Maruzen Shoten Establishment
Maruzen Shoten was founded by Zenkichi Niwa (pictured: front row center), who was engaged in trading with China at the time.
Establishment of
Maruzen SafetyPins Works
Established in 1949 in Nakamura Ward, Nagoya City, our company was engaged in the production of safety pins, which were a specialty product of Nagoya at that time. Safety pins were widely used for various purposes such as clothing and decorations, and several companies were producing them at that time.
However, all production was carried out manually by employees, posing significant challenges for mass production and quality control.
Automation of safety pins production
After years of research and development, our company has finally achieved success in automating the production of safety pins. This marks a groundbreaking technological innovation in safety pin manufacturing and has had a significant impact on the industry. Through automation, production capacity has been greatly enhanced, enabling the mass production of stable, high-quality safety pins. While traditional manual production methods faced challenges such as quality variations and production limitations, automation has overcome these obstacles, leading to a significant leap forward.
Introducing the "Eagle Earth Super Safety Pin"
We have launched the "Eagle Earth Super Safety Pin," utilizing automation technology. The packaging prominently features the label "Machine-Made," emphasizing the high-quality production achieved through automated machinery.
Change of Company Name to
Maruzen Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
In pursuit of further business expansion beyond the traditional framework of "safety pin" manufacturing, we changed our company name to "Maruzen Manufacturing Co., Ltd." in 1964.
The Birth of "Snapin"
With the consideration of entering the international market, we recognized the potential limitation of the traditional trademark "Eagle Earth Safety Pin" in resonating globally. Therefore, the need for a more internationally appealing brand name became evident. As a result, the brand name "SnapPin" was born, offering a memorable and approachable sound to cater to a broader audience.
Completed first phase of construction
at Nisshin Plant
In line with Japan's rapid economic growth, we expanded our range of products. We constructed the Nisshin Factory in Nisshin-cho, Aichi-gun (now: Nisshin City). With increased production capacity, we were able to achieve integrated production from processing to plating in the same factory.
Started sales of Pachit
We launched the "Pachit" safety pin, which is covered entirely with resin. At that time, it served various purposes as a fashionable item for young people. It became a familiar presence in many Japanese households, featured in magazines such as "non-no" and "Kurashi no Techou" through advertising and special coverage.
The Ena Factory was completed.
We constructed the Ena Factory in Tsukechi-cho, Ena-gun, Gifu Prefecture (now: Nakatsugawa City).
The Headquarters building was completed.
We built our headquarters building in the 5th block of Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya City. This building serves as both our headquarters and warehouse, allowing us to distribute our products to wholesale districts in the central area of Nagoya City from this location.
The completion of New Tsukechi Factory Building A
Selected as an Excellent Enterprise in Aichi Prefecture
The completion of New Tsukechi Factory Building B
Our company, which had been focusing on the development of clips in addition to safety pins, continued to venture into new markets. Alongside traditional safety pins, we developed various types of clips such as paper clips and binder clips.
To meet the increasing demand for clip production, we constructed a new building and enhanced our production facilities. Furthermore, by automating the assembly process of clips, we significantly improved production efficiency.
。
Construction of the second plant in Tsukechi
As a production hub for resin products, we constructed the at Tsukechi Second Factory. With a significant increase in production capacity, we now offer over 300 different items.
Completion of the Administrative Building
at the Nisshin Factory.
A new administrative building was constructed at the Nisshin Factory. With this addition, the headquarters functions were relocated and consolidated at the Nisshin Factory, establishing a two-base system with facilities in Nisshin and Tsukechi.
The company changed its name to
MERZEN PRODUCTS.INC
Completion of the Molding Building
at the Nisshin Factory.
A new molding building was constructed within the Nisshin Factory. This establishment allows for the smooth conduct of prototyping and verification of new products, alongside the expansion of resin product manufacturing.
Snapin adopted as Bib Fastner
for The Tokyo Olympic games
The Tokyo Olympic Games, which took place in Japan for the first time in about 60 years, featured our SnapPin as the official bib fastener for various track and field events.
Thank you for 100th Anniversary
