History of GC Corporation

2016

• 95th anniversary of GC Corporation

2015

• FDI and GC establish the new project ‘Oral Health for an Aging Population Partnership’
• GCC introduces a new “functional management model
• GCC puts a ‘revised and simplified wholesale system’ in operation

2014

• GC Corporation is ranked 2nd in JUSE and Nikkei’s Corporate Quality Management Survey
• GCA is awarded the Deming Prize
• GC India receives ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 certification

2013

• GCE opens a new administrativ center in Leuven
• GC International AG established in Lucerne, Switzerland, as the new management platform to lead activities in Europe, the US and Asia
• GC R&D Center in Tokyo wins 26th Nikkei ‘New Office Promotion Award’
• GCE is one of the 10 finalists at EFQM ‘Excellence Award’
• Dr. Kiyotaka NAKAO installed as fifthpresident and CEO of GC Corporation, his father-in-law Makoto NAKAO functions as chairman of GC Corporation and additional CEO and president of GC International AG in Lucerne

2012

• President Makoto NAKAO receives thr Deming Prize for individuals
• GC Corporate Center in Hongo wins the 53rd BCS Prize
• GC Corporation is ranked 6th in JUSE and Nikkei’s Corporate Quality Management Survey
• GC India incorporated as a Pvt. Ltd. Company

2011

• 90th anniversary
• International Symposium celebrates 55th anniversary of the GC Membership Society
• GC Corporate Center openes in Hongo, Tokyo
• Vision 2021 kicks off

2010

• GC Corporation is ranked 3rd in JUSE and Nikkei’s Corporate Quality Management Survey. 1st in the subcategory ranking ‘New Product Development’ and 4th in ‘Quality Assurance and Staff Promotion’
• GC Dental (Suzhou) receives the Deming Prize (GCSZ)
• GCT Membership Society achieves 1,700 members (GCT)
• 10th anniversary of GC Taiwan Green Society (GCT)

2009

• GC Corporation is ranked 12th in JUSE and Nikkei’s Corporate Quality Management Survey
• GCE receives EFQM ‘Recognized for Excellence’ award
• GC Australasia Dental Pty. Ltd. established in Sydney, Australia

2008

• GC Corporation is ranked 8th in JUSE and Nikkei’s Corporate Quality Management Survey
• GC Corporation receives award for Excellence in Innovation from the Australian government
• ‘GC Europe Campus, Meeting and Education Center’ established in Leuven, Belgium
• GC Shanghai Co., Ltd. closed (GCSZ)
• GC Asia Dental – branch established in Hyderabad, India

2007

• GC Advanced Technologies Inc. established
• GC Corporation is ranked 14th in JUSE and Nikkei’s Corporate Quality Management Survey
• GCE awarded EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management)
• ‘Committed to Excellence’ award
• GC Austrian, GC Benelux Office and GC Nordic AB established
• GC Brazil established
• GCK’s 20th anniversary (GCK)
• Busan and Guwangju office established (GCK)
• ‘GC Dental (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.’ merges with ‘GC Shanghai Co., Ltd.’ (GCSZ)

2006

• 85th anniversary of GC Corporation
• 50th anniversary of the GC Membership Society
• 60th anniversary of the GC Authorized Dealer Agreement System
• GC Spain and GC Iberic branches established
• GC Advanced Technologies Inc. established
• KGMP (Korean Good Manufacturing Practice) certification acquires (GCK)

2005

• President Makoto NAKAO appointed sixth chairman of JDTA (Japan Dental Trade Association)
• GC Corporation is ranked 18th in JUSE (Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers) and Nikkei’s Corporate Quality Management Survey
• GCSZ acquires ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certification (GCSZ)

2004

• GC Corporation acquires ISO 14001 certification
• GC awarded ‘Japan Quality Medal’ (only the 18th company in the world to win the pinnacle of quality control)
• Nagoya office completed in Aichi, Japan
• GCE acquires ISO 14001 certification

2003

• GC Dental Products Corporation receives the ‘Deming Prize’
• 20th anniversary of Makoto NAKAO as president and CEO of GC Corporation
• GC Corporation awarded ISO 13485 certification
• GCT Membership Society founded with 500 people registered (GCT)
• GC Shanghai Co., Ltd.(GCSZ) established
• GC Asia Dental – India liaison office established
• GC Asia Dental enters joint venture in Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Science with the School of Dental Science, University of Melbourne, Australia

2002

• GC Europe’s logistics center opens in Leuven, Belgium
• GCA acquires ISO 13485 certification
• GC Dental (Suzhou) Co., Ltd (GCSZ) established
• Launch of Tooth Mousse in Oceania, Asia region

2001

• GC Symposium held in Berlin in celebration of GC’s 80th anniversary in conjunction with the 3rd European Adhesive Dentistry
• GC America logistic center opens headquarters

2000

• GC Corporation awarded the deming Prize’
• Beijing Office established (GCSZ)
• GC Asia receives a letter of appreciation from Nepal

1999

• Introduction of ERP
• GCA awarded a ‘Vendor’ from Henry Schein and an ‘Excellent Nakama training’ from the Economic Development Committee

1998

• Start of co-development with PLANMECA
• Fuji-Oyama factory receives ISO 9001 certification
• GCE acquires ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification
• GC Asia Dental Pte., Ltd. moves to Changi Logistics Center Singapore

