Why are Most Zippers Engraved with "YKK"?

This is not a secret code, nor some obscure zipper quality marks. YKK is the name of a large company that produces zippers and many other products.

YKK was founded in Japan in 1934 by Tadao Yoshida. It was initially called Yoshida Industries Kabushiki Kaisha, which roughly means Toshiba Company Limited in English. Yoshida designed his zipper machine. In 1994, the company was renamed YKK. Headquartered in Japan, the private YKK Group consists of 106 companies from 70 countries. YKK makes the whole zipper, including dyed cloth and brass for the zipper.

There are many interesting things about zippers. Let's have a look!

First, let's talk about the history of zippers! In 1891, a man named Whitcomb Judson invented the "clasp".

This clasp is mainly composed of small hooks and buttonholes. Judson believes that this can not only save people's time but also enable people to tie their shoes with only one hand.

In 1913, the Swede Gideon Sandbuck invented the predecessor of the metal zipper we use today and applied for a patent in 1917. Sandbach's design was the first to see the practical use of zippers. His "split buckle" lock catch design allows more fasteners per inch than previous snap rings.

Later, B.F. Goodrich Company used these split button locks in some rubber boots and came up with the name "zipper" because these boots can be fastened with only one hand. Today, zippers can also be made of plastic.

In 1934, Yoshida Koizumi Co., Ltd. was established in Japan (abbreviated as YKK), and 60 years later, the company directly changed its name to a brand name. Headquartered in Japan, this private enterprise is composed of 80 companies and 206 factories in 52 countries. YKK has contracted the whole zipper industry, including dyed fabrics and brass used to make zippers.

You can find YKK zippers in many places: all kinds of clothes, furniture, cars, luggage, sports equipment...

One of YKK's plants is located in Macon, Georgia. The company produces 7 million zippers every day, with 1500 styles and more than 427 standard colors. It is also the largest zipper factory in the world. Macon also produces its unique brass, which is used to make zipper teeth and zipper slider parts. The factory also produces the yarn part of the zipper fabric part and dyes them. YKK even produces zipper machines (that is, they not only sell zippers but also sell zipper-making machines)

YKK has established an aluminum construction product department by using its knowledge and resources since dealing with metals, which now account for two-thirds of YKK's global sales.

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