Corporate History and Development

Around 1957

Around 1961

Our founder Masao Matsutani started a business at Takanezawa in Tochigi Prefecture on May 1, 1956 and established MATSUTANI SEISAKUSYO CO., LTD, in 1959.
After considering which industry would allow us to contribute to the world in spite of the firm’s rural location, he decided to engage in the medical field, where there were unmet needs. At that time, surgical needles made with steel were widely used in the medical field. However, rust caused a problem at the medical frontline, which he took particular note of. He therefore started research and development of 18-8 stainless steel eyed needles. A typical example of corrosion-resistant alloyed steel is stainless steel alloyed with chromium (18%) and nickel (8%).
From this developed our differentiating factor and our aim for the world's best quality.

1970 Takanezawa
Plant No.1

Following the research and development of stainless steel surgical needles, we began R&D for eyeless needles. Making use of the stainless steel needle technology developed for eyed needles, we developed pipe-attached needles followed by pipe-welded needles. Out of safety considerations, we undertook further research to find a way to produce a needle without pipe welding which would instead be fitted with a hole for thread attachment. At that time, competitors were processing needles with drills; however, it was difficult for us to perform the drilling process on our stainless steel material.
We finally reached the solution of using a laser beam to make the hole in the needle.
Only around ten years on from when the first laser was discovered in the U.S. in 1960, most people disagreed with the idea of using a very expensive laser machine for reasons of cost-effectiveness. However, we continued with research and development for laser drilling technology with an unwavering commitment to pursuing safety, and this became the foundation for MANI's subsequent development.
Meanwhile, we felt it was necessary to have products other than needles in order to continue and develop in business and tried manufacturing scalpels, which we thought would complement our product range as they are used in surgery alongside needles. However, we found that the production technology was completely different even though the distribution channels were the same. We possessed the wire processing technology to produce eyed or eyeless needles but not the sheet metal plate processing technology to produce scalpels. Our venture into a different field had failed and we ended up suffering a loss. Learning from that lesson, we made it our policy to focus on extra-fine medical instruments made from stainless steel wire. In other words, we now compete using our original technology within our area of specialty.

1980 Takanezawa
Plant No.2

Following our development of eyed and eyeless needles, we entered the dental market in 1976 with tools for root canal treatment and barbed and smooth broaches.
At the same time, we strengthened existing products. As a result of R&D activities with eyed cutting needles, we succeeded in developing the "pentagon cut", which enhanced our differentiation from competing products and reinforced sales. We also aimed for steady improvement of quality by placing our presswork research and work-in-process inventory for eyed needles on a collaborative basis with the purpose of cost reduction. As the number of patent applications increased around 1980, we adopted a patent strategy to ensure future benefit which focused on acquiring industrially significant patents that pull away our competitors.

1991 Takanezawa
Plant No.3

1993 Kiyohara Factory
established

In the years from 1986 to 1990, we established our Corporate Philosophy, Company Credo, Basic Management Policy, and Basic Business Policy.
"The best quality in the world, to the world ", established as our Basic Business Policy, is directed at our "output" of products and services. It derives from our founder's commitment to being "the best," adopted when the stainless steel eyed needle was developed soon after he started the business. It also implies that it is necessary for our products to be available to all the people of the world if they are indeed to be the world's best quality, and that we ought to feel responsible for depriving patients around the world of good medical treatment if we cannot distribute our products worldwide. In 1993, we entered the ophthalmic market with our sterilized ophthalmic suture. This is a finished product combining needle and thread (we also supply eyeless needles as a component to thread manufacturers). After their market launch, our sterilized ophthalmic sutures gained a good reputation for their excellent penetration, leading to a large market share within a few years.

1996　MANI MEINFA
established

1999　MANI YANGON
established

2003　MANI HANOI
established

As the brand-name "MANI" came to be recognized with the expansion of our product sales, we changed our trade name from MATSUTANI SEISAKUSYO to MANI, INC.
We then established our manufacturing sites in Vietnam and Myanmar, aiming at quality improvement as well as reduction of production costs in the context of the very strong yen of 1995 and a change in Japanese work attitudes which meant that people were no longer willing to perform mundane tasks. Additionally, to improve transparency and facilitate business evaluation through the indicator of stock price, we had our stock registered. In 2004, we reformed our structure to become a company with committees.

2009　MANI VIENTIANE
established

To avoid country risks, an additional production site was established in Laos as our third site following Vietnam and Myanmar. Additional sales bases were also established in Vietnam and China to reinforce marketing in developing countries.
we acquired all shares and ownership of GDF Gesellschaft für dentale Forschung und Innovationen GmbH, which is a leading company in dental restorative material in Germany, aiming for accelerating launch and introduction of new products in developed countries.