110 Years of Pride
and Further Challenges
We are proud to mark our 110th anniversary and extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support. On this milestone, we have established the "VESSEL Philosophy" as our promise for the future. Guided by our spirit of "Think Solutions!". we will continue to challenge the boundaries of manufacturing to contribute to a society filled with smiles.
VESSEL tools serve as a bridge—addressing challenges and fulfilling needs to bring smiles to people everywhere.
This purpose is the reason we have continued for over 110 years and will continue into the future.
We deeply understand our customers’ unspoken needs and deliver originality that sets us apart.
Our mission is to "exceed expectations delivering" products and services that make customers say, “That’s VESSEL,” and bringing moments of surprise and delight to professionals around the world.
True innovation begins by being on-site, understanding real conditions firsthand.
We do not create what already exists.
Instead, we deliver products that make customers say, “This is exactly what I needed,” fulfilling real expectations in the field.
Times of change create the greatest opportunities for new value.
We never settle for past success and continuously challenge the unknown.
This relentless spirit has driven our contribution to professionals for over 110 years.
Our greatest pride is the trust our customers place in VESSEL quality.
We are committed to quality that ensures safety and peace of mind, going beyond mere precision and durability. We will continue to uphold the reliability that professionals trust in every field.
The true nature of every challenge lies with the people who use our tools.
We do not impose solutions. We listen, collaborate, and create together.
Through ongoing dialogue and co-creation, we build trust and generate new value.
We believe that people are our greatest asset.
We are committed to creating an environment where each of our approximately 780 employees can feel their own growth and work with a smile.
The passion that enables our employees to realize their dreams is what drives us to deliver the highest quality to our customers.
Founding Era
The Dawn of the VESSEL Group and the
Founding of Taguchi Iron Works
At the age of 15, Ginosuke Taguchi founded Taguchi Iron Works, launching Japan’s first mass production of screwdrivers.
The "Tang-Thru Screwdriver," a masterpiece in Japan’s tool history, was introduced and remains a staple product to this day.
To bring its products to the world, the name “VESSEL,” symbolizing a large merchant ship, was registered as a trademark.
Growth Era
Strengthening Production and Sales,
Expanding the Group
The company was reorganized into a corporation and renamed Nihon Nejimawashi Co., Ltd. (Japan Screwdriver Co., Ltd.).
Japan’s first Phillips screwdriver was introduced, laying the foundation for future industrial bit technology.
With the introduction of injection molding machines, VESSEL launched Japan’s first plastic-handled screwdriver.
Anticipating changing market needs, VESSEL introduced its first impact air screwdriver, including the "GT-F" model.
Expansion Era
Entering New Businesses and
Building a Global Foundation
A chance discovery led to the world’s first double-ended bit, an innovation that became a global hit.
Manufacturing and sales operations were separated, establishing VESSEL Tools Co., Ltd. (now VESSEL Co., Inc.) as the sales arm.
To meet growing demand for Tang-Thru screwdrivers, VESSEL Fukuchiyama Co., Ltd. was established.
VESSEL Shimane Co., Ltd. was founded as a production base to support the booming demand for bits.
The ergonomically designed Ball Grip Screwdriver was introduced, becoming a signature product.
Transformation Era
Leadership Change, Challenges,
and Reinvention
The company was renamed VESSEL Industrial Co., Ltd., marking a new chapter.
VESSEL Thailand was established as the company’s first overseas manufacturing base.
The flagship “Megadora” series was launched, marking VESSEL’s entry into the global market.
Torsion bits were introduced, forming the foundation for today’s high-performance solution bits.
Breakthrough Era
Advancing Toward a Global Future,
A Challenge for the Next 100 Years
In response to customer needs, VESSEL introduced electrostatic discharge (ESD) control devices using proprietary technology.
VESSEL Europe was established in France to strengthen its presence in the European market.
The "VE Series electric screwdrivers" were launched, connecting users of ESD control systems.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, VESSEL TOOLS U.S.A. was established to expand into the North American market. Furthermore, we also established VESSEL China to pioneer the Chinese market.
Innovation Era
Building the Future
Through Innovation and Collaboration
Inspired by real-world challenges, the “Electric Ball Grip Screwdriver” was launched, a hybrid of manual and powered tools, becoming a major hit. (now known as the e-ASSIST Screwdriver.)
