Topcon

{{prose|date=November 2012}}

TOPCON was established in September 1932 [https://global.topcon.com/invest/library/annual/pdf/ar2015en.pdf global.topcon.com, Annual Report 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028213344/https://global.topcon.com/invest/library/annual/pdf/ar2015en.pdf |date=October 28, 2020 }}, (PDF), retrieved 25 October 2020. based the merger of the surveying instruments division of K. Hattori & Co., Ltd. (now known as Seiko Holdinge Corporation) in order to manufacture the optical instruments for the Japanese Army. Initially, the company produced surveying instruments, binoculars and cameras, as well as sniper scopes used mainly by the Army.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-22 |title=History - TOPCON |url=https://global.topcon.com/about/history/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=TOPCON - Topcon continues to solve societal challenges in healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure with our leading-edge digital transformation solutions to help people around the world live better lives. |language=ja}}

In April 1933, TOPCON built their head offices and main factory at 180, Shimura-motohasunuma-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo.{{Source needed|date=September 2024}}

In August 1945, TOPCON temporalily closed their factories after the end of World War II, but soon gained the authorization from the Tokyo Governor to convert the factory for production of civil products. By the end of the year, the factory reopened to manufacture binoculars and surveying instruments. They established Yamagata Kikai Kyogo Kabushikikaisha (currently Topcon Yamagata Co., Ltd.) in 1946 in Yamagata-shi, Yamagata Prefecture.{{Cite web |title=株式会社トプコン山形 |url=https://www.topcon-yamagata.co.jp/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=株式会社トプコン山形 |language=ja}}

In December 1947, TOPCON started selling lens meters and an Ophthalmic and Medical Instruments business. In May of 1949, they listed their stock on Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.{{Source needed|date=September 2024}}

1957—released its first single-lens reflex camera, the Topcon R,[https://www.kleinbildkamera.ch/1963-topcon-re-super/ kleinbildkamera.ch, 1963: Topcon RE Super, retrieved 25. Oktober 2020] (German). with semi-auto lens and an interchangeable finder.

March 1960—Became an affiliate of Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. (currently Toshiba Corporation).

May 1963—Released the first single-lens reflex camera with through the lens metering (TTL), the TOPCON RE Super.

October 1969—Established Tokyo Kogaku Seiki Kabushikikaisha (currently OPTONEXUS Co., Ltd.) in Tamura-gun, Fukushima Prefecture.

April 1970—Established Topcon Europe N.V.(currently Topcon Europe B.V.) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

September 1970—Established Topcon Instrument Corporation of America (currently Topcon Medical Systems, Inc.)

January 1975—Established Topcon Sokki Co., Ltd. (currently Topcon Sales corporation), a surveying instrument sales company.

December 1976—Established Topcon Medical Japan Co., Ltd., a medical instrument sales company.

April 1978—Started selling an electric distance meter DM-C1 adopting a near-infrared.

October 1978—Started selling a refractometer RM-100 incorporating near-infrared beam and a television system.

March 1979—Established Topcon Singapore Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.

April 1986—Established Topcon Optical (H.K.) Ltd. in Hong Kong. September 1986, listed on First Sections of Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.

April 1989—Changed its corporate name to TOPCON CORPORATION.

April 1991—Entry into electron beam business.

December 1991—Built an engineering center in corporate premises.

September 1994—Established Topcon Laser Systems, Inc. (currently Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.) in California, U.S.A., acquired Advanced Grade Technology, advanced into machine control business.

October 1994—Delivered a nationwide GPS continuous observation system to Geographical Survey Institute, Ministry of Construction, Japanese Government.

July 2000—Acquired Javad Positioning Systems Inc.{{Cite web|last=Cameron|first=Alan|date=2020-05-31|title=Javad Ashjaee, 1949-2020|url=https://insidegnss.com/javad-ashjaee-1949-2020/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-01|title=Javad Ashjaee, founder of Javad GNSS, succumbs to coronavirus|url=https://www.gpsworld.com/javad-ashjaee-founder-of-javad-gnss-succumbs-to-coronavirus/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=GPS World|language=en-US}} in the United States and started selling precision GPS receivers and related system products.

