Company
History
Hiroshi Nagano and his younger brother, Shigeru Nagano, established the company as a trading firm in 1966. Its headquarters are located in Kanda, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. They also opened a branch office in Tsujimachi, Nagasaki City.
In 1968, the company name was changed to streamline management and expand operations, and the Nagasaki branch was spun off as a separate entity. Since then, we have built trusting relationships with major local factories, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. , Nagasaki Shipyard, and our supplier manufacturers. This has allowed us to achieve steady growth that continues to this day.
Additionally, during this period, we established a specialized factory for regrinding cutting tools as part of our service division. We are committed to training skilled technicians and improving our facilities. As a unique general trading company with commercial and technical divisions, we have earned a reputation as “Kohwa—a company you can rely on.”
1966
KoWa Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Kanda Misakicho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. It was founded by brothers Hiroshi and Shigeru Nagano, and it has a branch office in Tsujimachi, Nagasaki City.
1967
The Nagasaki Branch Office will relocate to the parking lot at Motohara-cho.
1967
The Nagasaki branch spun off to form Kowa Co., Ltd., appointing Hiroshi Nagano as its first president. Its capital was 1 million yen.
1969
切削工具の再研磨部門の事業を開始する。
1970
Capital increased to 2 million yen.
1971
Capital increased to ４ million yen.
1972
Capital increased to 10 million yen.
1973
Capital increased to 16 million yen.
1973
A new factory has been established in Ogimachi, Nagasaki City. This state-of-the-art facility is equipped with air conditioning and has begun operations for the regrinding of cutting tools.
1989
We will expand our factory in Ogimachi, Nagasaki City, and move our headquarters there. A new logistics warehouse will be constructed on the site of the former headquarters in Motohara-machi.
1990
We have been awarded a contract by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Nagasaki Shipyard, to handle all their outsourced tool regrinding needs. We will establish a new Plant No. 2, a side entry cutter regrinding plant.
1991
The company increased its capital to 24 million yen.
The manufacturing division was spun off to form Koken Ltd. , with an initial capital of 3 million yen, and Michihiko Nagano was appointed as its first president.
1992
A new rotary storage system dedicated to tools is being installed at Plant No. 1.
Plant No. 2 will expand to include hob grinding operations.
1993
Michihiko Nagano was appointed president and Hiroshi Nagano was appointed chairman.
1995
CAD systems were introduced to the design department. Administrative processes at the polishing plant were computerized.
1997
We will expand the main factory and consolidate operations from the second factory.
We will install additional rotary stockers and precision universal projectors.
Additionally, we will distribute laptops and set up an internal LAN.
1999
A new logistics center is being constructed, and the third floor will be designated for the design department.
The former logistics warehouse site will be converted into a parking lot.
2000
Register a domain and create a website.
2011
ISO 9001:2008 certification
2017
Riki Nagano was appointed president and Michihiko Nagano was appointed chairman.
As we move forward, we remain committed to being a company that contributes to society. We support our customers’ technological development and productivity improvements by being constantly ready to respond. All of our employees are united in our efforts to achieve this goal.