Koden is a pioneering Japanese manufacturer of quality marine radars, GPS, echosounders and sonars.
A brand for professional as well as recreational use
Koden's equipment is sold in the US under a number of different brand names and has an excellent reputation for performance and reliability after all, Koden Electronics Co, Ltd has been around since 1947 and so has a long-standing reputation (mainly in the professional marine industry.
Koden Electronics was thus founded in 1947, two years after World War II, by Yoji Ito, Doctor of Engineering, who held a key position in the Navy's Technical Research Department as a captain of the former Imperial Japanese Navy, with the hope of making a peaceful contribution to the world with the superior technologies he had developed during his naval time.
Koden's unique radio direction finders were welcomed as pioneering modern equipment that enabled greater capture while providing safer navigation for fishing.
Koden also saw and heard that outside fishing there was a need for their equipment.
It is said that this equipment contributed significantly to the modernisation of the Japanese fishing industry.
Products for marine electronics
Koden introduced persistent technical innovations, such as transistors, integrated circuits, computers and colour visualisation, into its products before its competitors did, and launched a large number of pioneering products one after another.
These products include CRT-type automatic radio direction finders; the first fully Japanese-made Loran A receiver; synchronised sonar; the world's first colour echo sounder and marine colour radar; and Loran C receiver that captured both the Japanese and US markets. Koden's products are also highly valued in the world's oceans.
The company has received many national and public grants, medals and awards for its excellence.
Koden's radar was the first marine electronics product to receive the ‘G-Mark’ certificate for good design in Japan.
Moreover, Koden was already developing GPS equipment for marine use even before all satellites had been put into orbit.
Industrial electronics and networking products
Koden made its name in the history of computers in Japan. As early as 1957, Koden built a prototype computer using Parametrons instead of vacuum tubes. In 1960, the company developed a scientific computer, model KODIC-401. This traditional digital technology also bore fruit in the field of communication networks.
Koden's years of experience in both information signal processing technology and technology for measuring position, distance and depth used in the harsh oceans are now combined. To name a few, ‘Ground Penetrating Radar’ has become known for surveying pyramids in Egypt and ‘Ultrasonic Drilling Monitor for Construction’ is used on high-tech construction sites. ‘Laser Docking Ranger’ and “Land Based Radio Monitoring System” are also created in exchange and in combination with “SWAT”.
Roles and responsibilities imposed on ‘Technology
It seems quite difficult to assess whether the 21st century will be an era of continuous progress and development or a time of chaos and indecision. What is clear, however, is that the mistakes of the 20th century must not be repeated. To avoid situations that could cause ecological disasters as soon as possible and to coexist with nature, ‘Technology’ must be governed with assured intelligence and sensitivity. Currently, it is believed that the tasks imposed on ‘Technology’ are greater than ever and the responsibilities are much heavier.
Koden, a company ‘born and raised’ in the ocean, is now energetically moving forward with fulfilling the roles and responsibilities imposed on ‘Technology’ as an electronics company with rich contact with the earth and community.
Products developed and made by Koden include.
KS322 from 1957
CVS-881 from 1976
MDC-406 from 1981
Kodic-401 from 1960
SRD-202L from 1990
Koden has just launched a new pair of binoculars that will be available any moment. the Sirius 12.
