1922
SHOFU INC. was established in Kyoto on May 15, 1922 as SHOFU Dental Mfg. Co., Ltd by Kajo Shofu, who represented the third generation of the Shofu family in the ceramics industry.
As an entrepreneur and researcher, he made it the mission of his new company to produce high-quality porcelain teeth for the Japanese market.
Since its establishment, SHOFU has been committed to research and development, in order to manufacture innovative products for dentistry; this aim still characterizes the corporate spirit.
The company history shows how SHOFU has consistently advanced progress in dentistry.
1925-1959
Development and marketing of:
- carborundum abrasives
- resin teeth
- the first Japanese-made diamond abrasives for contra-angles and turbines
1955
Opening of the Tokyo Sales Office
1960-1979
Development and marketing of:
- spherical amalgam – as a world first
- Brownie, Greenie and Supergreenie silicone polishers for amalgam fillings and precious metals
1965
Opening of the Osaka Sales Office
1971
Establishment of SHOFU Dental Corporation in California
1973
Establishment of Shiga Shofu Inc., a factory producing resin teeth
1978
Establishment of SHOFU DENTAL GmbH in Germany
1979
Opening of the Fukuoka Sales Office
1980-1989
Development and marketing of:
- HY-Bond polycarboxylate, zinc phosphate and glass ionomer cements
- Super-Snap polishing disk system
- Lite-Fil, the first Japanese-made light-cured composite material
- Vintage porcelain system
- Endura, the first Japanese-made hybrid resin teeth
- Vintage OPAL – the world’s first dental porcelain with tooth-like opalescence
1980
Establishment of SHOFU Dental Singapore Pty. Ltd. – since 1987: Shofu Inc., Singapore Branch
1982
Completion of the manufacturing plant for machine-made diamond instruments in Kyoto
1983
Change of the company name to SHOFU INC. – together with managerial and organizational restructuring
1985
Opening of the Sendai Sales Office
1987
Opening of the Sapporo Sales Office
1989
As the first dental company, Shofu Inc. goes public in Osaka and Kyoto
1990-1999
Development and marketing of:
- Lamina system
- Vintage Value Plus and Vintage Halo porcelain systems
- Solidex C&B composite system
- FL-Bond fluoride-releasing, light-cured bonding system
- CeraMaster and CompoMaster diamond-impregnated silicone polishers
- HiLite, Japan’s first bleaching system
1991
Acquisition of the UK dental manufacturer Advanced Healthcare Ltd.
1992
Establishment of the UK sales office SHOFU Dental Products Ltd.
1996
Establishment of SHOFU INC. Shanghai
1996
Establishment of Promech Inc. in Saitama, for the production of articulators
1997
CE certification
1997
Completion of the research center in Kyoto
2000-2009
Development and marketing of:
- Beautifil composite restorative
- ShadeEye NCC computer-aided shade-taking system
- Veracia, the world’s first artificial teeth with nanotechnology
- Vintage AL, Vintage ZR and Vintage MP porcelain systems, and Vintage Art fluorescent porcelain stains
- Ceramage C&B composite
- ResiCem universal luting system
- BeautiBond one-component adhesive
2003
Establishment of Shanghai SHOFU Dental Material Co., the first Chinese manufacturing plant
2005
Establishment of SHOFU Dental Supplies Shanghai Co., the Chinese sales office
2006
Completion of the training center in Kyoto
2007
Listing on the Second Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
2009
Business and capital alliance with Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and Sun Medical Co. Ltd.
2010
Launch of:
- Lite Art light-cured paste stains
- Solidilite V and Sublite V light-curing units
2011
Launch of:
- Beautifil Flow Plus injectable anterior and posterior composite
- Veracia SA semi-anatomical tooth line and Q3-Pack patented setup support
2012
Launch of:
- diamond coated abrasives Dura-Green DIA
- fissure sealant system BeautiSealant
2013
Launch of:
- self-adhesive composite cement BeautiCem SA
- speed investment Ceravety Press & Cast
- Universal Opaque for Solidex and Ceramage
2014
Launch of:
- Beautifil-Bulk bulk-fill composite in two viscosities
- Vintage MP Uni-Layer, single-layer ceramic for PFM restorations
2015
Introduction
- Digital Camera EyeSpecial C-II – for professional dental photography
- Super-Snap X-Treme – polisher for polishing micro-filled and hybrid composites
- Ceramage UP – flowable, light-curing micro-hybrid veneering composite
- Vintage LD – lithium disilicate ceramic to produce all-ceramic restorations
- Vintage LD Press – blanks to produce all-ceramic restorations
- Vintage Art LF – low-melting, fluorescent ceramic stains for internal and external modifications
- SHOFU Block HC / Disk HC – ceramic-based CAD/CAM restoration material for resilient, metal-free crowns, inlays / onlays and veneers
- CAD/CAM Preparation Kit – the preparation set for all-ceramic and hybrid ceramic CAD/CAM restorations
- ZiLMaster – three-step polishing system for timesaving smoothening and polishing of zirconium dioxide and lithium disilicate
2017
Introduction
- Beautifil II LS, low-shrinking – pasty composite for anterior and posterior tooth fillings
- Beautifil II Gingiva & Enamel -gingiva and enamel masses for the intraoral restoration of red and white aesthetics
- HC Primer – for all hybrid ceramic CAD/CAM restorations
- Vintage PRO – optimized leucite-reinforced feldspathic ceramic for the classic WAK range
- Ceramage UP Gum Colors – for a natural looking reconstruction of prosthetic gingiva
2018
Introduction
- Beautifil Flow Plus X – injectable hybrid composite in two viscosities
- OneGloss M -single-stage silicone polisher for composite with pre-assembled stainless-steel shaft for the contra-angle handpiece
2019
Introduction
- SHOFU Universal Primer – for an absolutely reliable bond between resins, dental alloys, zirconium and alumium oxide.
- SHOFU ZR Lucent Disk – highly translucent, multi-layer 5Y-PSZ zirconium oxide with an outstanding strength of more than 1,000 MPa.
- BeautiBond Universal – light curing, self-etching, „All in one adhesive“
- BeautiCem Veneer -light-curing mounting composite for convenient insertion and positioning of veneers, inlays and onlays without time limit
2020
Introduction
- EyeSpecial C-IV – Digital Camera, with video function and polarization filter for professional dental photography
- Vintage Art Universal – ceramic stain system for 2D and 3D staining technology on all monolithic and conventional dental ceramics
- ZirGloss – diamond and alumina based polishing paste for fast and efficient high gloss polishing of zirconium oxide and lithium disilicate
- SHOFU Block HC – high-strength CAD/CAM hybrid ceramic with a flexural strength of more than 270 MPa
