Over 60 years ago, a Japanese visionary and serial inventor Yo Sato, formed a company that has been an instrumental vehicle for new products ever since. Due to his tireless efforts and philosophy of ceaseless innovation, he developed the first hand labeller, the first thermal transfer printer and the first OEM print engine, products that are still used to this day.
Today, SATO is a worldwide corporation focused on strong customer support to match its culture of innovation.
| 1951 |
The company is renamed SATO Bamboo Manufacturing Machinery Co Ltd and restructured as a joint-stock company (with a capital of ¥300,000) |
| 1953 |
SATO exports Bamboo-Processing Machinery mostly to Southeast Asia |
| 1958 |
Automatic package-tying machinery is developed |
| 1961 |
SATO pioneers the introduction of the first hand labeller in 1962 |
| 1964 |
Label manufacturing commences |
| 1969 |
A distribution network for SATO hand labellers is established in Europe and the U.S.A |
| 1974 |
The innovative hand labeller for POS applications is developed.
SATO Corporation's US office is opened in New York |
| 1978 |
SATO Corporation's European office is opened in Brussels , Belgium |
| 1981 |
SATO invents the world's first thermal transfer label printer |
| 1984 |
The world's 1st OEM label printer module is developed. The European representative office relocates to Düsseldorf in Germany |
| 1986 |
Production moves from Japan to Malaysia. The world's 1st label printer capable of a 100 mm/sec print speed is launched |
| 1987 |
SATO America, Barcode SATO Singapore and Barcode SATO Malaysia are established |
| 1990 |
SATO Corporation is registered on the stock exchange |
| 1996 |
SATO Corporation acquires Nor Systems (SATO UK Ltd) |
| 1997 |
SATO Corporation is elected to 1st level of Tokyo Stock Exchange |
| 1998 |
SATO Corporation moves into a new headquarters building in Tokyo |
| 2000 |
SATO UK is established |
| 2002 |
Barcode SATO International is set-up in Singapore to co-ordinate SATO's global sales and marketing strategies.
A new global SATO logo and corporate image is launched
SATO Polska, SATO Shanghai and Barcode SATO Thailand are established. |
| 2003 |
SATO moves its European HQ, SATO Europe NV to Brussels, Belgium.
The national office, SATO Germany is set-up, dedicated to Germany |
| 2006 |
SATO Australia and SATO New Zealand are established. |
