A consistent improvement as a third-party testing organization representing Japan.
KAKEN TEST CENTER General Incorporated Foundation (abbreviated “KAKEN”), Japan Synthetic Textile Inspection Institute Foundation as its predecessor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 1948 (at present, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) has been established with the authorization.
By the subsequent public interest corporation reformation, it shifted to “General Incorporated Foundation” from “Foundation” and also changed the name into “KAKEN TEST CENTER” from “Japan Synthetic Textile Inspection Institution” on April 1, 2011.
More than 20 years from its establishment, while mainly engaged in the export inspection of a chemical fiber and a synthetic fiber, and a domestic demand inspection, it strove for introduction of overseas examination and test technology, and has contributed to development of the textile industry of our country, such activities as drawing up and updating of fiber relation JIS standards.
From the around 1970, started to apparel textile related examination business in earnest, and subsequent early in the 1980s, tackled each inspection / inspection business as imported clothing, is expanded steadily. The status is gradually established also about the overseas operations which made a foray from the mid-1980s.
Now, focusing on examination business, such as domestic distribution or an import, it is continuing the steady pace aiming at the third-party testing body of an international level and more global.
- 1940
-
- Dec. 1948
- Established and authorized by Ministry of Commerce and Industry (currently Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry hereinafter referred to as METI).
Name: Japan Synthetic Textile Inspection Institute Foundation
- 1950
-
- Mar. 1951
- Established Osaka Central Inspection Center (currently Osaka Laboratories)
- Jun. 1953
- Became a “registered inspection agency" of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently METI) based on the Export Goods Control Law
- Feb. 1958
- Became a “designated inspection agency" of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently METI) based on the Export Inspection Law
- 1970
-
- Jan. 1971
- Start of pre-delivery testing for clothing for large-scale mass retailers
- 1980
-
- Aug. 1988
- Business alliance with Korea Textile Technology Promotion Center (currently KOTITI TESTING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE)
- Nov. 1988
- Established Hong Kong TOSCANA CO., LTD. (Currently Kaken Hong Kong)
- Mar. 1989
- Became a “certified testing agency" of the International Down and Feather Bureau
- May 1989
- Became a “certified inspection agency" of the SEK mark of the Textile Products Sanitary Processing Council
- 1990
-
- Oct. 1992
- Began full-scale quality inspection of shoes, bags and other miscellaneous goods
- Jun. 1994
- Business alligance with Shanghai Kakon Apparel Test & Mending Co., Ltd. (currently Shanghai Kakon Inspection & Testing Services Co., Ltd.）
Business alliance with MTL (Merchandise Testing Laboratories) (currently BVCPS HK)
- Sep. 1996
- Business alliance with MTL (TAIWAN) (currently BVCPS (H.K.) Taiwan Branch)
- Mar. 1998
- Tokyo laboratory and Osaka laboratory received ISO 9002 (currently ISO 9001) certification
Business alliance with MTL(INDONESIA) (currently BVCPS INDONESIA)
- Dec. 1998
- Tokyo laboratory becomes certified by the Minister of International Trade and Industry (currently METI) as a testing business operator based on the Industrial Standardization Law (currently Industrial Standardization Act) upon inspection by JNLA. Since then, all offices and laboratories have been accredited as testing business operators.
- 2000
-
- Oct. 2001
- Established Qingdao Laboratory, China
- Nov. 2002
- Established Dalian Laboratory, China
- Aug. 2003
- Established Ningbo Laboratory, China
- Aug. 2004
- Established Wuxi Laboratory, China
- Nov. 2004
- Business alliance with OMIC COPIT (currently BVCPS (Thailand) Limited) in Thailand
- Aug. 2005
- Business alliance with KOTITI VIETNAM LTD. (currently BVCPS VIETNAM) in Vietnam
- May 2007
- Shanghai Kakon Apparel Test & Mending Co., Ltd. (currently Shanghai Kakon Inspection & Testing Services Co., Ltd.） is accredited by CNAS (certified as a laboratory based on ISO / IEC 17025).
- 2010
-
- Apr. 2011
- Japan Synthetic Textile Inspection Insitute Foundation transferred to Kaken Test Center in accordance with the three laws related to reformation of the public interest corporation system.
- Apr. 2012
- Established PT. Kaken Indonesia in Jakarta
- Oct. 2014
- Business alliance with KOTITI Bangladesh Ltd.
- Dec. 2014
- "Quick-drying test" devised by Kaken becomes registered as an international standard (ISO 17617).
- Sep. 2015
- "Hygroscopic heat generation test" devised by Kaken becomes registered as an international standard (ISO 18782).
- Mar. 2016
- Concluded an intellectual property license agreement with GINETEX (a development and dissemination organization for textile product handling symbols) and became the only organization in Japan that has the authority to authorize the use of textile product handling symbols.
- Nov. 2016
- Established Shanghai Kakon Nantong branch laboratory in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China
- Apr. 2017
- Shanghai Kakon Inspection & Testing Services Co., Ltd. became a designated testing agency of the Textile Evaluation Technology Council for antibacterial testing.
- Aug. 2018
- Became an accredited testing agency of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) (Currently World Athletics) for running track paving materials
- Oct. 2018
- Became an inspection agency designated by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) for "throwable artificial turf" at athletics stadiums
- Jan. 2019
- Established Bangalore Office in India (currently Modern Testing Services (India) Private Ltd)
- Oct. 2019
- Became a member of ‘Textile Exchange' as part of our commitment to the SDGs
- Nov. 2019
- Became a member of ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) aiming for zero hazardous substances
- 2020
-
- July 2021
- Environmental Chemistry Analysis laboratory in Osaka Laboratories registered as a test operator based on JIS Q 17025 (ISO / IEC 17025)
- Aug. 2021
- Business alliance with Modern Testing Services (India) Private Ltd
- Nov. 2021
- Became a member of Japan Sustainable Fashion Alliance (JSFA) aiming for "zero fashion loss (appropriate quantity production, recycling, etc.)" and "carbon neutral".
- Jun. 2022
- Established Qingdao Shinan district Office, China
- Nov. 2022
- Certified as a ZDHC Verified InCheck verifier for the first time in Japan to provide a verification service for ZDHC chemical inventory tables
- Jan. 2023
- Started antiviral testing (JIS L 1922 applied, ISO 21702 applied) against the novelcoronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)
- Jun. 2023
- Signed The Microfibre 2030 Commitment, established to reduce the environmental impact of microfibers
