Chronology

1980 - 1989

1980

Announces one-trillion yen initiative
Forms Sharp Fellowship Society
Launches New Business product strategy under a “new business style” concept
Chairman Tokuji Hayakawa passes away
Establishes Sharp Business Co., Ltd.
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Electronics Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SREC) as manufacturing base in Malaysia (merged into SMM in 2009)

1981

Establishes Sharp Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
Constructs Shinjo Plant (now Katsuragi Plant) in Nara
Constructs mass-production plant for EL displays (starts full-scale operations in 1983)
Develops laser diode with VSIS architecture

1982

Establishes Sharp (Phils.) Corporation (SPC) as manufacturing base in the Philippines
Establishes Sharp Finance Corporation
Establishes Sharp-ECD Solar Co., Ltd. as joint venture with Energy Conversion Devices Inc. of the US
Sharp multinet system goes online
Tokusen Metal Limited Partnership reorganized into Sharp Tokusen Industry Co.

1983

1985

Sharp Manufacturing Company of U.K. (SUKM) starts operations as production division of SUK
Holds comprehensive technology exhibitions in Beijing and Shanghai
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Appliances Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRAC) as manufacturing base in Malaysia (ceases operations in 2002)
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Sales & Service Company (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRSSC) as sales base in Malaysia
Establishes Creative Lifestyle Focus Center
Constructs Fukuyama Plant
Establishes Sharp Trading Corporation
Builds prototype of 3-inch color LCD TV

1986

Builds “futuristic electric house” on the grounds of Yao Plant
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Schweiz) AG (SEZ) as sales base in Switzerland
Establishes Sharp Electronics GmbH (SEA) as sales base in Austria (merges with SEEG in 2004 to become SEEG Austria Branch)
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Sales (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (SRS) as sales base in Singapore
Establishes Sharp Electrónica España S.A. (SEES) as manufacturing and sales base in Spain (ceases manufacturing in 2011)
Senior Executive Director Haruo Tsuji named president, President Akira Saeki named chairman
Establishes Sharp Electronics Taiwan Co., Ltd. (SET) as manufacturing base in Taiwan (liquidated in 2010)
Launches Liquid Crystal Display Division

1987

Establishes Sharp Electronics Sales Corporation
Establishes Sharp Appliances (Thailand) Limited (SATL) as manufacturing base in Thailand
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (SESL) as kit export base in Singapore
Chairman Akira Saeki appointed as corporate advisor
Establishes Sharp-Roxy (Hong Kong) Ltd. (SRH) as sales base in Hong Kong

1988

The Sharp Columbus, a promotional event boat, cruises the waters of Japan for 18 months
Establishes Sharp Corporation of New Zealand Ltd. (SCNZ) as sales base in New Zealand
Establishes Sharp Precision Manufacturing (U.K.) Ltd. (SPM) as manufacturing base in the UK (liquidated in 2010)
Introduces in-house recruiting system
Develops hologram laser unit jointly with Philips International B.V. of the Netherlands
Proclaims goal of becoming comprehensive electronics manufacturer on the strength of its optoelectronics technologies
Develops world’s first 14-inch color TFT LCD

1989

Establishes Sharp Manufacturing France S.A. (SMF) as manufacturing base in France
Establishes Sharp Thebnakorn Co., Ltd. (STCL) as sales base in Thailand (name changed to Sharp Thai Co., Ltd. [STCL] in 2007)
Establishes Kalyani Sharp India Limited (KSIL) as manufacturing base in India (name changed to Sharp India Limited [SIL] in 2005)
Establishes Sharp Manufacturing Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SMM) as manufacturing base in Malaysia