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.