Austria
Belgium - Dutch
Belgium - French
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland - French
Switzerland - German
Switzerland - Italian
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
SMC Corporation was established in 1959 as a manufacturer of sintered metal filters and filtration elements under the trading name of Sintered Metal Corporation.
In 1961 the company launched its first range of pneumatic components, air line equipment, and by 1970 the product range had extended to the manufacture of cylinders.
In 1967, SMC embarked on its first overseas venture in Australia and in 1976 SMC landed in Europe, opening the first subsidiary in Switzerland. Presently SMC has sales offices in 83 countries.
To date there are 36 manufacturing plants worldwide all having ISO9001 and ISO 14001 accreditation. In 2012, it was inaugurated the first European Central Factory in Czech Republic.
The name Sintered Metal Corporation was amended in 1985 to SMC Corporation in preparation for quotation on the Japanese Stock Exchange in 1987.
1959 – Company starts trading under the denomination Shoketsu Kogo Co Ltd, the Sintered Metal Corporation
1961 – First manufacture and sale of pneumatic air line equipment (air F.R.L. units)
1964 – First manufacture and sale of automatic control equipment
1967 – First overseas subsidiary is set up in Australia
1970 – First manufacture and sale of actuators (air cylinders)
1971 - First manufacture and sale of directional control equipment (direct operated solenoid valves)
1976 – First subsidiary in Europe is set up in Switzerland
Establishment of European subsidiaries
1978 –UK & Germany
1986 – Company is renamed SMC Corporation
1987 – Company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Establishment of European subsidiaries
1981 – Italy, Netherlands & Belgium
1986 – Sweden
1988 – France
1991 – Japan Technical Centre completed
Establishment of European subsidiaries
1990 – Austria, Ireland, Spain & Portugal
1991 – Hungary
1996 – Russia
2000 – European Technical Centre is completed
2002 – US Technical Centre is completed
2002 – European Marketing Centre is completed
2004 – European Central Warehouse is completed
2007 – China Technical Centre is completed
2008 – German Technical Centre is completed
Establishment of European subsidiaries
2000 – Poland
2001 – Finland, Estonia & Latvia
2004 – Bulgaria
2005 – Lithuania & Croatia
2011 – Russian production plant starts manufacturing
2012 – Czech Republic production plant starts manufacturing
Establishment of European subsidiaries
2010 – Turkey
Want to know what motivates us?
Find here your closest SMC office
