
Founded in 1897 in Osaka, Japan, Sumitomo Electric Industries is a manufacturer of electric wire and optical fibre cables. The company has since expanded to operate in five business fields: Automotive, Information & Communications, Electronics, Environment & Energy, and Industrial Materials. With over 400 subsidiaries and 280,000 employees in more than 30 countries, Sumitomo Electric Industries has established itself as a leading manufacturer of composite semiconductors, supplying a broad range of products to the global market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of foundation | 1897 |
| Headquarters | Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan |
| Industries | Automotive, Infocommunications, Electronics, Environment and Energy, Industrial Materials |
| Number of subsidiaries | Over 400 |
| Number of employees | Over 280,000 |
| Number of countries | Over 30 |
| Products | Electric wire, optical fiber cables, wiring harnesses, semiconductors, hard metal products, sintered parts, anti-vibration rubber, cemented carbide tools, magnet wires, aluminium alloy electric wires |
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What You'll Learn

Sumitomo Electric Industries' business segments
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. is a manufacturer of electric wire and optical fibre cables. The company operates in five business fields: Automotive, Infocommunications, Electronics, Environment and Energy, and Industrial Materials.
The Automotive segment accounts for 50% of the company's annual sales. Sumitomo Electric supplies wiring harnesses for in-vehicle data and energy transmission, and anti-vibration rubber. The company has been involved in the automotive wiring harness business since 1949 and has since expanded its product range to include aluminium wiring harnesses, which contribute to weight reduction in vehicles. Sumitomo Electric also supplies high-strength aluminium alloy electric wires, which are stronger and more flexible than copper.
The Infocommunications segment involves the production of optical fibre cables and other communication-related products. The company was founded in 1897 to produce copper wire for electrical uses, and it has since expanded its capabilities to include the development of flexible printed circuits (FPCs) and compound semiconductors.
The Electronics segment includes the development and manufacturing of composite semiconductors (GaAs, GaN, InP), which are used in semiconductor lasers, LEDs, and mobile telecommunications devices. This division also supplies magnet wires used in household appliances and industrial motors.
The Environment and Energy segment provides electric wire and cable products that ensure a stable energy supply. These include copper wire rods, power cables, and trolley wires for railways. This business segment also contributes to the development of energy management systems (EMS) for electric vehicles (EVs), helping to manage power generation and load fluctuations in the power system.
The Industrial Materials segment is organised according to product categories, including materials such as cemented carbide and special metal wires. These products are used in various industries, including civil engineering, construction, and automobile manufacturing. This division also manufactures sintered parts used as structural components in automobiles and home electric appliances.
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The company's history
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1897 to produce copper wire for electrical uses. The company has since expanded to become a leading global manufacturer of electric wire and optical fibre cables.
In 1911, Sumitomo Electric Wire & Cable Works was established, and the company laid the first Japan-made high-voltage underground cables. Five years later, in 1916, a new factory was opened, now known as the Osaka Works. The company began producing enamel wires and, in 1920, Sumitomo Electric Wire & Cable Works was incorporated as a limited company.
In 1931, Sumitomo Electric Industries started producing cemented carbide tools, which are now widely used in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries due to their high hardness and wear resistance. The company continued to expand and, in 1961, opened the Yokohama Works. That same year, they supplied wiring harnesses for four-wheel-drive vehicles for the first time.
Sumitomo Electric Industries established its first overseas production subsidiary in Thailand in 1969 and began developing flexible printed circuits (FPCs). The following year, they started producing compound semiconductors, and in 1970, they succeeded in developing and mass-producing the world's first gallium nitride substances.
Today, Sumitomo Electric Industries operates in five business fields: Automotive, Information & Communications, Electronics, Environment & Energy, and Industrial Materials. The company has over 400 subsidiaries and more than 280,000 employees in 30 countries.
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Electric wire and cable products
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI) is a global manufacturer of electric wire and optical fibre cables. The company was founded in 1897 in Osaka, Japan, to produce copper wire for electrical uses. Since then, it has expanded its operations to five business fields: Automotive, Infocommunications, Electronics, Environment and Energy, and Industrial Materials.
SEI's electric wire and cable products division provides a range of products that support a stable energy supply. These include:
- Copper wire rods: The foundation of SEI, these rods are used to make various electric wires and cables.
- Power cables: Essential for the supply of high-voltage electricity, these include underground and submarine cables.
- Trolley wires: Used in railways, these wires were first delivered to Tokyo City in 1916 and have since been implemented in various railways in Japan and overseas.
- Magnet wires: Used in household appliances, automotive electric components, and industrial motors.
- Hybrid products: SEI has developed wire coating technologies that combine rubber, plastic, and ceramics.
