Canon (company)
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| Type | Public (TYO: 7751, NYSE: CAJ) |
|---|---|
| Founded | Tokyo, Japan (10 August 1937) |
| Headquarters |  Tokyo, Japan |
| Key people | Fujio Mitarai, Chairman & CEO Yoroku Adachi, President & CEO |
| Industry | Imaging |
| Products | Business machines, Cameras, Optical and other products |
| Revenue | ▲ 4,481,334 million Yen (FY 2007) |
| Employees | 131,352 (2008)[1] |
| Website | www.canon.com |
Canon Inc. (キヤノン株式会社, Kyanon Kabushiki Gaisha?, TYO: 7751, NYSE: CAJ) is a Japanese multinational corporation that specializes in imaging and optical products, including cameras, photocopiers and computer printers. The headquarters are in 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ōta, Tokyo.
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History
The predecessor company was established in 1930 by Goro Yoshida and his brother-in-law Saburo Uchida. Named Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory (精機光学研究所, Seiki Kōgaku Kenkyūjo?), it was funded by Takeshi Mitarai, a close friend of Uchida. Its original purpose was to develop a 35 mm rangefinder camera.
In June 1934, they released their first camera, the Kwanon (see "Origins of company name" below). Three variations of this product were marketed, however, none were actual products. Of the ten Kwanon cameras that were rumored to be produced, none were ever known to reach the market.
Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory had not developed a lens. Several alternatives were considered, but the decision was made to seek help from a corporation known as Nippon Kogaku Kogyo (Japan Optical Industries, Inc., the predecessor of Nikon) to use their Nikkor lens. In February 1936, the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory released the "Hansa Canon (Standard Model with the Nikkor 50 mm f/3.5 lens)", which became Kwanon's first commercially available camera.
The following year the company name was changed to Canon to reflect a more modern image, and on 10 August 1937, the current corporation was founded.[2]
Today, despite the company's high profile in the consumer market for cameras and computer printers, most of the company revenue comes from the office products division, especially for analog and digital copiers, and its line of imageRUNNER digital multifunctional devices.[3]
Canon has also entered the digital displays market by teaming up with Toshiba to develop and manufacture flat panel televisions based on SED, a new type of display technology. The joint venture company SED Inc. was established in October 2004. In January 2007, Canon announced that it would buy Toshiba's share of the joint venture.[4] This move was triggered by litigation from Nano-Proprietary, Inc., which claimed Canon breached a license agreement by sharing technology licensed to Canon with the joint venture company.[5]
Canon has also announced it is developing OLED and rear-projection displays.[6]
Origins of company name
The name Canon began in 1934 with the Kwanon camera, which Yoshida, a Buddhist, named after Guan Yin.[7] The bodhisattva's Japanese name is Kannon or, in a now obsolete romanization, Kwannon.
Looking to the mass market the following year, Uchida looked for a more modern sounding name, settling on "Canon". The company trademarked the name Canon on 26 June 1935.[8]
Environmental report
According to a report by the New England-based environmental organization Clean Air-Cool Planet, Canon tops the list of 56 companies the survey conducted about climate-friendly companies.[9]
To further show the company's commitment to the environment, Canon launched three new calculators in Europe, called "Green Calculators", which are produced, in part, from recycled Canon copiers.[10]
However, despite extensive advertisements regarding conservation, Canon was criticized by Greenpeace with regard to the issue of whaling in Japan in their attempt to stir up controversy. Greenpeace sent Canon a statement asking Fujio Mitarai, the Chairman and CEO of Canon Japan, to sign it to support the end of lethal whaling research. Canon responded by saying they are committed to preserving the environment but since opinion varies on scientific whaling research, they would not sign the statement. Greenpeace used this response to speculate that Canon supports whaling. [11]
Sponsorship
Football
Canon was the first sponsor of the English Football League, with the deal beginning in 1983 and finishing in 1986, when Canon's backing finished and new sponsors Today newspaper took over.
Canon supported the UEFA Champions League from 1995-2000 and from 2004-2006. It also sponsored the UEFA Euro 2004 and UEFA Euro 2008 tournament.
American Football
Canon is also the official camera of the NFL.
Williams F1 Team
Canon was the title sponsor of the Williams F1 team from 1985-1993. It was replaced by Rothmans in 1994.
See also
References
- ^ "Company Profile for Canon Inc (CAJ)". Retrieved on 2008-10-06.
- ^ "About Canon: Canon Inc. Corporate Profile" (company overview), Canon Inc., 23 May 2006, Canon.
- ^ "Cross reference of HP printer to Canon Engine number
- ^ Canon Inc. (12 January 2007). ""SED Inc. to become wholly owned subsidiary of Canon Inc."". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
- ^ Nano-Proprietary, Inc. (12 January 2007). ""Nano-Proprietary, Inc. comments on Canon's press release regarding SED, Inc. ownership"". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
- ^ Canon, Inc.. "Next-Generation Displays". Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
- ^ "Prototype-version "Kwanon", Japan's First 35mm Focal-Plane Shutter Camera". Canon Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- ^ History of Canon
- ^ Reuters report
- ^ Think green: Canon launches recycled calculator range. Retrieved on 2 September 2008
- ^ Does Canon support shooting whales? | Greenpeace International
External links
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