Is this the off shore competitor?
Who Are We?
Sokkia Corporation is the United States subsidiary of Sokkia Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), the world's largest manufacturer of surveying and measuring instruments. Our headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas (a suburb of Kansas City) is centrally located for optimal communications with our nation-wide dealer network.
Sokkia Corporation markets and distributes systems, instruments and supplies for the surveying, mapping, measurement and positioning markets. We are the country's largest single-source supplier for such products.
When customers buy Sokkia, they're buying value. Around the world, Sokkia products are known for their ruggedness, quality and dependability. And we back our products with the industry's best, most complete service and support capabilities-including technical support, product training courses and a factory-trained repair staff.
Sokkia products range from the high-tech (total stations, GPS systems, data collection and software) to the everyday basics (tripods, hand tools and supplies). Primary target audiences are surveyors, contractors, engineers, GPS/GIS professionals and utility providers. But our products are not limited to those applications; we also have customers who are archaeologists, highway patrol accident investigators, shipbuilders, resource managers, and so on. In fact, almost anyone who needs to accurately measure or position something can benefit from Sokkia products.
Mission Statement
In the broadest terms, our mission is to provide advanced measurement solutions that are priced right, that are timed right, that work right, and that are what the market wants. We're as committed to satisfying each individual customer as we are to satisfying the market as a whole.
Company History
The Lietz Years
Sokkia Corporation had its beginning in 1882, when Adolph Lietz founded a surveying, nautical and mining instrument company in San Francisco. From the beginning, The A. Lietz Company emphasized "Quality, Service and Price." Adolph Lietz was an inventor, and his products became synonymous with unique solutions to measuring needs of the day. By 1916, a complete line of drafting equipment was also being manufactured by Lietz.
After 65 years of continuous operation, Lietz stopped manufacturing instruments and became a distributor of products for other manufacturers. Not long afterward, The A. Lietz Company changed its name to The Lietz Company to reflect the company's broader emphasis. The products patented by Adolph Lietz had been joined by other, equally inventive, products. Together, these products were marketed under the umbrella of The Lietz Company.
Alliance with Sokkisha Co., Ltd.
One of the manufacturers whose products were distributed by Lietz beginning in the 1950's was Sokkisha Co., Ltd. Sokkisha was founded in 1920, and the company had quickly grown to become a Japanese pioneer of innovative surveying and measuring products. Sokkisha products offered the high quality Lietz customers had come to expect, and they were popular additions to the Lietz product line from their introduction.
In the 1970's, Lietz became the exclusive distributor of Sokkisha instruments in the United States. Our alliance with Sokkisha prompted Lietz to expand its distribution, from our former area west of the Mississippi River to everywhere in the United States. A nation-wide network of dealers was formed. And in 1978, Lietz moved the company headquarters to the Kansas City area in order to establish a central proximity to our dealer network.
In 1984, Sokkisha acquired Lietz to be its sole marketing, distribution and factory servicing affiliate in the United States. Lietz joined a global network of Sokkisha subsidiaries and agents, helping make Sokkisha the world's largest manufacturer of surveying and measuring instruments.
Sokkisha's Proud Tradition
The history of Sokkisha is, at the same time, the history of Japanese surveying instruments. Sokkisha was founded in 1920 by a group of 13 people who all shared a common goal: to pioneer the Japanese surveying instruments industry. Among the company's achievements are the development and production of Japan's first automatic level, theodolite and coaxial total station. In 1964, Sokkisha introduced the company's patented magnetically damped compensator for automatic levels, which quickly became the world standard.
In the 1980's, Sokkisha expanded its sales network into the worldwide market. The first subsidiary companies were established in the United States, Australia and The Netherlands to better serve Sokkisha's growing international customer base. Today, twenty-five subsidiaries and representatives, as well as approximately 100 agents, represent the company around the world.
During this time, Sokkisha broadened its range of business. Surveying still remains an important aspect of the company's success. But with its broad experience in developing precision measuring instruments, it was a natural progression for Sokkisha to apply its expertise to the manufacture of industrial measurement instruments, GPS systems, and other related products. This diversity has contributed to the solid and stable development of the company, and it will help ensure the company's future success as well.
As the value of a surveying instrument is determined by its accuracy and precision, the value of Sokkisha was reflected in its motto, "Honesty and sincerity." On this foundation, Sokkisha established a vital corporate character that encourages the development of outstanding talent to pioneer the surveying and precision measuring instruments industry.
Transition to Sokkia
During the early 1990's, Sokkisha embarked on a corporate identity project designed to enhance and broaden the company's global marketing. The result of this project was a new brand name: Sokkia.
The Sokkia name reflected the corporate philosophy of both Sokkisha and Lietz: to remain the world's top provider of quality surveying, measuring, engineering and construction instruments and supplies. The logo reveals meaningful symbolism: The large "O" represents the world and our global orientation. That perfect circle also is representative of the precision found in the products that bear our logo. No cross bar is found on the "A"; this character is similar to the way the numeral "1" is written in many languages. Finally, the blue color was chosen to symbolize sincerity - sincerity of the Sokkia commitment to the highest standards in business relationships and respect for individuals, both inside and outside the company.
On January 1, 1992, Lietz formally changed its company name to Sokkia Corporation. Sokkisha Co., Ltd. and all international Sokkisha subsidiaries also changed their names to Sokkia, so that the entire company now presents a unified global image.
Additional Sokkia Co., Ltd. Subsidiaries in the U.S.
Early in 1990, Sokkia Corporation recognized the need for the formation of a separate research and development subsidiary in the United States. Sokkia Technology, Inc. was formed to improve market responsiveness with the development of integrated software-based products that meet the market needs not only of the United States, but other countries as well. Sokkia Technology, Inc. operates as a part of the Sokkia Co., Ltd research and development group. Sokkia Technology, Inc. is located in the Kansas City area.
In addition to its wholesale distribution, Sokkia Corporation maintains a network of factory-direct retail stores known as Sokkia Measuring Systems. Stores are located in Kansas City, Tampa, Minneapolis, Denver, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Sokkia Credit Corporation Offers Financing Options
Sokkia Co., Ltd. was the first surveying and mapping instrument manufacturer to inaugurate its own credit company. In 1996, Sokkia Credit Corporation was formed as part of our global commitment to providing complete measurement solutions. Now the strength of our products is combined with our flexible leasing and installment purchasing plans to create a comprehensive solution to our customers' needs.
Sokkia Credit Corporation develops leasing programs and other financial tools, making it easier for customers to purchase Sokkia products. For specific information on leasing and purchasing plans, contact your Sokkia Distributor or Sokkia Credit Corporation (tel: 913-438-2910).
Sokkia's Worldwide Presence
Today, Sokkia products are distributed in the United States exclusively by Sokkia Corporation. Japanese domestic sales are handled by Sokkia Co., Ltd. in Tokyo. Worldwide distribution is accomplished by Sokkia subsidiaries in Canada, Miami Florida U.S.A. (serving Central and South America), The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Norway, Belgium, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and Korea. In addition, there are Sokkia agents and representatives in more than 100 countries.
We are proud to be an integral part of this global commitment to excellence. Around the world, Sokkia stands for quality, service, value-the same philosophies on which our company was founded. Although we have changed greatly since 1882, our belief in providing the best products and services has remained constant and unwavering. Sokkia associates continue offering only their best to customers, not only in the Unites States, but around the world.
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