History History

1950's

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1954
  • Ikuo Takeda founds Advantest, then known as Takeda Riken Industries, in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward.
  • First product, the Micro Micro Ammeter, launched.
1957
  • Company moves to Oyaguchi-cho in Itabashi Ward.
  • The TR-124B—the first electronic counter made in Japan—is launched, and welcomed as an innovative leap forward for convenience, leading to the company's being widely known as "Takeda Riken, the digital counter company."
1958
  • The company launches the TR-81, the first vibrating capacitance ultra-low-current electrometer produced in Japan, in response to increasing demand for electrometers from Japan's nascent semiconductor industry.
1959
  • The company moves to a newly constructed headquarters and factory in Tokyo's Nerima Ward.

1960's

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1962
  • The company launches the TR-3189 105 MHz electronic counter, the world's highest-performance product of its kind. The product is chosen as one of the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun's "Top 10 New Products" for 1962 .
1963
  • The company launches the first Japanese-made digital voltmeter, incorporating functions for measuring direct voltage, resistance, alternating voltage, and frequency. The new product is branded a "digital multimeter."
1967
  • The company holds its first corporate exhibition, "Exhibition of New Products '67," in Otemachi, Tokyo's central business district.
1968
  • A new factory building in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture is completed.
  • As a result of joint research undertaken with the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA) and Iwatsu Electric Company, Ltd, the company commences development of IC testers.
1969
  • The company marks its 15th anniversary with the "Takeda Riken New Product Exhibition," held at Tokyo's famous Yaesu Hall.

1970's

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1970
  • The company releases the TR-5599, a 1,000MHz universal counter with direct counting functionality and the industry's highest performance.
1971
  • On a request from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine Industries, the company develops Japan's first computer-controlled IC test equipment, featuring a test speed of 10MHz.
  • Spectrum analyzer business is launched with the release of the TR-4100, a frequency axis universal measuring instrument known as a tracking scope.
1972
  • The company's newly developed tester is launched as the LSI Test System T-320/20, the first Japanese-made tester. Its 10MHz test speed gains plaudits for its blistering rapidity.
1974
  • Marking its 20th anniversary and the completion of its new facility in Gyoda, the company hosts the "Measurement and Computer Technical Fair" at the Gyoda facility.
1975
  • Mitsuo Goto takes over as president from Ikuo Takeda, who becomes company chairman.
  • The company develops its first dynamic test handler, a tool that automatically feeds devices to a tester.
1976
  • The company is reorganized with a new injection of capital from Fujitsu Ltd., heralding a new era of innovation.
  • The T-320/60, a 10MHz LSI test system, and the memory test systems T-320/70 and T310/31 are launched. The T310/31 becomes a global success as the world's only production DRAM tester.
1977
  • Risei Kaiwa is named company president.
  • The company contributes to the successful launch of a Japanese satellite by supplying measurement instruments for rocket fuel combustion tests to NASDA, the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now JAXA).
  • The Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine Industries awards its "Showa 52 Machine Promotion Society Prize" to the company for its LSI test system development.
1978
  • Under the technical guidance of NHK, the company develops a cheap, compact, and portable spectrum analyzer, the TR-4132—contributing to easier maintenance of television network infrastructure.
1979
  • The company marks its 25th anniversary with the "Exhibition of New Products '79," held in Tokyo and Osaka.
  • In partnership with the Musashino Electrical Communication Laboratory of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (now NTT), the company develops the industry's highest-performance VLSI test systems, the T-3380 for non-memory devices and the T-3370 for memory devices, both featuring test speeds of 100MHz.
  • Digital spectrum analyzer TR-9305 launched, marking the company's entrance into the audio/vibration analysis market.

