History of Tamron

November	1950	Founded
October	1952	Established under the name of Taisei Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. with a start-up capital of 2.5 million yens.
October	1957	135mm F4.5 interchangeable lens developed for 35mm SLR cameras World's first interchangeable mount system, "T"-mount developed for use with 35mm SLR cameras
September	1959	Head office and main plant are established in Hasunuma, Omiya-city The "Tamron" brand is registered as a trademark.
October	1960	Industrial Optics Division started
	1961	Mass production of 95-205mm F6.3 telephoto zoom lens for 35mm SLR cameras started for general consumer use, the first in the industry, initiating broader use of zoom lenses
	1965	25mm F/1.9 and 16mm F/1.8 for 1” Vidicon are the first CCTV lenses by Tamron
	1966	Production of lens test plate, ultra precision lenses and prisms started Succeeded in development of a series of lenses with Tamron "Adapt-A-Matic" interchangeable mount system that allows the use of automatic diaphragm control Production of television broadcasting lenses for ITV begins
May	1969	Hirosaki plant is built in Aomori Prefecture Production of interchangeable lenses for single-lens reflex cameras, television lenses, photocopier lenses, etc. begins A branch office is established in New York
April	1970	Company name changed to Tamron Co., Ltd.
	1971	Tamron 12.5-75mm C-mount 6x Zoom released (over 50,000 units sold)
	1976	The "Tamron Adaptall Lens" range with built-in lightweight macro-mechanism and exclusive quick-focus system is introduced.
	1979	U.S. subsidiary, Tamron Industries, Inc., is established in New York "Super-Performance" (SP) series is introduced
January	1981	No. 2 Production building is completed at Hirosaki plant Production of the 6X zoom video camera lens begins
September	1982	Tamron Vertriebsges, GmbH is established in Germany
November	1982	Tamron Industries (Hong Kong) Ltd. is established
	1983	Integrated video camera lens is developed
February	1984	Optech Tamron Co., Ltd. is established in Namioka-machi, Aomori Prefecture
August	1984	Tamron registers with the Tokyo Stock Exchange for over-the-counter trading
December	1984	Capital increased to 3,835,000,000 yen
December	1985	Fine-Giken Co., Ltd. is established to produce molds and dies for precision moldings "Fotovix"--Film video processor introduced
January	1986	Molding plant is established in Owani-machi, Aomori Prefecture First Vari-Focal lens in CCTV, 2/3” 8- 16mm, released by Tamron
	1989	1/2” 6-12mm Vari-Focal CCTV lens introduced
November	1990	Tamron celebrates its 40th anniversary
June	1991	Optech Tamron Co., Ltd. is absorbed by Tamron Co., Ltd.
July	1992	Tamron Mexico S.A. DE C.V. is established in Mexico
August	1992	SLR zoom lens, Tamron SP AF35-105mm F2.8 received the "European Lens of the Year '92-'93" Award World's smallest and lightest high zoom ratio lens for 35mm SLRs, AF28-200mm F3.8-5.6 introduced 1/3” 3.5-8mm Vari-Focal CCTV lens released
August	1993	The AF28-200mm F3.8-5.6 received "European Lens of the Year Award '93-'94", the second year in a row for Tamron
November	1993	The same zoom lens received the '93 Grand Award in the photographic product category in the "Best of What's New" in Popular Science magazine, USA
February	1994	Takeyuki Arai, president/CEO, received Technical Achievement Award from PMDA (Photographic Manufacturers and Distributors Association, USA) and honored at PMA Convention in February
	1995	Acquired 75% capital of Bronica Co., Ltd., entering into medium-format camera business Powerful telephoto zoom lens AF200-400mm F5.6 LD received '95-'96 TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) "Best Lens in Europe" Award AF200-400mm F5.6 LD received the "Best of What's New" in the photographic category in Popular Science magazine, USA
April	1995	Tamron (UK) Ltd. is established in the U.K.
