INSTRUMENTS > ABOUT US
MONITORING BEYOND
PORTABLE GENERAL PURPOSE DATALOGGER
Graphtec’s instrumentation division has been in business for 60 years starting off as Watanabe Instruments in 1949. Graphtec supports data recorder and logging needs for industrial, agricultural, medical, electrical equipment manufacturers and R&D labs and environment.
From vehicle performance measurements to bake-chamber temperature inspection needs, Graphtec’s comprehensive data recording units carry enhanced portability and performance form factors to meet the ever increasing quality measurement’s market. Graphtec produces plotters, vinyl cutters, intuitive design software, scanners, thermal transfer label printers, intelligent recording instruments, and data acquisition systems.
Recognized as a technological leader, Graphtec has engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and service operations in Japan and the United States of America. In addition, Graphtec products are sold and serviced via business partners and distributors worldwide.
WHO ARE WE
Hundreds of employees make up our world-wide network, with sales in excess of $174 million. Celebrating our 50th anniversary in 1999, Graphtec Corporation, as a member of AI Holding Group is listed on section 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
HOW WE STARTED
Established in 1949, Graphtec’s corporate philosophy emphasizes the pride every member takes in the company’s products. The pride comes through at all stages, from preliminary planning and design to final delivery. This commitment does not stop at the factory door. It extends to services and customer-support personnel around the world, because Graphtec never forgets what is at stake every time you choose one of its products.
Graphtec proudly acknowledges its standing as a world leader in cutting technology and is committed to further enhancing its competitive strengths, product features, performance, and drive for excellence.
OUR COMMITMENT
The name Graphtec is associated with reliability and we pride ourselves on our back up and support which is second to none. When you buy a Graphtec, you are buying peace of mind in the safe knowledge that your investment will be still making you money in the many years ahead.
ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
Our scanner products are the first large-format color scanner in the world which was registered with "International Energy Star Program" and complied with "Act on Promoting Green Purchasing" as well. We are working aggressively to improve and develop the eco friendly product such as paperless recorders and data loggers, in order to spread them to the world.
SOCIAL ACTION PLAN
Special inspection service in time of disaster:
Graphtec Corporation provides a special inspection service to a customer in the disaster area which is to check whether there is a serious problem in the equipment or not.
(In case that the repair service is required, a special price will be offered)
Collection & Recycling a used print head, ink tank, maintenance cartridge and toner bottle:
As a part of activities for Environmental Conservation, Graphtec Corporation provides the collection/recycling service for the above items.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT
ISO9001 CERTIFIED
Graphtec Corporation has been certified ISO9001 in product design, production control and maintenance which is recognized as the
International Standard on quality assurance and quality management. We will expand our quality management activity to improve the customer satisfaction in our products & services.
ISO14001 CERTIFIED
As part of corporate social responsibility (CSR), Graphtec Corporation actively participates in environmental conservation activities, and has
obtained the certification of International standard ISO14001 in the Head office, Fujisawa branch. We have created the green procurement guidelines that is to clarify
the criteria for complying with a variety of regulations including the RoHS directive and the REACH regulation. With the cooperation of the
suppliers, we provide the products that realize the environmental load reduction.
OUR HISTORY
1949 Founded as Watanabe Research, K.K.
1958 Developed first X-Y recorder in Japan
1961 Developed first X-Y plotter in Japan
1971 Received patent for Heater Transfer Method in Japan, US, GB, and Germany
1977 Developed Nis (Neo-inkless) heat transfer method. Changed name to Watanabe Sokki, K.K.
1980 Nis (Neo-Inkless) method receives innovation aware from Japan Society for the Advancement of Inventions
1982 My plot received development award for Japan Society for the Advancement of Inventions Starts Digitizer Business Group
1983 Changes name to Graphtec, K.K.
1985 Listed under the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
1987 Listing changed to First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
1991 New HQ building is developed in City of Yokohama in Totsuka-ku.
1992 Started Lighting Instrument Business 光計測事業開始
1995 Started Graphtec North America Inc. in California, United States.
1997 Received ISO9001 Certificate
2000 Opened Graphtec Supply Mall
2001 Developed Large-scale Color Scanner. First in Japan.
2004 Received ISO14001 Certificate Started selling consumer oriented product CraftROBO.
2005 Graphtec North America Inc. changes name to Graphtec America Inc.
2007 Merged with Dodwell BMS, Founded Ai Holdings, KK as majority share holder, Launches Graphtec Europe B.V in Holland.
2009 Split into Ai Engineering, KK and Graphtec Corp, KK. Founded Silhouette America in the state of Utah, United States.
