History

Fastening tools

Kyocera Unimerco (then Unimerco) was founded as a trading company by Hans Foxby in Denmark in 1964. During the first years, the product range consisted of TJEP nail guns and nails. The nails were purchased from a French company.

Following a trip to the USA, Hans Foxby returned home with a contract as sole agent for Paslode nailers and nails in Scandinavia. Concurrently, Unimerco developed its own range of fastening tools under the name of TJEP.

The TJEP range has been continuously expanded with new nailers, finish nailers and staplers, and in 2010, the addition of a wide range of fasteners completed the product range. Today, TJEP is the leading brand of fastening tools in Denmark, and internationally, we are in rapid development.

Cutting tools

In 1966, we started supplying tools for the woodworking industry. Building on these competences, we developed our range of cutting tools. 

Local trading and service company

During the 70s and 80s, service became an important activity because customers demanded regrinding of the cutting tools.

We purchased our first grinding machine and started a collection service for tools needing regrinding in the local area.

National manufacturer, distributor and service company

Our activities spread over an ever-increasing geographical area, while the machine park and product range expanded. Soon, we were also serving the metal and food industries as well as the graphical trade.

At the beginning of the 90s, the construction and manufacture of specialized tools became Kyocera Unimerco’s bid to secure the most profitable production for our customers. During the same period of time, the range was expanded to include measuring tools supplemented by a calibration service.

International consulting manufacturer, distributor and service company

In 1991, we set up a sales company in Sweden as a first step in our strategy towards becoming an international group. In the course of the 90s, we set up businesses in the USA, Norway and the United Kingdom. The expansion, together with a major strengthening of our product range, led to a significant increase in revenue and a doubling of the number of employees during this period of time.

Based on the product range of cutting tools, the international growth increased focus on new customer segments, primarily within the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications and wind turbine industries.

Global tooling specialist and optimization partner

Acquiring the company Dandia Industridiamanter in 2000 gave us decisive competencies in the manufacture of advanced diamond tools. Along with maintenance thereof, this is one of our absolute core competencies today, particularly in relation to the automotive and aerospace industries.

At the same time, through services such as consultancy and customer training, Kyocera Unimerco has made itself known as a professional partner with a wide range of competences who helps manufacturing companies towards more effective production.

While many customers are moving parts of their production to low-wage countries, Kyocera Unimerco sets up companies close to the customers to be able to serve them as well as possible. The opening of our first sales office in China in 2005 represents a milestone in Kyocera Unimerco’s history. In 2010, the then 3 sales offices in the country were supplemented by a facility for production and service of tools. Kyocera Unimerco's Chinese company has now reached a size where it will be carried on by Kyocera's Asian tooling division.

In 2008, we acquired the company Derek Walmsley (now Kyocera Unimerco Tooling Ltd.) in England. The company specializes in counselling and supplying especially inserts and related tool solutions to the industrial market in the UK, including the aerospace, off-shore and medical industries.

Kyocera Unimerco has great expertise in the development and production of tools for optimizing complex and costly production runs. Thus, our products can create value for global businesses within a range of industries by improving their performance.

Kyocera acquires the Unimerco Group

In July 2011, what was then known as the Unimerco Group was acquired by Japanese conglomerate Kyocera. The Unimerco Group had 400 owners at that time, since it was 100% owned by managers and employees.

The change of ownership led to a wider product range, geographic expansion and more employees.

In 2013, Kenneth Iversen retired after 37 years as CEO and President of the Kyocera Unimerco Group.

The same year, Kyocera Unimerco became European head office for Kyocera Cutting Tools.