1960

Expanded the mechanical seal (MS) and PILAFLON™ (PF) factory and established an adjoining machine factory

1961

Began production and sales of the A, AB, B, and BB series of new-type mechanical seals

1962

Began production and sales of new angled vertical gasket

1963

Separated the gasket business division and entered into an equal merger with OSAKA GASKET Co., Ltd. to establish NIPPON GASKET CO., LTD. (Head Office: Higashiosaka, Osaka). One representative director (President Kaoru Iwanami), three directors, and one auditor participated

Engineering department and mechanical seal (MS) and PILAFLON™ (PF) factory completed

1964

Pillar mechanical seals employed on the world’s first full-fledged deep submergence vehicle, Yomiurigo

1965

With an increase in capital of 80 million yen, a 41,302 ㎡ plot of land was obtained for constructing a factory in Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture

Chairman Kaju Iwanami awarded the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon

1966

Pillar vertical gaskets employed in Idemitsumaru, a mammoth tanker built and launched by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (now IHI Corporation) for Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.

Established PILAFLON™ automated production method using the one-mold method

1967

Launched the company newsletter Hashira

Turnover exceeded one billion yen

Construction completed on the Sanda Factory in Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture

1969

Second phase of construction completed on the Sanda Factory

Became the first JIS-certified factory for spiral gaskets for JIS B 2404 pipes

1971

Began production and sales of No. 426F stern tube packing and No. 125 packing for mass-production valves

Began import sales of shaft coupling (Thomas coupling)

1972

Began production and sales of STB stern tube seal. More than 200 people invited to the Toyo Hotel, Osaka for the product launch announcement

1973

Introduced Grafoil from Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) of the United States, and began production and sales of multiple types of packing and gaskets

Developed No. 6501L carbonized fiber packing

1974

Ceremonies held at each business site in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary

Chairman Kaju Iwanami passed away. He was conferred with the Senior Sixth Rank

1975

Turnover exceeded five billion yen

1978

Entered into a technological partnership with Rexnord of the United States relating to shaft coupling (Thomas coupling) and began manufacture and sales

1979

Construction began on the Head Office building as part of plans to commemorate the company’s 55th anniversary

1980

Established Korea Pillar Packing Co., Ltd. as our first joint venture outside Japan

Operations began at the newly constructed Head Office building (Yodogawa-ku, Osaka)

1981

MS second engineering building completed at the Sanda Factory

Began production and sales of ISO series mechanical seals

1982

Started the VIP-60 medium- to long-term plan

1983

Established a liaison office in Singapore (our first overseas site)

Developed SiC as a sliding material and began mass production

1984

In the company’s 60th anniversary year, it was listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange as a specially appointed brand in the Second Section (New Second Section)

Started development of fluororesin products for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and began sales of fittings (PILLAR Fittings) for the first time

1987

Launched PILLAR Mark III expanded graphite packing

1988

Established a liaison office in San Jose, United States

Participated as an outsourced researcher in the development of seals for nuclear reactor coolant primary loop recirculation (PLR) pumps