History

1951 – 1960 The beginnings of Noritz baths

Founded on the belief that quality baths bring joy to people, the Company released its Noritz Bath Type A bathwater heater to the market in 1951, with the goal of broadening Japan's bathing culture and raising people's living standards.

1951 – 1960 The beginnings of Noritz baths
  • 1951
    Released the Noritz Bath Type A and B made with tiles that could efficiently retain heat

    Released the Noritz Bath Type A and B made with tiles that could efficiently retain heat

    Released the Noritz Bath Type A and B made with tiles that could efficiently retain heat

  • 1956
    Established research facilities

    Established research facilities

Open

1961 – 1970 Pioneering the switchover to gas-powered bathwater heaters

In the 1960s, Japanese homes widely switched from burning wood and coal to using gas and oil for heat. Accordingly, Noritz began developing gas-powered bathtub water heaters, and launched its highly efficient and smartly designed GS model of water heaters made of aluminum instead of copper, which was commonly used for gas heaters at that time. This marked a major turning point for the Company's switchover from Japan's traditional heating systems to modern gas water heaters.

1961 – 1970 Pioneering the switchover to gas-powered bathwater heaters
  • 1961
    Released the GS model gas water heater

    Released the GS model gas water heater

  • 1962
    Built the Akashi Factory in the city of Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, and began in-house production

    Built the Akashi Factory in the city of Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, and began in-house production

  • 1963
    Released the GQ-4 compact water heater for kitchens and the OM kerosene boiler
  • 1968
    Changed the company name to Noritz Corporation
  • 1970
    Released the Magicon gas water heater controller featuring a switch for igniting and extinguishing the pilot burner from inside the bathroom

    Released the Magicon gas water heater controller featuring a switch for igniting and extinguishing the pilot burner from inside the bathroom

Open

1971 – 1990 Developing multifunctional products

In 1977, Noritz released the Yu-Bic gas water heater, a compact and remotely controlled unit equipped with a water tank for instantly supplying a powerful and steady stream of hot water. With no competing products on the market, the Yu-Bic attracted attention from gas companies and established the Noritz brand as synonymous with hot water heaters.

1971 – 1990 Developing multifunctional products
  • 1972
    Akashi Factory certified under Japanese Industrial Standards
  • 1977
    Released the Yu-Bic gas water heater, with a water tank for instantly supplying hot water
  • 1982
    Released the Yu-core GT Released the Yu-core GT gas water heater with an automatic bath-water reheating function

    Released the Yu-core GT Released the Yu-core GT gas water heater with an automatic bath-water reheating function

  • 1983
    Released the GRQ-1600A fully automatic gas bathwater heater
  • 1984
    Created a corporate identity and renewed the company logo

    Created a corporate identity and renewed the company logo

  • 1986
    Completed construction of an R&D center in the city of Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture

    Completed construction of an R&D center in the city of Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture

Open

1991 – 2010 Expansion into the global

Exploring the possibility that high-efficiency gas water heaters made in Japan could succeed in the global market, Noritz entered the Chinese market at a time when the country was just opening up its economy. Noritz then began taking its highly efficient and functional tankless gas water heaters to the world, venturing into other Asian countries, Europe, and the United States, which was shifting from storage-type to tankless (instantaneous) water heaters amid increasingly strict environmental regulations.

1991 – 2010 Expansion into the global
  • 1993
    Established Shanghai Shuixian Noritz Co., Ltd., as a joint venture in Shanghai, China

    Established Shanghai Shuixian Noritz Co., Ltd., as a joint venture in Shanghai, China

  • 1995
    Relocated headquarters to the Eiko Building (current location) in the city of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, after the Meikai Building was damaged during the Great Hanshin Earthquake
  • 1996
    Acquired ISO 9001 certification, the international standard for quality management systems
  • 1997
    Acquired ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for environmental management systems
  • 1999
    Renamed Shanghai Shuixian Noritz Co., Ltd. as Shanghai Noritz Co., Ltd.

    Renamed Shanghai Shuixian Noritz Co., Ltd. as Shanghai Noritz Co., Ltd.

  • 2002
    Established Noritz America Corporation in California, USA

    Established Noritz America Corporation in California, USA

  • 2004
    Established Noritz Hong Kong Co., Ltd. and Noritz (Shanghai) Home Appliances Co., Ltd.
    Released the Eco-Jozu high-efficiency bath gas water heater.

    Released the Eco-Jozu high-efficiency bath gas water heater.

  • 2005
    Established Noritz (China) Co., Ltd
  • 2007
    Completed construction of a second factory in Shanghai, China
  • 2008
    Entered the Brazilian market
  • 2010
    Released an integrated heating and solar panel system with space heating capabilities

    Released an integrated heating and solar panel system with space heating capabilities

Open

2011 – resent Providing the simple comforts of life

While maintaining its founder's belief that “quality baths bring joy to people,” Noritz marked its sixtieth anniversary by shifting the Group's future focus beyond bathing to the environment, safety, well-being, health, and beauty.

2011 – resent Providing the simple comforts of life
  • 2011
    Competed construction of the Eco-Products R&D Center

    Competed construction of the Eco-Products R&D Center

  • 2013
    Competed construction of the Contact Center

    Competed construction of the Contact Center

    Released hybrid gas and electric water heaters
    Acquired an equity stake in Sakura Bath and Kitchen Products (China) Co., Ltd., making it a subsidiary

    Acquired an equity stake in Sakura Bath and Kitchen Products (China) Co., Ltd., making it a subsidiary

  • 2014
    Acquired Dux Manufacturing Limited, an Australian water heater manufacturer, making it a subsidiary
  • 2017
    Launched the GT-C2462 series of highly efficient heat-recovery water heating systems designed to reduce bathing accidents

    Launched the GT-C2462 series of highly efficient heat-recovery water heating systems designed to reduce bathing accidents

    Released the EZ Series of tankless water heaters with a pre-mixed burner design, compliant with NOx emission and thermal efficiency standards in North America
  • 2019
    Acquired PB Heat, LLC, a US-based gas and oil boiler manufacturer, making it a subsidiary
  • 2021

    Acquired an equity stake in Kangaroo International Joint Venture Company

Open

CONTACT

Contact us if you have an inquiry
about any of our products.

PAGE TOP