July 2001—Established Topcon America Corporation in New Jersey, U.S.A., as a holding company. Reorganized the subsidiaries in the United States dividing them into the ophthalmic and medical instrument business and the positioning business.

July 2002—Liquidated Topcon Singapore Pte. Ltd. and established Topcon South Asia Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.

February 2004—Established Topcon (Beijing) Opto-Electronics Corporation in Beijing, China.

July 2005—Reorganized sales subsidiaries in Europe and newly established two firms in the European market - one overseeing eye care business and the other overseeing positioning business - with Topcon Europe B.V. as the holding company.

July 2005—Transferred from part of the Hoya Corporation Vision Care Company's ophthalmic instruments segment in Japan.

April 2006—Implemented two-for-one stock split.

August 2006—Acquired ANKA Systems, Inc., in the United States for full-fledged entry into the ophthalmic network business in the United States.{{Cite web |date=2006-10-04 |title=Topcon Medical Systems buys Anka Systems |url=https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/topcon-medical-systems-buys-anka-systems |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=Ophthalmology Times |language=en}}

October 2006—Acquired KEE Technologies Pty Ltd., in Australia for entry into field of agriculture.

April 2007—In order to build a global group and quick business expansion, Topcon adopted three business structures, Positioning Business Unit, Eye Care Business Unit and Finetech Business Unit.

May 2007—Business rights for mobile control (navigation systems, ITS and others) transferred to U.S. subsidiary from Javad Navigation Systems, Inc.{{Cite web|last=Cameron|first=Alan|date=2020-05-31|title=Javad Ashjaee, 1949-2020|url=https://insidegnss.com/javad-ashjaee-1949-2020/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design|language=en-US}}

February 2008—Conducted a takeover bid for shares of Sokkia Co., Ltd. and made it a subsidiary to enhance competitiveness of the positioning business in the global market.

July 2008—Established in Turin (Italy) TIERRA SPA, a joint venture with Divitech spa entering in the Telematic and Remote Diagnostic market segments.

June 2009—Acquired shares of Italian wireless communications manufacturer DESTURA s.r.l. to strengthen operations in mobile communications, machine controls, and agricultural IT market segments.{{Cite web |date=2009-06-04 |title=Topcon purchases interest in Destura |url=https://www.equipmentworld.com/technology/article/14946605/topcon-purchases-interest-in-destura |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=Equipment World |language=en-us}}

October 2009—Established Topcon 3D Inspection Laboratories, Inc., a 3D inspection technology development/design company, in Canada. Entry into the 3D measurement and high-end print board fields.

March 2010—Acquired InlandGEO Holding S.L., the largest dealer in Spain, to enhance sales channels for precision agricultural systems in the European, Middle-Eastern, and African markets.{{Cite web |title=Topcon acquires InlandGEO |url=https://www.gim-international.com/content/news/topcon-acquires-inlandgeo |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=www.gim-international.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Topcon acquires InlandGEO |url=https://www.worldhighways.com/news/topcon-acquires-inlandgeo |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=World Highways |language=en}}

July 2010—Expanded Chinese subsidiary and established Topcon (Beijing) Opto-Electronics Development Corporation as a manufacturing base in the emerging Chinese market.

July 2010—Reorganized sales subsidiary in Singapore, established Topcon Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd. as a holding company. Established new Positioning and Eye Care sales companies.

August 2010—Established Topcon Medical Laser Systems, Inc. by acquiring retina and glaucoma business of OptiMedica (U.S.A) and entered therapeutic laser market.

January 2011—Established Topcon Positioning Middle East and Africa FZE to expand Positioning Business in Middle Eastern and African market.

November 2014—Acquired Wachendorff Elektronik GmbH and Wachendorff Electronics Inc.{{Cite web |date=2014-11-21 |title=Topcon acquires Wachendorff Electronik GmbH |url=https://www.oemoffhighway.com/electronics/smart-systems/gps/press-release/12021524/topcon-acquires-wachendorff-electronik-gmbh |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=OEM Off-Highway |language=en-us}}

September 2015—Toshiba sells its shares of Topcon. [https://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/ir/en/news/20150831_1.pdf toshiba.co.jp 31 August 2015, Regarding the Sale of Certain Shares Held by Toshiba and a Subsidiary] (PDF), retrieved 25 October 2020.

