Katashi Aoki
Nissei Plastics Industrial Company, Ltd
Inducted 2011
Katashi Aoki (1913 – 1988) was one of the pioneers and innovators in the Japanese plastics industry when it was in its infancy. Repatriated from Manchuria upon Japan’s defeat in World War II, he established Nissei Plastics Industrial Company, Ltd. in 1947. Today Nissei is recognized worldwide as one of the leading suppliers of injection molding machines and as a company that pushes the cutting edge of new technology.
Katashi’s devotion to new technology became a leading force for the rapid growth of the plastics molding field for many decades. Constantly inventing until his death at the age of 75, Katashi received 932 patents for his work developing machinery for plastics processing. The Japanese Administration awarded Katashi the prestigious Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1963 and Orders for the Sacred Treasure in 1983 for his continuous contribution to the nation and the betterment of society through his inventions and engineering knowledge.
Katashi founded the Japanese Society of the Plastics Industry in 1975. In 1980 he received the Award for Superior Merit from the Society of Plastics Engineers in the United States. This was the first time the award had been given to someone outside of the U.S.
In 1990, the Japan Society of Polymer Processing established the Katashi Aoki Award for new technology in his honor. This award established an honorable recognition for continuous innovation and new technology for the plastics industry for future generations.
Areas of Expertise:
Plastics machinery, Business management