VESSEL began manufacturing and selling SP AIR products, strengthening its presence in automotive and body repair markets.
Yuichi Taguchi assumed the role of President, with a vision to strengthen the VESSEL brand, particularly in the U.S. and European markets.
Driven by strong customer support, sales surpassed 10 billion yen, alongside new initiatives toward sustainability and corporate value enhancement.
The “VESSEL Philosophy” was established and shared across the organization, built around the guiding idea of “Think Solutions!”
At just 15 years old, Ginosuke Taguchi founded Taguchi Iron Works.
At the time, slotted screwdrivers were being imported into Japan as accessories for textile machinery. Seeing this, he believed, “If we make them ourselves, this can become a business.”
He established Japan’s first dedicated mass production system focused solely on screwdrivers.
Around 1930, while considering a trademark for overseas expansion, Ginosuke Taguchi came across the term “Vessel Schedule” at a trading company in Kobe.
The name perfectly matched the image of a large merchant ship fully loaded with products setting sail for the world, and its strong, memorable sound made it an ideal choice.
It was registered as a trademark in 1933.
At the time, when producing inch-size bits for export, both ends of a shaft were machined before being cut in half.
An engineer noticed the piece before it was cut—with blades on both ends—and realized that even if one side became unusable, the other side could still be used.
This shift in thinking led to the double-ended bit, which became a major hit and a global standard supporting the assembly industry.
With a simple structure—a resin-molded head fitted with a coiled spring—this product could be placed over a steel hammer to convert it into a resin hammer.
It is an original product that embodies VESSEL’s approach of never overlooking small ideas and insights, and turning them into tangible solutions.
In a field once focused purely on function, VESSEL introduced design.
By successfully developing multi-color molding—combining different colored resins into a single grip—it established the foundation for today’s molded grip designs.
With VESSEL’s original cam-rotation mechanism built into a through-type structure, this screwdriver allows users to loosen rusted or damaged screws simply by striking it with a hammer.
Featured on television, it became a major hit and was at times difficult to obtain due to high demand.
The JIS was established to define the precision required to drive screws securely without damaging them. During its formative years, it was VESSEL’s internal standards that were adopted as the national benchmark for Japan. Our philosophy of "Protecting quality on-site" became the Japanese standard, and today, it transcends borders and industries to powerfully support work all around the world.
In an era where our products are used globally, quality and environmental stewardship define a company's true character. VESSEL was among the first in the industry to achieve ISO certification, establishing a system to deliver consistent reliability to every job site. For us, this is more than just compliance with regulations—it is a framework for taking responsibility for the results of our customers' work and competing on equal terms with the world.
High-quality tools that are safe and durable not only reduce waste but also support the pride of those who use them. In addition to improving product longevity and pursuing environmental initiatives such as carbon neutrality, VESSEL is dedicated to "creating a workplace where everyone can work with a smile." For us, the SDGs are not a special initiative, but an extension of the manufacturing philosophy we have cultivated for 110 years, which we will carry forward into the future.
Expo 2025 VESSEL participated in the “Reborn Challenge” exhibition at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion at Expo 2025.
Under the theme of a future maintenance facility for flying vehicles, we presented the possibilities of next-generation tools and work environments.
Building on the future envisioned at the Expo, VESSEL will continue to support evolving manufacturing workplaces.
Supporting Global Manufacturing
Based on the VESSEL-ISM passed down since our founding, we have continued to create products that serve manufacturing workplaces around the world.
Going forward, we will expand our global presence and broaden our business domains—supporting more people and contributing to manufacturing worldwide.
VESSEL will continue to take on new challenges.
Toward Japan’s No.1 Hand Tool Manufacturer
As a long-term vision, VESSEL aims to become Japan’s No.1 Hand Tool Manufacturer in terms of sales.
To achieve this, we will advance innovative product development, strengthen production capacity, and improve employee engagement.
Through these efforts, we will build a stronger foundation and support the next generation of manufacturing.
For over 110 years,
under VESSEL-ISM,
we have stayed close to the challenges faced in workplaces around the world
—creating products that solve and fulfill those needs.
We will continue to value co-creation
—thinking together with our customers and creating value together.
Through innovative products and services,
we will continue to deliver surprise and inspiration.
Guided by our philosophy,
“Think Solution!”,
we will continue to take on new challenges toward a society filled with smiles around the world.
That is our promise.
