Company Profile
> Biography and achievements of our founder of UNISOKU, Dr. Toshihiko Nagamura
Biography and achievements of our founder of UNISOKU, Dr. Toshihiko Nagamura
Dr. Toshihiko Nagamura
Founder, UNISOKU Co., Ltd.
|
We are sad to inform you that our founder of UNISOKU, Dr Toshihiko Nagamura, passed away and his funeral was conducted by his family on June 20, 2023, Tuesday. |
| 17 June 1937 |
He was born in Kitakawachi Tsudamura, now Omine Motomachi, Hirakata city, Osaka.  A child who loved tinkering with machines, naturally developed a wide range of knowledge that led to system development. |
|---|---|
| 1960 | He entered to a company, YANAGIMOTO SEISAKUSHO, later became a section manager. He productized Automatic Polarimeter and developed Stopped-Flow Spectroscopy System with Dr. Keitaro Hiromi. |
| 1970 | He founded Union Giken co., Ltd. and developed High Sensitivity Polarimeter, Fast reaction measurement system (Stopped-Flow Spectroscopy System, Temperature jump system) Laser Light Scattering Photometer, High-sensitivity spectrophotometer. 
Founding members(The one on the left is Toshihiko N.) |
| 1974 November | He founded Union Sokki Co., Ltd.(Former UNISOKU) Union Sokki started sales of Polarimeter・Light Scattering Photometer. |
| 1980 | Union Giken co., Ltd. joined Otsuka Group. |
| 1981 October |
Company name changed from Union Sokki Co., Ltd. to UNISOKU Co., Ltd. 
|
| 1986 April |
UNISOKU completed 1st Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM hereinafter) in Japan to be used in ambient and stated its sales. 
|
| 1991 October | UNISOKU productized Lower Temperature Ultra High Vacuum STM and started its sales. |
| 1993 | He completed doctoral program in engineering of Kyoto Institute of Technology, then achieved doctor's degree of engineering. His academic thesis was ”Instrumental improvements for the emission and absorption (static and transient) spectroscopy, and observation of somephotophysical phenomena.” |
| 1998 July |
The head office relocated for business expansion. (new building completed at current location) 
|
| 2002 September |
He was awarded the Japan Society of Analitical Chemistry Technical Achievement Award. 
|
| 2006 |
He was awarded Measurement Award at International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference 2006 for Measurement Division. 
|
| 2007 April |
He was awarded Osaka Persons of Merit for New Technology Development Award from Osaka Prefecture for achievements in the invention of Lower Temperature Scanning Probe Microscope systems.  |
| 2010 September |
UNISOKU Co., Ltd. joined Tokyo Instruments, Inc. group. Then he became the chairman. 
|
| 2010 November |
He was awarded at the Surface Science Society of Japan for his work of Ultra High Vacuum Low Temperature Scanning Probe Microscope.  |
| 2013 February |
He retired UNISOKU voluntarily.  |
| 17 June 2023 | He passed away at the age of 86. |
A number of systems have been introduced to the world.
(including those made by Union Giken)
Automatic Polarimeter PM-101
High-sensitivity Differential
Refractometer RM-102
Laser Light Scattering Photometer LS-601
Spectrometer with sine bar mechanism
Multi-channel spectroscopy system
As soon as diode-array image sensors were launched, he immediately adopted them for spectrometer detectors and he was the first to commercialize multi-channel spectroscopy system in Japan.
Another legacy of Toshihiko Nagamura
＜Stopped-Flow Spectroscopy System＞
RA-1100
Stopped-flow spectroscopy system with rapid mixing of two solutions. This system was the fastest performance at the time. (1 ms dead time)
RA-401
Stopped-flow spectroscopy system with gas pressure system
RSP-2000
The updated version that was released on 2012
STM systems Toshihiko N. engaged in
USM-202
STM systems in ambient
Kurasurf
STM systems that were offered as OEM
USM-402
STM systems specified in high vacuum
USM-602
The first STM systems specified in ultra high vacuum and low temperature
USM1200
The best-selling LT-UHV STM systems in Japan with added internal vibration isolation mechanism
USM1300
Ultra High Vacuum Low Temperature with high magnetic field SPM which achieved 400 mK Driving force for overseas expansion
USM1400, 4Probes USM1400-4P
A masterpiece born from the idea of the lower tank, a system that meets the needs of researchers
USM1400 TERS
A system deeply involved in the conception and development of predecessor systems
USM1600
Achieved 40mK by dilution freezing method and succeeded in commercialization for the first time in the world