1980's

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1980
  • The company releases the 20MHz memory system the T310/31E and the 40MHz test system the T-3331, completing, with the T-3330 launched in 1979, a lineup of test systems with speeds ranging from 20MHz to 100MHz.
  • This T-3300 series is chosen as one of the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun's "Top 10 New Products" for 1980.
1981
  • The TR-4172 multifunctional "intelligent spectrum analyzer" is launched, and widely adopted by communications equipment manufacturers.
1982
  • Hajime Sasaki is named company president, while Risei Kaiwa becomes chairman.
  • Takeda Systems, Inc., a subsidiary (now Advantest America, Inc.)is established in New Jersey, USA. The T-3340, a strategic product targeting the global market, earns widespread kudos and sales.
  • The company wins the Okochi Commemoration Prize jointly with the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (now NTT) for their development of VLSI test equipment.
1983
  • The company is listed on the 2nd Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
  • Moves into new headquarters in the NS building in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo.
  • Establishes Takeda Riken GmbH (now Advantest Europe GmbH) in Munich, Germany.
  • Broadens presence in semiconductor test equipment market with the launch of the T3700 series of analog test systems for communications and consumer LSI test, and the T3155 for CCD image sensor test.
  • Enters the signal source market with the launch of the TR-4511, a multifunctional signal source combining three types of signal generator in one instrument.
1984
  • The company constructs a new manufacturing facility, the "Gunma Factory," in Gunma Prefecture.
1985
  • The company ascends to the 1st Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
  • Company’s name is changed to Advantest Corporation.
  • Becomes the world’s leading semiconductor test equipment provider by market share.
1986
  • The company establishes Dong-Hwa Advantest Co., Ltd. (now Advantest Korea Co., Ltd.) in Seoul, South Korea.
  • Establishes Advantest Singapore Pte. Ltd., expanding services to Southeast Asia.
  • 16 optical measurement instruments, including the TQ8345 spectrum analyzer, are launched, marking the company's entry into the rapidly expanding optical communications market.
1987
  • The company opens a new factory in Otone, Saitama Prefecture (now the Saitama R&D Center).
  • Launches the T7341, a mixed signal test system for analog/digital ICs used in ISDNs and digital audio systems.
  • Launches the R4611 network analyzer for high-precision measurement of components and circuits for mobile communications devices and video recorders, etc.
1989
  • Hiroshi Oura is named president.
  • The R3261 spectrum analyzer for the mobile communications market becomes a best-selling product.

1990's

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1990
  • The company establishes Advantest Taiwan, Inc. in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
  • The company becomes the world's first private firm to install and operate a Josephson Voltage Standard System for precise metrological calibration.
1991
  • The company ranks first in American research firm VLSI research's 1990 Customer Satisfaction Survey of semiconductor manufacturing equipment users.
1992
  • The company adopts the profit center approach and cash flow management.
  • Enters the LCD test market with the launch of the industry’s highest-resolution LCD driver test systems, the G4350 (for R&D) and the G4310 (for volume production).
1993
  • The company announces the "Advantest Charter on the Global Environment."
  • "Advantest Beijing Technical Seminars '93," an event introducing the company's products and technology, held in Beijing to mark the company's formal entrance into the Chinese market.
  • The T6691, a VLSI test system featuring an industry-best test speed of 500MHz/1GHz, is launched.
  • The U4941—a portable RF spectrum analyzer for field maintenance use—is launched, and becomes the company's first product to win a design award from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry).
1994
  • By organizing functions as module blocks, the company develops a compact, light base station analyzer for digital mobile communications infrastructure use, the R3465.
1995
  • 250MHz S-DRAM memory test system T5581 launched; become a best-selling product.
  • The company adopts a merit-based group-wide objective personnel management / evaluation system.
  • First company website unveiled.
1996
  • The company opens a new R&D center in Gunma Prefecture, designated the Advantest Group's worldwide R&D hub.
  • The T6671B VLSI test system—delivering a 4x smaller footprint and 80% lower test cost than its predecessor product—wins the Minister of Trade and Industry Award at the Machine Design Awards sponsored by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun.
  • The company launches sales of the F5120, a high-throughput electron beam lithography tool capable of etching patterns on silicon wafers at the 0.18μm scale—expanding its field of operations to include front-end semiconductor manufacturing processes.
1997
  • The company establishes an EB Lithography Division, signaling its commitment to the business.
  • Launches the high-end, high-accuracy T5591 memory test system, featuring a test speed of 500MHz / 1GHz, and the T6682 LSI test system, with industry-best performance metrics of 1GHz test speed and a maximum 1,024 pins.
  • The R3131 low-cost, low-end spectrum analyzer, designed to meet market needs, is launched and becomes another hit product.
  • The Nikkei Shimbun ranks Advantest first in its "Nikkei Ranking of Excellent Companies."
1998
  • The company airs its first TV commercial during the Nagano Olympics.
  • Launches a flicker analysis system to contribute to the safety of animated television programs.
  • Ranked first, for the second year running, in the Nikkei Shimbun's "Nikkei Ranking of Excellent Companies." Advantest is rated highly for the scale of its operations and its profitability and stable growth outlook.
1999
  • The company establishes the Advantest Code of Conduct, an ethics manual for employees.
  • Introduces performance-linked bonuses, based on cash flow.
  • Launches the T6672, an industry-best LSI test system delivering improvements in footprint, affordability, and throughput over its predecessor the T6671, developed in 1995.
  • Announces a lineup of solutions targeting the WDM market, anchored by the best-in-class Q7750 optoscope and the Q8384 optical spectrum analyzer.

