Kito began in 1932 as a small factory in Omori in Tokyo’s Ota Ward. Kito developed its first electric chain hoist when Japan was reeling form postwar confusion and the social unrest left by the war.
As the nation ramped up in a era of fast economic growth, Kito entered the distributionsystem business and other fields in response to the needs of the times, and grew as its built up its corporate foundation.
Despite the affects of the bubble economy and recession, Kito moved steadily forward based entirely on the faithful pursuit of its mission to make products smaller, lighter, safer and more durable.。
Kito’s commitment to quality is supported by comprehensive in-house production procedures, from design and development to part production, assembly and final product testing.These procedures embody Kito’s corporate philosophy, to produce products that are safe, easy to operate, satisfy customer needs and protect the environment, and they sustain Kito manufacturing.
Starting with the US subsidiary, founded in 1990, Kito has been expanding its overseas operations. Now with 60% of the hoist market in Japan, 40% in the US, Kito delivers quality products worldwide. With this broader reach, we will continue to maintain the special values of our products — safety and reliability — and our unshakeable belief in ourselves to one day be the world’s most trusted hoist and crane maker.
History in Pictures
The predecessor of Kito Corporation, Kito Seisakusho, started as a small factory in Omori
in Tokyo’s Ota Ward, with just six employees producing mainly winches, plate conveyors and pumps.
While still in his 20s, founder Miyoshi Kito established a factory of about 900 square meters.
The independent-minded young man was a dyed-in-the-wool engineer.
In 1934 Kito first encounteres the chain hoist, and three years later the firm succeeded in
developing a copper chain hoist that was small, light and durable.
In 1939 Kito built the Nakanoshima Plant in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. The new
plant, with total floor area of 1,240 square meters, was dedicated to meeting surging demand
for its chain hoists.
Also in 1939 Kito imported the first bender and a welder (photo) in Japan, and started
automated production of chain, the quality lifeline of the chain hoist.
In 1947 Kito developed Japan’s first all-around hoist, the lever hoist. It was a masterpiece
of revolutionary ideas and technologies, including a link chain and idler.
In 1958 Kito completed its first electric chain hoist. Exhibited two years later at an
international trade show at Harumi in Tokyo, it drew a huge crowd of people every day.
In 1970 Kito made a fresh start with a new name, Kito Corporation, and enhanced its sales network.
In 1983 we completed our main plant, the Yamanashi Plant, in the Kamanashi Industrial
Park in Yamanashi Prefecture. Built as a model of factory automation and detailed attention
to the environment, it is the center for Kito manufacturing.
In 1990 Kito founded its first foreign subsidiary, in Pennsylvania in the US, and began
entry to greater Asia, Europe and other overseas markets.