: Blu-ray Disc Players

Commenced production of players meeting the next-generation optical disc standard, with higher quality than DVDs.

2008

P&F USA, Inc. established in the United States as a sales subsidiary for Philips brand products in North America.

Photo: Founder Tetsuro Funai assumed post of chairman, Tomonori Hayashi became president and CEO.

2008

Founder Tetsuro Funai assumed post of chairman, Tomonori Hayashi became president and CEO.

2009

Blu-ray Disc Recorders

Photo: Blu-ray Disc Recorders

Became a record-breaking hit in Japan ahead of the 2011 transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

2009

P&F MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V. established in Mexico as a sales subsidiary for Philips brand products in Latin America.

2009

Headquarters acquired occupational health and safety management system certification (OHSAS 18001).

2010

2010

Zhong Yue Funai Electron Co. established as a production subsidiary in China.

2010

FUNAI SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. established as a development subsidiary in Singapore.

2011

Funai Electric R&D (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. established as a development subsidiary in China.

2011

Tablet Devices

Photo: Tablet Devices

With a distinctive design and a host of functions, including Skype, infrared remote control and DLNA player, sold as an Android tablet PC specifically for in-home use.

Photo: Company celebrated 50th anniversary of establishment.

2011

Company celebrated 50th anniversary of establishment.

2012

Funai India Private Limited established as a sales subsidiary in India.

2012

LED Lighting

Commenced production.

Photo: LED Lighting

2012

Zhong Shan Funai Electron Co. established as production subsidiary in China.

2013

Stick-Type Smart TV Devices

Photo: Stick-Type Smart TV Devices

Commenced development and sales to telecommunications carriers of this stick-type compact set-top-box, which converts a standard television to an Android™ 4.0-equipped smart TV.

2013

Photo: FUNAI ELECTRIC CEBU, INC.

FUNAI ELECTRIC CEBU, INC. (formerly, Lexmark International (Philippines), Inc.) acquired from Lexmark.

2016

Tetsuhiro Maeda assumed President and CEO.

2017

Hideaki Funakoshi assumed President and CEO.

Photo: Launched FUNAI brand at Yamada Denki with exclusive sale contract.

2017

Launched FUNAI brand at Yamada Denki with exclusive sale contract.

Photo: OLED

2018

OLED

Launched OLED with built-in hard disk for the first time in history at Yamada Denki.

Photo: Nail Art Printer "CureNel"

2019

Nail Art Printer "CureNel"

We started selling completely new products that anyone can easily print on their nails in a short time.

2020

2021

Koji Bando became Chairman and CEO.