Tsubakimoto Chain Co. (株式会社椿本チエイン) (tyo: 6371) is a Japanese manufacturer of power transmission and roller chain products. It was founded in Osaka in 1917 as a bicycle chain manufacturer. Later it became the first roller chain manufacturer in Japan approved by Japanese Industrial Standards. Tsubakimoto Chain has the world's largest market share for steel chains for general industrial applications and enjoys the world's top market share for timing drive systems for automobiles.[1] The company is headquartered in Osaka, with its main manufacturing base in Kyotanabe, Kyoto.
History
Tsubakimoto Chain was established in 1917 by Setsuzo Tsubakimoto in Kita-ku, Osaka as a private enterprise known as Tsubakimoto Shoten manufacturing bicycle chains. They soon moved to roller chain and conveyor equipment production, ceasing bicycle chain manufacture in 1928. The following year, they registered as Tsubakimoto Chain Manufacturing Company.
With the completion of their Tsurumi Plant in Osaka in 1940, they launched as a joint-stock company with capital of three million yen in 1941. Setsuzo Tsubakimoto was appointed the company's first president. They changed their name to Tsubakimoto Chain Co. in 1970.
In 2000, Tsubaki completed work on its new, larger Kyotanabe Plant to meet its increasing production levels. With nearly 100,000 m2 of building floor space, the plant is the world's largest chain manufacturing facility.