Olympus America

Milestones

Olympus has been in business for more than 90 years. Over the course of those years Olympus has achieved numerous milestones, many of which are listed below.

2011

  • Olympus Corporation formed a new company, Olympus Biotech Corporation, and acquired Osteogenic Protein-1 (OP-1) assets from Stryker Biotech L.L.C.
  • Olympus acquired Spirus Medical, Inc.

2010

  • Olympus acquired Spiration, Inc.
  • Announced the world's smallest and lightest 600mm equivalent telephoto lens (M.Zuiko 75-300 mm).
  • Introduced world's smallest and most powerful optical zoom (30x) all-in-one design (SP-800UZ) compact camera.
  • Launched BX3 series upright microscopes with enhanced ergonomic and environmental features.
  • Formed Olympus Memory Works America Inc.

2009

  • Olympus celebrated its 90th anniversary.
  • New E-P1 introduced as the world's smallest 12.3-mexapixel interchangeable lens system camera.
  • Olympus advanced less invasive surgical procedures with innovative technology for Laparo-Endoscopic Single-Site surgery (LESS).

2008

  • Olympus acquired Gyrus ACMI.
  • FluoView FV10i introduced as the world’s first self-contained laser scanning confocal microscope.

2007

  • Olympus Medical Systems Group introduced Endo Capsule in the United States.
  • New E-3 digital SLR camera released in conjunction with three, new Supersonic Wave Drive Zuiko Digital lenses.

2006

  • Olympus America Inc. relocated its headquarters to Pennsylvania.
  • Olympus America Inc. acquired Bacus Labs.
  • New Stylus 720 SW digital camera released as the world's first shock-resistant and waterproof camera.
  • Olympus and Movaz Networks launched Olympus Microsystems America, Inc. for the purpose of full-scale entry into the optical networking components market.
  • Olympus America Inc. announced an asset purchase agreement with Optical Elements Corporation (Opelco).

2005

  • Olympus Medical Equipment Services America Inc. established in North America to strengthen endoscope product repair and other services.
  • Medical Systems Group introduced EVIS EXERA II 180 series high definition system. The world's first to deliver both high definition (HDTV) and narrow band imaging (NBI) technology.
  • Joint development agreement for interchangeable lens type digital SLR cameras signed between Olympus and Panasonic.
  • The industry's first 1GB Voice-Trek V-50 and 512MB Voice-Trek V-40, the industry's first 1GB and voice 512MB voice recorders released.

2004

  • Olympus Imaging Corp. and Olympus Medical Systems Corp. established in a separation of the Imaging Systems and Medical Systems businesses.
  • m:robe MR-500i HDD motion music player and m:robe MR-100 HDD music player released.

2003

  • Acquired the majority of Stream Line GmbH, a leading clinical laboratory automation manufacturer and the Olympus OLA2500 Lab Automation System is launched in the U.S. market.
  • E-1 digital SLR camera and interchangeable lens system released.
  • Life Science Group established.
  • Company name changed to Olympus Corporation.

2002

  • Established Olympus Latin America Inc.
  • Introduced CAMEDIA TruePrint™ Digital Imaging and Printing Kiosks.
  • Developed the world's first DNA computer for gene analysis.
  • Developed VISERA™ video system for endoscopic surgery/examination.
  • Introduced the MIC-D Digital Microscope; an educational tool that utilizes USB technology to produce a live image viewable on a computer monitor.
  • Announced the New OLA2500™ Lab Automation System and the Next Generation AU400™ and AU640™ e-Class Analyzers.

2001

  • KeyMed Inc. renamed Olympus Industrial America Inc.
  • Introduced Voice Trek DM-1 recorder equipped with MP3 recording.
  • Reached 22 million Stylus film cameras sold.
  • Reached 10 million CAMEDIA digital cameras sold.
  • Announced the Market Release of the AU2700™ and AU5400™ Chemistry Immuno Analyzers for high-volume needs.

2000

  • Together with Polaroid Corp.®, announces the C-211 Zoom, the first digital printing camera in the United States.
  • Introducd the BX45 - the first microscope designed with a stage that is three-inches lower than standard microscopes.

1999

  • Introduced the stylish, high-resolution C-2000 Zoom filmless digital camera and the Eye-Trek portable TV display is introduced in the U.S.