April 2018—Established Topcon Healthcare Solutions, Inc. a medical software company based in Oakland, New Jersey. Their primary focus is the eye-care industry.

July 2021—Topcon Corporation acquired VISIA Imaging S.r.l, an ophthalmic device manufacturer headquartered in suburban Florence, Italy. {{Cite web|url=https://www.topconhealthcare.eu/en_EU/news/topcon-acquires-visia-imaging|title = Topcon acquires VISIA Imaging| date=August 18, 2021 }}

Tokyo Kogaku produced cameras, beginning with a 6×4.5 cm medium format model, Lord in 1937. A 127 film camera followed the next year. The Primoflex I twin-lens reflex camera came out in 1951. The Topcon 35A was unveiled in 1953. In 1960 the company produced a 6x9 press camera on order from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It initially used a Mamiya lens; civilian models became available with Topcon lenses.

With the 35 mm Topcon RE Super of 1963, the company pioneered full-aperture, through-the-lens metering. Round about 1973 the production of the SLR IC-1 AUTO started; „IC“ means „Integrated Circuit“, used for aperture control.[https://www.digicammuseum.de/geschichten/erfahrungsberichte/1932-bis-1981-topcon-geschichte-mit-der-analog-slr-ic-1-auto/ retrieved 25 Oktober 2020] (German). The company continued to innovate until leaving that line of business in 1981. The Charles Beseler Company imported the camera line into the US, with the RE-Super being rebranded as the Super-D.

In about 1965, the US Navy tested cameras from several Japanese and German manufacturers (including the Nikon F). The Topcon Super D was the winner of this competition, and was used exclusively by the Navy until 1977.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

TOPCON has operated since 2003 started operations from their Brisbane office, with an office in Technology Park Adelaide at Mawson Lakes, South Australia and representatives in Sydney.

Topcon Positioning Systems Inc., provides positioning technology for surveyors, civil engineers, construction contractors, equipment owners and operators.

Topcon Corporation acquired Advanced Grade Technology in 1995 and became known as Topcon Laser Systems.

In August 2000, Topcon acquired JPS Inc., of San Jose, California, a provider of precision GPS and GPS/GLONASS products.

With the introduction of a series of positioning products, Topcon Laser Systems grew, and consolidated the survey instruments, GPS products and construction positioning products divisions in July 2001. Topcon Positioning Systems was formed.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

In September 1970, Topcon established Topcon Instrument Corporation of America which is currently Topcon Medical Systems, Inc., a developer and supplier of diagnostic equipment for the ophthalmic community. In April 2018, Topcon established a medical software division, Topcon Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a developer of eyecare software and provider of related healthcare services.

Topcon ophthalmic (eye) machines are widely used in many health centers in Western Europe, and are often interconnected to their surrounding IT systems through the RS232 protocol.

{{Gallery|width=180|

File:Retinal camera.jpg|A Topcon non-mydriatic retinal camera|

File:Topcon ACP 8 projector.JPG|A Topcon ACP 8 projector|

File:U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Edwards, left, a geospatial intelligence analyst with the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, demonstrates the use of the Topcon GR-3 global navigation 140913-M-PZ610-758.jpg|Usage demonstration of a Topcon GR-3 global navigation satellite system|

File:Sokkia 2.jpg|A laser tachymeter and surveying prism made by Sokkia}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Portal|Japan|Electronics|Companies}}

{{Japanese Electronics Industry}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Electronics companies of Japan

Category:Optics manufacturing companies of Japan

Category:Photography equipment manufacturers of Japan

Category:Medical technology companies of Japan

Category:Lens manufacturers

Category:Navigation system companies

Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Tokyo

Category:Electronics companies established in 1932

Category:1932 establishments in Japan

Category:Japanese brands