Celebrating our 150th Anniversary with our Teams from around the World
On March 31, 2025, Shimadzu Corporation celebrated its 150th anniversary. Our founding spirit has traveled from Kyoto, and it continues to inspire our colleagues around the world. To honor this milestone together, commemorative events have been held globally. This article shares stories from the UK and Germany.
Europe and Shimadzu: Relationship Lasting over 50 Years
Shimadzu has had a presence in Europe since 1968, when the European headquarters, Shimadzu Europa GmbH (SEG), was established in Duisburg, Germany. Today, SEG has more than 900 team members across Europe, including those at its branches, subsidiaries, and partner organizations in 48 countries.
SEG’s main office building in Duisburg, Germany
UK – The Kratos Team Wearing Specially Made Sweatshirts that Celebrate the 150th Anniversary
Kratos Analytical Limited (KAL), based in Manchester, UK, develops, manufactures, and sells analytical instruments, such as X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS) and the MALDI-TOF/MS. The company is a global leader in the development and application of new technologies for analyzing the surface properties and mass spectrometry of a wide range of materials. Notably, Koichi Tanaka, Executive Research Fellow, was honored with the Nobel Prize after he was seconded to Kratos for about two years in the 1990s and 2000s.
To mark Shimadzu’s 150th anniversary on March 31, over 200 Kratos staff in Manchester received specially made sweatshirts with logos on them. People from every department proudly wore them on the day, reaffirming a sense of unity as Shimadzu Group. Even now, they can be seen throughout the offices, labs, and shop floors.
KAL staff wearing specially made sweatshirts at the office
Comment from the Organizer of the Event
The sweatshirt has a colorful 150th anniversary logo on the front and back. The balloon in the logo reminds us of the ingenuity and creative spirit of the company’s founder, Genzo Shimadzu Sr. 150 years later, this is still an important symbol for us, as we design, manufacture, and support our X-ray photoelectron and MALDI-TOF/MS spectrometers.
UK – Shimadzu UK Released a User Stories Book
Shimadzu UK Limited (SUK) provides analytical instruments to customers across the United Kingdom. In addition to equipment, SUK offers ongoing support through user seminars and online training sessions. The company also supports science education for junior and senior high school students, based on the passion for education of Genzo Shimadzu Sr. Located in Milton Keynes, which is roughly halfway between Oxford and Cambridge, SUK is home to a dedicated team of over 70 employees.
As part of our 150th anniversary celebrations, SUK published a commemorative testimonial book featuring over 60 stories from customers, mainly from the UK, in which they shared their experiences over the years with Shimadzu products. These stories offer genuine insights into how support from Shimadzu enhances scientific workflows, research, and operations in various fields, showing that our partnerships go far beyond simply supplying instruments.
SUK’s website features a special page celebrating Shimadzu’s 150th anniversary, complete with a fun quiz about the company.
150th Anniversary Monthly Quiz : Shimadzu (United Kingdom)
Germany – Strengthening Team Spirit with a Fun Sticker Challenge
Shimadzu Deutschland GmbH (SDG) provides sales and support services for analytical instruments to customers throughout Germany. SDG provides tailored solutions for advanced instrumental analysis. It has six technical offices in key metropolitan areas (Berlin, Jena, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich), and its headquarters is in Duisburg.
On May 21 and 22, a special event was held to celebrate Shimadzu’s 150th anniversary, and a meeting was also held for the new fiscal year. More than 180 staff from all over Germany gathered for the occasion.
A highlight of the event was the sticker album challenge. Over 200 custom-made stickers, featuring employee photos and key milestones from Shimadzu’s history, were designed and presented to employees at the event. Collecting and exchanging stickers sparked lively conversations, laughter, and new connections. Another memorable moment was when all the employees gathered to form the Shimadzu emblem (a cross within a circle), which was captured from above by a drone. It was a joyful expression of the shared spirit and teamwork that defines Shimadzu.
A team photo of the SDG staff at the event
Filling albums and boards with the special stickers to celebrate the 150th anniversary
Events commemorating Shimadzu’s 150th anniversary have been held not only across Europe but also around the world.
We look forward to sharing more stories from different countries and regions in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates.
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