July	1995	Tamron launches medium-format camera business after acquiring shares of Bronica Co., Ltd. a long established manufacturer in the field
November	1995	Hirosaki Plant acquires ISO 9002 certification
February	1996	Launched the second generation model of the AF28-200mm F3.8-5.6 Super with significantly reduced minimum focus distance capability AF28-200mm F3.8-5.6 Super received the "Best of What's New" in the photographic product category in Popular Science magazine, USA
February	1997	AF28-200mm F3.8-5.6 Super received Grand Prix of CAPA magazine, Japan SP AF90mm F2.8 1:1 Macro received "European Lens of the Year '97-'98" Award SP AF28-105mm LD Aspherical (IF) received the "Best of What's New" in the photographic product category in Popular Science magazine, USA 1/3” 3.5-8mm F/1.4 Vari-Focal CCTV lens released
May	1997	Tamron Industries (Hong Kong) is established in Hong Kong
July	1997	Tamron Optical (Foshan) Co., Ltd. is established in Foshan, Quang Dong, Peoples Republic of China
August	1997	The rugged SP AF 90mm F/2.8 macro lens is awarded European-Lens-of-The-Year '97-'98
February	1998	One Million Units Sold of 28-200mm 1/3” 5-50mm Vari-Focal CCTV lens released
July	1998	Bronica Co., Ltd. is merged into Tamron Co., Ltd.
February	1999	AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical (IF) Released
May	1999	AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 received Camera Grand Prix Special Award '99; TIPA Best Lens in Europe '99; European Lens of the Year '99-'00; Popular Science Magazine's Best of What's New '99
June	2000	Tamron Fine-Giken Co., Ltd. is merged into Tamron Co., Ltd. Tamron France EURL is established
August	2000	The AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 LD Super II Macro high zoom ratio lens is awarded European-Lens-of-The-Year The AF28-300mm F3.8-6.3 LD Super II Macro high zoom ratio lens is awarded European-Lens-Of-The-Year.
September	2000	The 645 version rangefinder camera, RF645, is released The SP 24-135mm F/3.5-5.6 wideangle zoom lens is released to commemorate Tamron's 50th anniversary Head Office achieves ISO 9001 certification
November	2000	Tamron 50th Anniversary of foundation commemoration is held Tamron's Hirosaki Plant achieves ISO 14001 certification
May	2001	RF645 is awarded Camera Grand Prize 2001 Journalists Club Special Prize
July	2001	AF28-200 XR Super Zoom (A03) is awarded "TIPA/Best Lens in Europe 2001-2002" RF645 is awarded "TIPA/Best Professional Photo Product in Europe 2001-2002"
August	2001	RF645 is awarded "EISA/European Professional Camera of the Year 2001-2002"
October	2001	Tamron Optical (Foshan) Co., Ltd. acquires ISO9001 & ISO14001 certification.
November	2001	Head Office acquires ISO14001 certification.
August	2002	The AF28-300mm Ultra Zoom XR high zoom ratio lens is awarded European-Lens-Of-The-Year 2002-2003.
August	2003	The SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom is awarded European-Lens-Of-The-Year 2003-2004.
November	2003	Tamron's Namioka Plant and Owani Plant achieve ISO 14001 certification by being integrated into the Hirosaki Plant
January	2004	Tamron's Namioka Plant and Owani Plant achieve ISO 9001 certification by being integrated into the Hirosaki Plant
June	2004	SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical [IF] Macro is awarded "CAPA/2003-2004 Lens Grand Prix in Japan"
January	2005	AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical [IF] Macro is awarded "2004 Nikkei Superior Products and Services Awards Nikei Business Daily Awards for Superiority"
May	2005	AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] Macro is awarded "TIPA/Best Consumer Lens of the Year 2005 in Europe"
October	2005	Tamron Optical (Shanghai) Co., Ltd is established
November	2006	Tamron listed on the 1st Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
August	2007	AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO is awarded "European Consumer Lens of the Year 2007-2008"
November	2007	New production plant of TAMRON OPTICAL (FOSHAN) CO., LTD. Begins Operation
August	2008	AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO is awarded "European Consumer Lens of the Year 2008-2009"
July	2009	TAMRON CO., LTD.India Liaison Office opened in Haryama, India
August	2009	AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC (B003) receives the European Travel Lens of the Year 2009-2010, the American Photo Editor's Choice Awards 2009 Lens of the Year and the Gold Prize in the Interchangeable Lens Segment, Digital Camera Grand Prix, Visual Grand Prix 2009 Acquires certification of ISO/TS16949, a quality management system for the automotive industry
November	2009	TAMRON Europe GmbH. Moscow Representative Office opened in Moscow, Russia
August	2010	SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD (A005) is awarded "Best Product Zoom Lens 2010-2011"
May	2011	18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (B008) receive the first Camera GP 2011 Lens of The Year, the European Zoom Lens of the Year 2011-2012