Shimano History
2005
• Shimano Kumamoto Co., Ltd. is established.
• Acquired the stocks of Hallman Sports AB (present Shimano Nordic Cycle AB) and Hallman Sports O.Y.
Established sales firms in the three Scandinavian countries.
2003
• Shimano (Kunshan) Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd. is established in Kunshan, China.
• Shimano (Tianjin) Bicycle Components Co., Ltd. is established in Tianjin, China.
• OOO Shimano Eurasia is established in Moscow, Russia.
2002
• Shimano Taiwan Co., Ltd. is established in Taiwan.
2001
• Shimano (Shanghai) Bicycle Components Co., Ltd. is established in Shanghai, China.
• Shimano Czech Republic s.r.o. is established in Czech.
2000
• The stock of Ets A. Bertin S.A. in France is acquired.
1999
• Golf Division is launched
1998
• The stock of Alfred Thun S.p.A. is acquired and the name is changed to Shimano Italia S.p.A.
1997
• Action Sports Division is launched.
• Shimano Europe Holding B.V. is established with investment in kind from Ultegra Nederland B.V. and Shimano (Europa) GmbH.
• The stock of G.Loomis Inc. is acquired.
1996
• Shimano (Mersing) Sdn. Bhd. is established in Malaysia .
1995
• SHIP system (Smooth and Hi-Power System) is developed for spinning reels.
1992
• Shimano (Kunshan) Bicycle Components Co., Ltd. is established in Kunshan, China.

• The Cycle center (Bicycle Museum) opens.

• The Stella reel, equipped Shimano Balance Lock (SBL) is released.
1991
• The name is changed to Shimano Inc.
• Shimano Centre Interbike N.V.(current Shimano Belgium N.V.) is established.
• P.T. Shimano Batam is established in Indonesia.
• The Shimano Cycle Development Center is established as a foundation.
• Shimano XTR series of ultra-lightweight pro-spec high performance MTB components is released.
1990
• Shimano Components (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. is established.
• Shimano Italy Fishing S.r.l. is established.
• The stock of Alfred Thun S.p.A.(current Shimano Italia S.p.A.) is acquired.
• SPD(Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) is released.
• STI concept Dura-Ace dual control levers are released.
1989
• Shimano Benelux B.V., Shimano Benelux Fishing Tackle B.V. and Ultegra Nederland B.V. is established in the Netherlands.

• Shimano Total Integration (STI) concept Rapidfire Remote shift lever for offroad bikes is released.
1988
• Shimano U.K. Ltd. is established, and begins sales of fishing tackle.
• Shimano Cycling footwear (shoes) is released.
1984
• A new Dura-Ace series equipped with the groundbreaking Shimano Index System (SIS) for shifting is born.
1983
• Shimano Canada Ltd. is established.
1982
• The Deore XT series for MTB is released.
1981
• "X-line" series rods are released.
1980
• Shimano AX aerodynamic racing component system introduced.
1978
• Bantam series of reels are released.
• Shimano exhibits at AFTMA (the starts of full-fledged sales of fishing tackle abroad).
1974
• Shimano Sales Corporation is established in California, USA.
1973
• Shimano (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. is established in Jurong, Singapore.

• Stock listing rised to 1st Section of both Tokyo and Osaka Securities Exchages.
• Shimano comes out with Dura-Ace series of road racing components.
1972
• Shimano (Europa) GmbH is established in Düsseldorf, West Germany.

• Stock is listed on 2nd Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange.
1970
• Shimano Yamaguchi Co., Ltd. is established in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
• Fishing Tackle Division is launched.
1965
• Shimano American Corporation is established in New York.
• Shimano exhibits at Milan Bicycle Show in Italy (the start of full-fledged sales in Europe).
1962
• Full-fledged sales begins in the United States.
1961
• The 3-speed hub is entered at the International Toy and Cycle show (in New York) to a sensational response.
1960
• Cold forging technologies are developed.
1957
• Production of internal speed changer (3-speed Hub) begins.
1956
• Production of external speed changer (the first Shimano derailleur) begins.
1951
• The company name is changed to Shimano Industrial Co., Ltd.
1940
• The company is incorporated. The name is changed to Shimano Iron Works Co., Ltd.
1931
• Shimano begins to export its original freewheel.
1921
• Shozaburo Shimano establishes Shimano Iron Works. Begins production of the bicycle freewheel.