2000's

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2000
  • The company acquires the semiconductor test equipment division of Asia Electronics, Inc.
  • Develops the AVA (Advantest Value Added) index, based on the Economic Value Added index (EVA), to quantify the company's capacity to create value, and also adopts ABCM (Activity Based Costing Management) to improve employee productivity.
  • The Nikkei 225 selects Advantest as one of the 225 stocks on which the Nikkei Average is calculated.
  • Releases the T8531 image sensor test system for CCD sensors used in digital cameras, reentering the image sensor test market.
  • A new personnel system emphasizing accountability, based on the concept of competency, is adopted.
  
2001
  • The company takes a stake in Japan Engineering Co., Ltd.
  • Toshio Maruyama is appointed president.
  • Advantest is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
  • The second building of the Gunma R&D Center is completed. The facility includes one of the largest biotopes in Japan.
2002
  • The company posts its first loss since going public, and undertakes thoroughgoing business reform.
  • Construction on the Kitakyushu R&D Center is completed, with the goal of reinforcing services to Asia region customers.
  • The company adopts US accounting standards to calculate its consolidated results.
2003
  • The company begins quarterly reporting of earnings.
  • Begins manufacturing process reform based on Just-In-Time production principles.
  • Launches the T2000, an open architecture SoC test system.
  • Introduces executive officer system and reinforces the oversight and monitoring functions of the Board of Directors by separating these from its executive functions.
  • Enters the automotive device market with the launch of the T7721 advanced mixed-signal test system.
  • Advantest sells the R&D and manufacturing rights to some of its standard measuring instruments, including its digital multimeter and voltage and current generator, to ADC Corporation in an MBO transaction.
2004
  • The company marks its 50th anniversary.
  • Relocates headquarters to the Shin-Marunouchi Center Building in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district.
2005
  • Enters the mask CD-SEM business.
  • Launches the T5501 and T5588 high-end DRAM memory test systems and the M6300 memory handler.
2006
  • Adopts non-executive director system.
2007
  • Completes construction on a new factory in Sendai and starts manufacturing MEMS switches for test systems.
  • Established the Advantest D2T Research Division within the campus of VDEC (the VLSI Design and Education Center at the University of Tokyo)
2008
  • Acquires Credence Systems GmbH, a European manufacturer of test systems for automotive semiconductors.
  • The company receives an Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ) award for its MEMS switches.
2009
  • Haruo Matsuno is appointed president.
  • Posts largest loss in company history, intensifies reorganization and reform efforts.
  • Introduces a new global sales structure, the "Account Sales Initiative."
  • Launches the T5503, a memory test system for DDR3 volume production.

2010's

2010
  • Launches 3D terahertz imaging and analysis system, the TAS7000.
2011
  • Acquires American semiconductor test equipment provider Verigy, Ltd.
  • Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. Advantest's facilities in Sendai, near the epicenter of the disaster, are up and running again within days.
  • Launched the TAS7500 series of terahertz spectroscopic imaging systems. Expanded terahertz system sales into pharmaceuticals, new material R&D and structural analysis.
  • Launches handler production in South Korea.
  • Launches the V93000 Smart Scale test system.
  • Launches the T5573 NAND flash memory package test system.
  • Saitama Employment Development Association recognizes Advantest Green Corporation (AGC), a fully-owned subsidiary of the Advantest Group, as an "Excellent Workplace for Persons With Disabilities," and awards it the association's Chairman's Prize.
2012
  • Launches CloudTestingTM Service, a new business offering on-demand testing services.
  • Unifies domestic and international personnel systems to promote optimal assignment of employees around the globe.
2013
  • Acquires American firm W2BI.COM, entering wireless system level test market.
  • Completes new factory in Cheonan, South Korea, significantly expanding test handler and device interface product supply capability.
  • Launches T5831 test system for NAND flash memory and MCPs.
  • Begins shipping probe card for NAND flash memory.
2014
  • Launches EVA100 measurement system for analog and mixed signal ICs.
  • Launches MPT3000 SSD test system.
  • Shinichiro Kuroe takes over from Haruo Matsuno as president & CEO.
2015
  • Launches T6391 test system for display driver ICs.
  • Develops HadatomoTM photo acoustic microscope for non-destructive imaging of blood vessels.
2016
  • Switches from the US-GAAP accounting standard to IFRS.
  • Launches MPT3000HVM SSD test system, entering SSD volume production test market.
2017
  • Yoshiaki Yoshida replaces Shinichiro Kuroe as president & CEO.
  • Ships 5000th V93000 test system.
2018
  • Announces Mid Long-Term Management Policy.
2019
  • Acquires semiconductor system level test business from Astronics Corporation.

2020's

2020
  • Acquires American firm Essai, Inc., reinforcing the high-precision test solutions.