KYB’s journey began in Japan over 100 years ago.
In November 1919, our founder Shiro Kayaba left the prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo, at the age of 21 to open the Kayaba Research Centre with 30 researchers. Today KYB is one of the biggest hydraulic companies in the world, present in 89 countries and employing over 15,000 people.
Here, you can see some of the key milestones on our journey:
The Kayaba Research Centre was founded by Shiro Kayaba, he was aged just 21.
The Kayaba Research Centre burnt to the ground in the fires following the great Kanto earthquake.
Kayaba Manufacturing Co Ltd was established.
Gifu North Branch Plant (presently known as Gifu North Plant) was established. This is now the largest shock absorber factory in the world.
Gifu works (presently known as Gifu South Plant) was established.
A sales subsidiary was established in the United States.
A Shock absorber production joint venture was established in Indonesia.
A Shock absorber manufacturer in Spain was jointly acquired.
A Shock absorber production manufacturing joint venture was established in Malaysia.
A Shock absorber manufacturing subsidiary was established in the United States.
A Sales subsidiary was established in Germany.
A Shock absorber manufacturing joint venture was established in Thailand.
A joint venture was established in Spain for manufacture of hydraulic components for automobiles.
KYB UK was established in Warrington.
KYB France was established in Cergy Pontoise.
KYB Italy was established in Milan.
KYB Iberia was established in Madrid.
An automotive shock absorber manufacturing subsidiary was established in Czech Republic.
Sales offices were established in China and Mexico.
A sales office is established in Thailand.
KYB Middle East was established in Dubai.
KYB Eurasia was established, based in Moscow.
KYB Poland was established in Szczecin.
An additional automotive shock absorber manufacturing company was established in Spain (KAMS), supplying both OE and aftermarket.
A new European Regional Headquarters was established in Germany.
Harmofreq is a shock absorber that changes damping force according to the input vibration frequency. It was a ground-breaking product, highly acclaimed for superb ride comfort and handling.
An aftermarket hydraulic shock absorbers sales company was established in Panama.
KYB Ukraine was established in Kiev.
KYB Romania was established in Timisoara.
Operations started at a new Developmental Experiment Centre: an exclusive, purpose built test track for automobile and motorcycle components.
An aftermarket sales company was established in Russia.
A hydraulic components manufacturing and sales company was established in Mexico.
A joint venture, KYB Chita Manufacturing Czech, was established in the Czech Republic (KMCZ). A purpose built coil spring factory to support the increasing demand for KYB K-Flex coil springs across Europe.
An aftermarket sales company was established in Curitiba, Brazil.
Our trading name was changed to KYB Corporation.
KYB and PSA jointly developed a new passive shock absorber, applied initially to the Citroën C5 Aircross. Citroën calls the award-winning system Progressive Hydraulic Cushions.
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KYB Turkey was established, in Istanbul.
KYB announced a sponsorship agreement with current World Rallycross (WRX) champions. The team already used KYB’s highly sought after electronic power steering when KYB came onboard as a sponsor. After 2 years of development the team also started using KYB dampers. KYB became principle team sponsors in 2020.
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KYB’s Intelligent Damping Control suspension system is used as original equipment on a selection of prestige vehicles. This smart technology uses a monocamera to analyse the road profile, working with four height sensors and three accelerometers to measure the vehicle’s reactions including speed, braking and steering angle. The control unit continuously calculates the optimum shock absorber settings to mitigate any irregularity and create a unique and smooth driving experience.
For more information click here.
A new logistics platform opens in Germany.
A new European head office and technical centre opened in Munich, Germany.
Internal shock absorber friction is controlled by using newly developed materials for sliding parts, and variable hydraulic fluid additive adjustment technology. Prosmooth delivers both a luxurious ride and superb cornering.
KYB celebrated 100 years since Shiro Kayaba opened the Kayaba Research Centre in Tokyo.
Swedish team KYB Team JC, running in their first ever FIA World Rallycross Championship, won the 2020 World Rallycross as Teams Champion, by a margin of 16 points over its nearest rival.
Premier Data Supplier is the gold standard in TecDoc data quality. The criteria for this top level of status have significantly more stringent content requirements. KYB is the first shock absorber manufacturer to be awarded this status.
The 2021 World Rallycross Championship was won by KYB EKS JC driver Johan Kristoffersson, the most successful WRX driver to date. This was his 4th World RX Championship and his first season with KYB EKS JC.
Until now this technology has only been fitted to brand new manufactured vehicles, however, now it is available as aftermarket parts from KYB Europe. KYB is the only company to offer these parts to the aftermarket.
KYB Advanced Manufacturing (KAMS) based in Spain, launched a unique and interesting project called ‘Twin-Zero’. The target is to create a digital twin of a manufacturing line, in order to try to achieve zero anomalies, predictive maintenance, finished goods and raw material traceability. All this with the parallel objective of achieving a more sustainable manufacturing process and final product.
KYB moved it’s European aftermarket headquarters from Dusseldorf to Munich.
KYB Europe opened a new warehouse near Angers (49) to provide a local service to its distributor and auto centre customers in France, the Benelux and French Overseas Territories.
