The world zipper market is dominated by one manufacturer in particular.
YKK is a familiar sight in zippers. PDO
If you’ve ever looked closely at the zippers of your clothes, you’ve probably noticed a certain detail in many of them.
“YKK” written in capital letters can be found in an American magazine Reader’s Digest including even about half of the zippers used in the world.
But what does that mean?
YKK is an abbreviation that comes from the words Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha. That’s about it Tadao Yoshidan from the Japanese company founded in 1934, which is currently the world’s largest zipper manufacturer.
In addition to zippers, YKK also manufactures other fastening products, architectural products, plastic parts and industrial machines.
Today, YKK zippers can be found in many different types of products, such as clothes, accessories, suitcases and sleeping bags.
An identifiable stamp is printed on each zipper for branding.
YKK manufactures and designs its own zippers from start to finish. It also builds special machines to assemble zippers. PDO
YKK’s by it produces three million kilometers of zippers every year. The company has a good reputation among the fashion industry and its products are known for their durability.
Business Insider according to YKK’s market position is based on complete vertical integration. This means that the company controls every part of the zipper manufacturing process, from melting the metal to packaging the finished zippers.
Zipper developers
Despite YKK’s popularity, the company did not invent the zipper.
Credit for inventing the precursor to the zipper is usually given to an American inventor Whitcomb to L. Judsonwho received a patent for his invention in the 1890s.
The inventor of the modern zipper, on the other hand, is considered to be born in Sweden Gideon Sundbackwhose invention connected the rows with metal teeth.
The zipper got its current name in 1923, when the BF Goodrich Company decided to use Sundback’s product for rubber overshoes.
The company started calling the product a zipper because of the “zip” sound it makes when it is attached. The term quickly spread to a wider usage as well.
The letter abbreviation for zippers was previously brought up in Finland The World of Technology.
