ECHO

History

About ECHO

  • 1947
    Kyoritsu Noki Company Limited is founded on 6 September.A revolutionary manual duster for pest control and a new power duster-fogger are introduced.
  • 1955
    The DM-Series of backpack blower misting and dusting units opens a new era in pest control.The first Kyoritsu DM-E type two-stroke engine is developed for DM-series units.
  • 1956
    The first Kyoritsu speed sprayer revolutionizes domestic agriculture.
  • 1957
    Kyoritsu Midget manual duster wins the Milan City Industrial Fair "Good Design" award. Kyoritsu speed sprayers revolutionize orchard farms in Japan.
  • 1960
    Corporate stocks are offered for public subscription.Yokosuka plant wins the Japan Industrial Standard (JIS) award for quality.The first Kyoritsu brushcutter (Power Scythe) is developed.
  • 1961
    Kyoritsu enters into a technical licence agreement with FMC of the U.S. for manufacturing John Bean speed sprayers and other related equipment.
  • 1963
    The first ECHO chain saw, the CS-80, is released, making the beginning of the ECHO brand.MITI grants approval to affix the JIS mark on Kyoritsu manual and power sprayers, indicating they conform to the JIS standards.
  • 1964
    Kyoritsu enters a licence agreement with Kloeckner- Humboldt-Deutz AG of Germany to produce air- cooled diesel powered tractors.
  • 1965
    The famous ECHO CS-60 chain saw is introduced.An engineering classic that still today is a popular, reliable chain saw.
  • 1966
    The new shoulder type straight-shaft brushcutter (Swing Scythe) is introduced.
  • 1967
    The DM-9 is introduced, the benchmark leader in the backpack duster and mist sprayer industry.
  • 1968
    Kyoritsu signs a contract with Canadian Curtis Wright Company of Canada for the export of two-stroke engines snowmobiles.
  • 1970
    Kyoritsu revolutionizes outdoor cleaning and maintenance with its innovative backpack power blower, the PB-9.
  • 1971
    Corporate name is changed from Kyoritsu Noki Company Limited to KIORITZ CORPORATION.The light-weight ECHO chain saw CS-302 is introduced-the first real professional small chain saw.
  • 1972
    KIORITZ CORP. of AMERICA is established in Northbrook, Illinois.
  • 1977
    Innovative ECHO weed and grass trimmer SRM- 140D is introduced.
  • 1978
    Corporate name is changed from KIORITZ CORP. of AMERICA to ECHO, INCORPORATED.
  • 1979
    The PB-200, the world's first hand-held power blower, is introduced.
  • 1984
    KIORITZ R&D Laboratory is completed in the Tokyo Plant.The ten-millionth engine rolls off the line.
  • 1990
    KIORITZ Headquarters moves to the new building in Ohme, Tokyo.
  • 1992
    The separate lubrication brushcutter, SRM-343SL, wins the SIMA award in a Paris exposition.
  • 1994
    KIORITZ is approved for ISO 9000 Series.
  • 1995
    The twenty-millionth engine is produced.
  • 1997
    KIORITZ CORPORATION celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
  • 2000
    Brushcutter and PowerSprayer which equipped i-start in 2000 are put on the market.
  • 2001
    Gold Award to i-start at Urbavert 2001, France
  • 2001
    KIORITZ, Yokosuka factory is certified for ISO 14000 Series.
  • 2003
    Achieved 30 million units of engine production in cumulative total.
  • 2004
    KIORITZ ECHO Machinery Co. Ltd. is established in Shenzhen, China.
  • 2005
    Achieved 35 million units of engine production in cumulative total.
  • 2006
    U.S. subsidiary ECHO Inc. established a new company; Crary Industries Inc., and has taken over the whole business of "Bear Cat" brand garden & yard maintenance equipments from TerraMarc Corp., including other business fields.
ECHO