News

25 Years in Europe

You are used to reading all about the latest Murata Technologies in this section of Murata Mail but, on this one occasion, we make an exception. Murata celebrates 25 years in Europe and this milestone calls for very special attention. Murata is very proud of its role as "Innovator in Electronics" and has achieved enormous technical and commercial growth in Europe.

In October 1981 the headlines read "Japanese Electronic Component manufacturer Murata purchases the Canadian / US component manufacturer Erie Technological Products". This was the European start of a very successful business and technological adventure. Though it originally started in Dusseldorf, it was not long before Nuernberg, Germany, became the home of Murata Elektronik GmbH. In addition to this factory-based German sales operation, the takeover also brought with it the Italian (Caponago, Milano) and French (Paris) sales companies.

In 1982, a sales office was opened in the UK (in a semi-detached house in Fleet, Hampshire) and in 1989 Murata Electronics Netherlands was founded in Hoofddorp, close to Amsterdam. In 1997, Murata Switzerland was established in Moenchaltorf near Zurich. Local representation as the key for success lead to completing the European organisation with a network of satellite sales offices across Europe, including Finland, Sweden, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Some of you may remember that conducting business in those days was different; communication was by telephone, (expensive and noisy lines with plenty of crackles), and telex. Telex technology was all that was available for electronic transmission of written messages. Not many companies had a fax machine and e-mail was something out of a science fiction book. All ears were subject to the rattle of the typewriters...

And then came the 90s, a decade of unprecedented growth. Sales levels reached recordbreaking heights and doing business in Europe proved to be a constant process of change. For 25 years Murata has been up to doing the job, taking on the challenges that a dynamic and dramatically changing market brings. The new business model came with some hard blows, but in our opinion we have survived better than most. Globally and in Europe, Murata companies remain financially strong and independent.

Our KFS have always been Agility, Flexibility and Innovation; targeting new applications with new and exciting products based on the latest technologies. From the very beginning we understood the importance of building partnerships with our customers.

In that beginning, we were known as an important capacitor company, but this quarter century has shown our wider contribution to the world of electronic components. Capacitors of course, but also Microwave components/modules, Coils, EMI suppression filters, Thermistors, Filters, Resonators, Piezoelectric components, Power Supplies, Sensors, Optical Products, Modules (Bluetooth, DC-DC converter etc.), LTCC and transparent ceramics.

Murata also leads in the field of RoHS and our focus on quality is known throughout the industry. We are targeting approvals like TS16949, the toughest in the market.

We look with excitement to the next 25 years, knowing we can only be successful if we have our customers' support.

We greatly appreciate the trust you have placed in Murata over the past 25 years, and look forward to expanding existing relationships and building new ones.