History

1972
  • Nagai Bellows founded as a dedicated optical bellows manufacturer
1982
  • Applied for patent of bellows manufacturing method (screen process)
  • Developed new material “NABEL Series”
1988
  • Received patent for bellows manufacturing method (screen process) (Patent No. 1441115)
  • Reorganized as Nagai Bellows Co., Ltd.
  • Developed hood bellows for CT and MRI beds
  • Applied for utility model of hood bellows for elevators (Publication No. Hei1-171964)
  • Defined corporate domain as “bellows that extend when needed and contract when not needed”
1990
  • Joined Japan Photo Industry Association (JPEA)
  • First visit to Photokina (Germany)
  • Yamaguchi Factory to open in Abu Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture
  • Applied for utility model of hood with reflector for laser optical paths (Publication No. Hei3-112717)
1992
  • Joined Japan Photo Imaging Products Association
  • First visit to P.M.A. (USA)
  • Reorganized as NABELL Co., Ltd.
1994
  • Developed ANUL material for medical-equipment hoods; passed UL94-VTM-0 (File No. E1625666)
  • Opened Tokyo Sales Office (Kanagawa Prefecture)
  • First visit to KOFA (Korea)
1995
  • Received investment from Nagoya SME Investment & Development Co., Ltd.
  • Completed new building at Yamaguchi Factory
1996
  • Registered the trademark “NABEL” in the UK
  • Developed “Sensor Bellows” for laser processing machines and filed a patent
  • Filed trademark for “NABEL” in 13 EU countries
  • Co-developed softbox with Camera World (USA) and filed a patent
1997
  • Jointly developed and launched “Standard Bellows” with NICHIDEN Corp.
1998
  • Completed new Mie Head-Office Factory in Saiji, Ueno City; relocated headquarters
  • Established NABELL USA CORPORATION in North Carolina, USA
  • Signed sales-agency agreement with KARNAT Technologies (Israel)
1999
  • Entered technical & sales partnership with Möller (Germany)
  • Completed AF machine building at Yamaguchi Factory
  • Began sales of medical bellows to Analogic (USA)
  • NABELL USA started selling bellows for CT tables
  • Filed patent for “Integrated Welded Bellows”
2000
  • Obtained patent for table-lift bellows method (Falta process) (Patent No. 3103961)
  • Began mass production of sensor bellows for laser processing machines
  • Started full-scale production of AF bellows
2001
  • Began mass-producing C-arm table bellows for GE Healthcare (USA)
  • Started analysis of clean-room bellows test data
  • Conducted durability tests on welded robot bellows
2002
  • First exhibit at JIMTOF 2002
2003
  • Opened NABELL Korea branch in Busan
  • Mie Factory obtained ISO 14001 certification
2004
  • Exhibited high-speed machine-tool bellows at JIMTOF 2004
  • Completed N-TECH sheet-metal plant at Yamaguchi Factory
  • Mie Factory obtained ISO 9001
  • Yamaguchi Factory obtained ISO 19001 and ISO 14001
  • Formed technical partnership with KEYARROW (Taiwan) for metal telescopic bellows
  • Obtained patent for “Integrated Welded Bellows” (Patent No. 3525339)
2005
  • Founder Ryo Nagai became Chairman
  • Norio Nagai became President & CEO of NABELL USA
  • Mr. Don Stewart appointed President of NABELL USA
2006
  • Displayed high-speed machine-tool bellows at JIMTOF 2006
2007
  • Completed Bella-Flex Mie Head-Office Factory at Yumeopolis Iga; relocated HQ
2008
  • Displayed N-SPM telescopic cover & Stahlflex at JIMTOF 2008
  • Obtained patent for “Cartridge-type Light-shield Plate” (Patent No. 4139365)
  • Formulated medium-term plan “Second 21”
2009
  • Relocated and expanded NABELL USA factory
2010
  • Exhibited at JIMTOF 2010
  • First exhibit at IMTS 2010
  • Formulated medium-term plan “Third 21”
2011
  • Joined JAPIC/JAEIC cooperative
  • Obtained patent for “VS Armor” (Patent No. 4833013)
  • Obtained patent for “AS Armor” (Patent No. 4726611)
  • Obtained patent for “SPM-D” (Patent No. 4890596)
2012
  • Established NABELL CHINA in Danyang
  • Obtained patent for “Water Defender” (Patent No. 4988413)
  • Changed HQ address to Ueno Yume-ga-oka, Iga City
  • Exhibited at JIMTOF 2012
2013
  • Changed Israeli distributor from KARNAT to BACCARA
  • Filed trademark, patent & design for “Bella-Solar”
2014
  • Displayed RS Armor at JIMTOF 2014
2015
  • Established joint venture SEYOUNG NABELL in Korea
  • Completed second factory at Mie HQ
2016
  • Obtained patent for “Standing Wall” (Patent No. 6030343)
  • Registered design for “Foldable Solar Generator” (Design No. 1547130)
  • Registered trademark “Dr. Bellows” (Trademark No. 5848608)
  • Exhibited at JIMTOF 2016
  • Established NABELL Holdings Co., Ltd.
2017
  • Registered design for “Cover for Robot Controller with Touch Panel” (Design No. 1595400)
  • Registered trademark “Robot-Flex” (Trademark No. 6006030)
2018
  • Founder Ryo Nagai passed away
  • Developed Robot-Flex®
  • NABELL Holdings certified as official Japanese distributor of TECHMAN ROBOT (Taiwan)
  • Opened NABELL Holdings Nagoya Office
  • Announced TM Robot at JIMTOF 2018
  • Fully entered the factory-automation industry
  • Bella-Solar selected as hometown-tax gift by Iga City
2019
  • Started full-scale tests of eco CUBE filter for EDM machines in Taiwan
2020
  • Completed Building 6 at Yamaguchi Factory
  • Bella-Solar selected as hometown-tax gift by Abu Town
2021
  • Obtained patent for “Protective Cover for Robots (Robot-Flex)” (Patent No. 6850007)
  • Bella-Solar selected as hometown-tax gift by Abu Town, Yamaguchi
2022
  • Obtained patent for “Camera Hood for Robots” (Patent No. 7132628)
  • Registered design for “Polarizing Filter for Image-Detection Cameras” (Design No. 1723654)
  • Opened Nagato Satellite Factory in Nagato City, Yamaguchi
  • Held 50th-anniversary ceremony in Hagi City
2023
  • Joined Japan Machine Tool Accessory Association
  • NABELL Holdings joined Japan Robot System Integrator Association
2024
  • Signed technology partnership with Möller (Germany) on DIAMONDFLEX
  • Fire-hose auto-rewinder “MAKIMAS” received Fire & Disaster Prevention Science & Technology Excellence Award
2025
  • Won the “Mie Prefecture Sustainable Management Award”