2012 Label Printer LCX603 receives Kanagawa Industrial Technology Center Award
2013 Changes Graphtec Europe B.V. into subsidiary office in Europe.
2014 Starts Industrial Label Printer Business. Founded subsidiary company, Graphtec Digital Solutions, Inc.
RELIABILITY AND SINCERITY - THAT'S WHERE IT ALL BEGINS
Message from the President
For a long time since establishment, Graphtec has been striving to provide services and commodities that satisfy many users, with instruments and industrial-use computer peripherals as our main business commodities in niche industries.
Meanwhile, the environment surrounding our company has drastically changed. There has been a shift of business models on customer’s demand from “merely provision of commodities and services” into “solution-oriented business”-- that is, “problem solving from customer’s perspective”. Among the typical examples of Graphtec’s business activities are transformation from analog recorder to the data logger business using a wireless-analysis applications linked and the large in-line testing instruments for automotive industries in the instrument business,
and the large color copier systems in the computer peripheral business.
Besides, as a new business for future, Graphtec will strive to expand our business domain added to the small cutting solution as our first consumer business, the label printer business for professional use and the metal detector.
All of the employees of Graphtec recognize the corporate philosophy "Reliability and sincerity – that’s where it all begins, Creating value recognized by the people and society.". In order to react large changes in market needs immediately, Graphtec will build up closer relationship with customers, and provide business models that satisfy customers. Graphtec will endeavor to prosper to become a company earning more trust in the future.
We will appreciate your continuous patronage and support in the future.
Graphtec Corporation
President Hideyoshi Sasaki




Graphtec America, Inc Irvine California
GRAPHTEC AMERICA, INC, USA
17462 Armstrong Ave. Irvine, CA 92614
Tel: 949.860.6010 Toll Free: 1.800.854.8385 (USA only)
Fax: 1.949.855.0895 www.graphtecamerica.com
GRAPHTEC CORPORATION, JAPAN
503-10 Shinano-cho, Totsuka-ku. Yokohama, 244-8503, Japan
Tel: +81.045.825.6250 Fax: +81.045.825.6396
Email: webinfo@graphtec.co.jp www.graphtec.co.jp
GRAPHTEC DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC
(DIGITAL LABEL CREATION SYSTEM PRODUCTS)
5800 Tennyson Parkway, Suite 160, Plano, TX 75024, U.S.A. Tel: 469.214.8114 Email: sales@graphtecdsi.com www.graphtecdsi.com
SILHOUETTE AMERICA, INC
(SILHOUETTE PRODUCTS)
618 N 2000 W, Building 2, Lindon, UT 84042, U.S.A. Tel: 801.983.8937 www.silhouettemachine.com
GRAPHTEC EUROPE REP. OFFICE, NETHERLANDS
Kruisweg 801-8 2132NG Hoofddrop, The Netherlands Tel: +31.02356.83.800 Fax: +31.02356.83.810
GRAPHTEC SHANGSHAI REP. OFFICE, CHINA
Far East International Plaza B-1104-05 No. 317 XianXia Rd. Shanghai, PR. China 200051
Tel: +86.021.5236.6199 Fax: +86.021.5212.1700 Email: info@graphtecchina.com www.graphtecchina.com
GRAPHTEC THAILAND REP. OFFICE, THAILAND
58/3-54th Fl, Sukhumvit 63 Ekkamai Rd. Phra Khanon-Nuea, Wattana, Bkk 10110 Thailand
Tel: +66.02391.0696 Email: info@graphtec-thai.com
INSTRUMENTS > ABOUT US