1998

  • Introduced the D-1000 Digital Voice Recorder with ViaVoice, the iZoom 75 Advanced Photo System camera and, from Olympus Tokyo, the "Eye-Trek" Face Mounted Display.

1997

  • Set an industry record, with 10 million Stylus cameras sold worldwide.
  • Production facility received ISO 14000 certification.

1996

  • Entered the digital camera field with two award-winning models.

1995

  • Opened offices in Italy and in Melville, N.Y.-Olympus America's new corporate headquarters.
  • Introduced the world's first fixed stage electrophysiology microscope with fluorescence illuminator - the BX50WI.

1994

  • Olympus Diagnostica and Olympus Software Europe began operations to serve the evolving needs of our customers.

1993

  • Opened a production site in Ireland and a new plant in Japan, as well as offices in Norway and Denmark.
  • Introduced the BMAX microscope series and the infinity-corrected optical system.

1992

  • Introduced the Pearlcorder L400, the world's smallest pocket dictation machine with an integrated loudspeaker.

1991

  • Introduced the Infinity Stylus along with the world's smallest endoscopic camera, the OTF-F2.

1990

  • Premiered the all-in-one camera concept with the IS-1.
  • Introducesdultra-thin endoscope systems for angioscopy.
  • Opened camera factories in Hong Kong and Guang Dong, China.

1989

  • In its 70th Anniversary year, the company opened offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

1987

  • Olympus came out with SLR autofocus and the Endoscopic Video Information System.
  • Opened Latin America (LAD) office in Miami, FL to serve its customers in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Developed the magneto-optical disk drive, and the next year introduces transcribers with Microcassette™ systems for the European market.

1986

  • Along with United Biomedical, Olympus developed a reagent to detect AIDS antibodies.

1983

  • Combined Olympus Corporation of America and Olympus Camera Corporation to form Olympus Corporation (now Olympus America Inc.).
  • During the next three years, introduced its industry-benchmark PK7000 automatic, pretransfusion, blood-testing system, as well as the PK300 immunoassay analyzer.
  • Came out with the AFL QuickFlash fully automatic, compact camera, the AES600 automatic electrophoresis system, an ion deposition printer, and a static induction transistor prototype.

1982

  • Became listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
  • Opened its new European headquarters, as well as offices in Austria and a major new plant in Japan.

1980

  • Brought acoustic microscopes and ultrasonic endoscopes to market, and introduces the laser optical pickup system.

1979

  • Introduced Microcassette™ transcribers.

1978

  • Introduced compact cameras.

1977

  • Established Olympus Camera Corporation in the United States to market Olympus consumer products.

1974

  • Introduced the BH system microscope.
  • Developed direct, through-the-lens metering for its SLR cameras.
  • Opened offices in both England and the Netherlands.

1972

  • Released the OM System and establishes itself as the pioneer in the development of compact SLRs.

1971

  • Introducesdits first automatic clinical analyzer.
  • Introduced the Vanox universal research microscope.

1969

  • Introduced the Zuiko Pearlcorder, the world's first Microcassette™ tape recorder.

1968

  • Began doing business in the United States, marketing Olympus scientific products as The Olympus Corporation of America.

1959

  • Introduced the Olympus Pen half-frame camera, and four years later, the Olympus Pen F becomes the world's first half-frame single lens reflex camera.
  • Introduced the GTF gastrocamera with fiberscope so doctors can begin performing new medical procedures.
  • Opened its first European offices in Hamburg, West Germany.

1955

  • Released the Olympus Wide which inspired a wide-angle camera boom among photographers in Japan.
  • Introduced measuring equipment to the industrial market.

1952

  • Photographers in the general public embraced the new Olympus Flex twin lens reflex camera.

1950

  • Introduced the first medical camera, the Gastrocamera, which was enthusiastically received by The Japan Surgery Conference.

1949

  • Officially changed its name to the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

1948

  • Unveiled the Olympus 35, Japan's first 35mm camera with a lens shutter system.

1940

  • Introduced the Olympus Six, and inside of four years builds two new plants in Nagano, Japan to handle growing demand.

1936

  • Developed the first Zuiko photographic lens for the first Olympus camera, the bellows-type Semi-Olympus I.

1935

  • Opened an Optical Research Center.

1930

  • Developed its first metallurgical microscope.

1921

  • Olympus is first used as a brand name by the company.

1919

  • Opened for business under the name Takachiho Seisakusho, and within one year produces our first microscope.