In addition to its electric wire and cable products, SEI also manufactures special metal wires for prestressed concrete used in civil engineering and construction projects, as well as special steel wires for the automobile industry. The company has a long history of contributing to the development of Japanese industries and continues to play a significant role in society through its state-of-the-art products and technologies.
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Hard metal products
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI) is a Japanese manufacturer of electric wire and optical fibre cables. The company was founded in 1897 to produce copper wire for electrical uses. Since then, it has expanded to operate in five business fields: Automotive, Information & Communications, Electronics, Environment & Energy, and Industrial Materials. It also has an intensive focus on research and development (R&D) to develop new products.
SEI's hard metal products division manufactures products that are essential for high-speed, high-performance, and high-precision mechanical processing. This division includes special metal wires for prestressed concrete used in civil engineering and construction projects, special steel wires used as tire-reinforcement materials in the automobile industry, and oil-tempered wires for valve springs.
SEI's hard metal products also include sintered parts, which are used as structural components in automobiles and home electric appliances. The company ranks among the top three manufacturers of these products in the world. Additionally, SEI produces cutting tools made from cemented carbide, a material that combines hardness (second only to diamond) with toughness similar to steel. This product, known as "Igetalloy", has gained widespread popularity due to its outstanding performance and diverse applications.
Another product offered by SEI's hard metal division is "Sumiboron", which is primarily composed of cubic boron nitride (CBN) with a special ceramics binder. Sumiboron is sintered under extreme pressure and temperature to create a durable material. Furthermore, SEI has developed "Sumidia", a high-density sintered diamond compact of ultra-fine diamond particles. Sumidia offers superior hardness, strength, and heat resistance compared to conventional tool materials.
Through its hard metal products division, SEI provides a range of cutting-edge tools and components that cater to various industries, showcasing the company's commitment to innovation and technological advancement.
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$12.99

Research and development
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of electric wire and optical fibre cables. The company was founded in 1897 to produce copper wire for electrical uses. Since then, Sumitomo Electric has expanded its operations to five industries: Automotive, Infocommunications, Electronics, Environment and Energy, and Industrial Materials.
One notable area of R&D for Sumitomo Electric is its work in the automotive industry. The company has been supplying wiring harnesses for automobiles since 1949 and has continued to innovate in this area. For example, in 2010, Sumitomo Electric began selling aluminium harnesses, which offer weight reduction benefits for vehicles. Through collaboration with automotive manufacturers, the company further developed this technology, releasing high-strength aluminium wiring harnesses in 2015. These harnesses are stronger, more flexible, and heat-resistant, making them suitable for use in areas with extreme vibration, such as around the engine. This innovation has contributed to improving fuel efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions, and conserving rare resources, as aluminium reserves are more abundant than copper.
In addition to its work with aluminium wiring harnesses, Sumitomo Electric has also developed novel magnet wires with uniform closed microcells introduced into the insulation. These magnet wires exhibit excellent dielectric properties, making them suitable for use in high-voltage inverter-drive motors. The company has also leveraged its expertise in compound semiconductor development to become a leading manufacturer of composite semiconductors (GaAs, GaN, InP). These semiconductors are widely used in semiconductor lasers, LEDs, and mobile telecommunications devices.
Another area of focus for Sumitomo Electric's R&D is the development of hard metal products, such as cemented carbide tools. These tools are widely used in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries due to their high hardness and wear resistance. By utilising fine-particle WC powder, Sumitomo Electric has been able to create sharp shapes with improved precision, meeting the demand for multi-functional and high-performance components.
Sumitomo Electric's R&D efforts also extend to its other business segments. In the Energy and Environment segment, the company has introduced Traffic Vision Green, a mobility service product that supports comfortable electric vehicle (EV) driving. Additionally, they have developed sEMSA, an energy service product that optimises operation plans for distributed power sources. These innovations demonstrate Sumitomo Electric's commitment to addressing societal challenges, such as the reduction of CO2 emissions and the transition to renewable energy sources.
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Frequently asked questions
It is a manufacturer of electric wire and optical fibre cables, founded in 1897 in Osaka, Japan.
The company operates in five business fields: Automotive, Infocommunications, Electronics, Environment and Energy, and Industrial Materials.
Sumitomo Electric Industries produces a range of products including wiring harnesses, anti-vibration rubber, semiconductors, and hard metal products such as cutting tools.
The automotive segment accounts for 50% of the company's annual sales. Sumitomo Electric Industries supplies wiring harnesses, aluminium wiring harnesses, and automotive electric components to the global market.











