1997

• GC Israel branch established in Tel Aviv

1996

• First International Dental Symposium held to celebrate 40th anniversary of the GC Membership Society and 75th anniversary of GC Corporation
• GCE’s 25th anniversary
• Third European factory completed
• European Conformity certificate acquired
• President Makoto NAKAO elected as honorary member of ADA (American Dental Association)

1995

• GC Quality Control becomes GC Quality Management

1994

• Dental industry’s first company to acquire ISO 9001 certification
• President Makoto NAKAO assumes chairmanship of IDM (International Dental Manufacturers Federation)
• Second European factory completed
• GC Europe Holding Company (GC Europe SA) established in Luxemburg. Branches and sales offices converted into independent corporate entities in sequence (GC France SA, GC Germany GmbH)
• GC Belgium acquires ISO 9002 certification
• GC Asia Dental Pte., Ltd. in Singapore established

1993

• Distribution center in Fuji-Oyama factory completed
• GC UK office established in Newport Pagnell, UK
• GCA acquires ISO 9001 certification
• GC Korea established in Seoul

1992

• The world’s first light-cured glass ionomer filling material, ‘Fuji Ionomer II LC’ launched
• GC Italy established in Milan
• ‘Coe Laboratories Inc.’ renamed ‘GC America Inc.’ Main office / factory and logistic center move to Alsip, Illinois
• Artificial tooth factory closed and GCT moves to Zhonghe City (GCT)

1991

• Company renamed ‘GC Corporation’
• Introduction of corporate identity (including company philosophy, name, brand and corporate color) as a part of Vision 2000
• 19 Korean dealers visit Fuji-Oyama factory
• Import business from Taiwan branch started, products sold to Taiwan dealers through Nisseido (GCT)

1990

• GC Dental Industrial Corp. merge with ‘Coe Laboratories Inc.’

1989

• First European factory built in Belgium, which starts to ship ‘GC Vest’ (made-in-Belgium product) from European factory

1988

• GC Hong Kong Branch established (GCSZ)
• GC Taiwan Corporation established as artificial tooth factory in Sindian City (GCT)

1987

• Todent Korea (predecessor of GC Korea) established

1986

• 65th anniversary ceremony
• GC visits 20,646 customers throughout Japan and the gained information is analyzed to improve operations
• GC Germany established in Hofheim

1984

• GC European branch (GCE) completed, moves from Kortrijk to Leuven, Belgium, and opens a warehouse
• US facility expanded

1983

• Makoto NAKAO installed as fourth president. Former President Toshio NAKAO passes away

1981

• 60th anniversary
• President Toshio NAKAO announces the concept of GQC (GC’s Quality Control)
• GCI US Branch established in Scottsdale, Arizona
• Joins ADTA (American Dental Trade Association) as the first Japanese dental company

1978

• Increasing international exchanges

1977

• Evolutionary new glass ionomer cement ‘Fujiionomer’ launched

1976

• Fuji-Oyama factory completed in Oyama, Shizuoka
• Chairman and former President Kiyoshi NAKAO passes away

1974

• GCI French sales office opened in Paris, France

1973

• Company renamed ‘GC Dental Industrial Corporation’
• ‘GC Dental Equipment Corporation’ established

1972

• GCI establishes a European branch (GCE) in Kortrijk, Belgium

1971

• GC International Corporation (GCI) established

1969

• Founder Tokuemon MIZUNO passes away

1967

• New plant completed in Itabashi, Tokyo, with enshrined ‘Gigeiten’ statue

1966

• Kiyoshi NAKAO installed as chairman, Toshio NAKAO installed as third president

1963

• Office in Osaka completed

1961

• 40th anniversary
• Special lectures organized to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the ‘GC Membership Society’

1959

• R&D Center completed in Itabashi, Tokyo, with enshrined ‘Yumetagai Kwannon’ statue

1958

• ‘GC Toushi Kogyo Corporation’ established in Kasugai, Aichi

1956

• ‘GC Membership Society’ founded with 3,600 members

1954

• President Kiyoshi NAKAO receives the Medal of Honor with green ribbon from the Japanese government

1951

• American dentistry delegation (Dr. George Pfaffenbarger) visits Japan’s dental industry
• Development of new products that meet ADA standards, ‘Blue Band Series’

1950

• Economic boom due to special procurements by Korean war

1948

• Firm for manufacturing porcelain teeth completed
• ‘Plastone’ hard dental plaster launched

1946

• Company renamed ‘GC Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.’
• Kiyoshi NAKAO installed as second president
• ‘GC Authorized Dealer Agreement System’ founded with 200 dealers

1941

• 20th anniversary
• Company renamed ‘GC Chemicals Research Laboratory’

1938

• New firm completed in Itabashi, Tokyo. From Ikebukuro to Itabashi. Total number of Associates: 45

1935

• Exports started, sales channels to major markets sought, GC logo changed

1934

• Incorporated as a joint-stock company with Yoshinosuke ENJO as first president and Kiyoshi NAKAO as executive director

1925

• First success launched with ‘Crystalline Cement’

1922

• First product, ‘Standard Cement’, fails to establish itself on the market

1921

• ‘GC Chemical Research Laboratory’ established in Ikebukuro, Tokyo
• Zinc phosphate cement developed

1920

• Prospectus of development and manufacture of dental materials