Founded: April 1, 1961

The 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.