Our Story

A History of Firsts

1927

New beginnings

'EKO Shokai' was founded by Hiroshi Tozawa (pictured) & Eiji Shiina and was the first meteorological instrument manufacturer in Japan.

1933

Made in Japan

EKO started manufacturing the MS-12, the first Japanese-made pyranometer.

1955

Homegrown

EKO launches the first Japanese-designed and built pyranometer.

1980

The ends of the earth

A group of EKO sensors were installed for the first time at the Mizuho Station in Antarctica after being selected by the Japanese Ministry of Education for a long-term research project.

1985

Focusing on the future

EKO produced its first I-V Tracers, research equipment specifically designed for solar power generation systems. 

1990

Going global

EKO launched the MS-210W, the world's first UV-B radiometer.

1998

Quality as standard

EKO obtained its first international ISO standard accreditation for quality management.

2005

Welcome to America

EKO establishes its first permanent office outside of Japan, opening EKO Instruments USA Inc. 

2008

Still growing

EKO Instruments Europe B.V. opens in the Netherlands, bringing EKO closer to customers across the continent with the first EKO technical centre outside of Japan.

2012

A new home

EKO celebrated its 85th anniversary and moved into its first custom-designed HQ in Japan.

2013

Raising the bar

EKO became the first ISO/IEC 17025 certified solar sensor manufacturer in the world, helping to validate and maintain the highest standards in calibration and testing.

2014

More than a manufacturer

Between 2013 and 2015, EKO opened two solar parks near Tokyo, becoming the first, and still only, solar sensor manufacturer in the world to own and operate its own PV plants.

2016

Changing the game

EKO re-defined expectations for accuracy and performance with the launch of the MS-80, the first in a new generation of pyranometers, featuring a state-of-the-art thermopile sensor & quartz diffusor technology.

2019

Prioritising sustainability

EKO made its first public sustainability pledge, a commitment to phase out all possible single-use, and non-recyclable plastics from product packaging by the end of 2022.

2021

EMPOWER

EKO announced EKO EMPOWER, the first global sponsorship and education programme by a solar sensor manufacturer, initially supporting six university-based solar car racing teams from around the world.

2022

A new vision

EKO launches its first 100% Renewable Energy powered website and a new 'Vision & Mission' in preparation for our 100th anniversary in 2027.

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