Harada Bussan Kaisha, Ltd. Japan

Founded: April 1, 1961The late Kiichi Harada, father of Akira Harada, our honorary chairman and died in 2005, was a capable representative in Japan of Yale & Towne Mfg. Co., U. S. A. through the years before and after the World War II. Yale & Towne was then one of the world's largest manufacturers of locks and materials handling equipment. He obtained a manufacture / sale license of Yale "Pul-Lift", had it made in Japan and marketed in this country under the brandname of "Hipuller" which was widely accepted. September 1948--Hipuller Sangyosha, Ltd. was established, which started marketing "Hipuller" pul-lift as well as imported YALE architectural and bank locks, door closers and materials handling equipment. April 1961--As business expanded, Harada Bussan Kaisha, Ltd. was established as a trading company by spin off of the "Hipuller" pul-lift business. At the same time, Harada Bussan obtained an exclusive representation in Japan of The Stanley Works, U. S. A. and began handling Steel Strapping Systems & Tools and Electric Tools, imported from STANLEY. Also new business of Nickel-Cadmium Battery started as a distributor of Japanese manufacturer, Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd. for domestic market sales. October 1970--The aforementioned Yale & Towne Mfg. Co. (which was later merged with Eaton Corporation and then with Nacco Materials Handling Group, Inc. ) set up a JV company in Japan named Sumitomo Yale Co., Ltd. (current Sumitomo Nacco Materials Handling Co., Ltd. ) , manufacturing YALE Forklift Trucks, and Harada Bussan began handling export business of Sumitomo Yale forklift trucks and components.