Chronology of Technology
1900-1960s
| Year | Corporate History | New Products | Awards, Industry Firsts, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Incorporated as Rinnai & Co. by Hidejiro Naito and Kanekichi Hayashi | ||
| 1923 | Started delivery and export of gas tabletop stoves, gas ranges, gas ovens, gas water heaters, etc. to gas companies nationwide | ||
| 1938 | Manufactured aircraft parts as factory supervised by army | ||
| 1940 | Changed the Company name to Rinnai Aircraft Parts Manufacturing | ||
| 1947 | Reconstructed factory at Head Office | ||
| 1950 | Reorganized as a limited-liability company and changed name to Rinnai | ||
| 1952 | LP gas nozzle | ||
| 1954 | Opened Tokyo Sales Office (now Kanto Branch Office) | ||
| 1956 | Opened Osaka Sales Office (now Kansai Branch Office) | ||
| 1957 | Established Aichi Factory (now Chubu Branch Office) Formed technological tie-up with Schwank GmbH (German) to manufacture and sell gas infrared burners and develop heaters and cooking appliances that use them |
Schwank gas infrared heater | Developed Schwank gas heater (first in Japan)
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| 1959 | Developed small governor for gas appliances (first in Japan) Began mass production of ceramic plates (first in Japan) Received Chairman’s Award from Institute of Invention Received President’s Award from Nagoya Trade and Industry Bureau |
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| 1960 | Established Inba Factory (later Asahi Factory) | Received Institute of Invention Award Received Ota Award for Schwank gas burner from Japan Gas Association |
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| 1961 | Opened Fukuoka Sales Office (now Kyushu Branch Office) | ||
| 1963 | Opened Sendai Satellite Office (now Tohoku Branch Office) Opened Sapporo Satellite Office (now Hokkaido Branch Office) |
Grill-equipped gas tabletop stove (R-2G) | Developed grill-equipped gas tabletop stove (first in industry) |
| 1964 | Established Oguchi Factory | External-fired gas bath-heating system with governor | Installed governor into gas bath-heating system (first in industry) |
| 1967 | Established Technology Development Center | Schwank commercial-use grillers (Araiso series) | |
| 1968 | Opened Niigata Satellite Office (now Niigata Branch Office) | Ultrathin tabletop cooker with two burners (R-2K)
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| 1969 | Opened Nagoya Satellite Office (now Chubu Branch Office) | Forced-flue gas space heater (RHS-30) | Developed forced-flue gas space heater (first in Japan) |
1970s
| Year | Corporate History | New Products | Awards, Industry Firsts, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Established Rinnai Taiwan Corporation Formed business partnership with Yanagisawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Invested in Yamauchi Yoko (now RT Engineering Co., Ltd.) |
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| 1971 | Changed company name to Rinnai Corporation Established RB Controls Co., Ltd. Established Rinnai Australia Pty. Ltd. |
Developed Convec high-speed gas convection range (first in Japan)
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| 1972 | Received the Ota Award for Convec high-speed gas convection range from Japan Gas Association | ||
| 1973 | Established Rinnai (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. | Developed ceramic burner for grill-equipped tabletop cooker (first in Japan) | |
| 1974 | Established Rinnai Korea Corporation Established Rinnai America Corporation |
Received BL Certification (for excellent home appliances) from Ministry of Construction (Kitchen Appliance section, Water Heater section) Schwank grill-equipped gas tabletop cooker with two burners（R-3GI）  |
Commercialized separate-type built-in range (first in industry) |
| 1975 | Established Rinnai New Zealand Ltd. Established Equipamentos NGK-Rinnai Ltda. (now Rinnai Brasil Heating Technology Ltd.) |
Received Ota Award for gas pressure cooker from Japan Gas Association | |
| 1976 | Established Rinnai Industries (UK) | Received BL Certification (for excellent home appliances) from Ministry of Construction for forced- flue gas hot-air heater (RHS-30) | Received Ota Award for Kamado-daki rice cooker (three-step fire extinguishing-type) from Japan Gas Association Developed drum-type gas clothes dryer (first in Japan)  |
| 1977 | Developed microwave technology | ||
| 1978 | Gas tabletop cooker with flame-failure device (R-3GI-S) BF bath-heating system with shower (RBF-15S) Improved ceramic plate radiation efficiency of Schwank burner (diamond-cut plate) |
Incorporated microcomputer control into high-speed gas range (first in industry) | |
| 1979 | Listed on Second Section of Nagoya Stock Exchange Established Rinnai Precision Co., Ltd. Established Seto Factory |
Established machining factory at Research & Development Headquarters Gas rice cooker with electronic jar (RR-06V, etc.)  |
Developed gas high-speed range with microwave (first in Japan) Developed gas rice cooker with electronic jar (first in Japan) |
1980s
| Year | Corporate History | New Products | Awards, Industry Firsts, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Built-in hobs (stovetops) (RB4 series） Gas fan heater (RC-250A） Forced-flue gas heater: With timer and microcomputer control  |
Received Ota Award for gas rice cooker with electronic jar from Japan Gas Association (first in Japan) Developed gas fan heater (first in Japan) |
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| 1981 | Established Japan Ceramics Co., Ltd. Formed business partnership with Isomura Kiki (now Rinnai Technica Co., Ltd.) |
U-dot gas instantaneous storage-type water heater (RCU-16): With forced flue, remote controller, heater to prevent freezing, etc.
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Equipped gas high-speed range with card operation (first in industry) |
| 1982 | Listed on Second Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange | Established Tokyo office in Research & Development Headquarters Established Electronic Technology Department in Research & Development Headquarters Yukko compact gas water heater (RUX-170)  |
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| 1983 | Opened Hiroshima Sales Office (now Chugoku Branch Office) Listed on First Sections of Tokyo Stock Exchange and Nagoya Stock Exchange |
UT gas small water heater (RUS-5E): With safety device (to prevent incomplete combustion) and push-button ignition function Forced-flue gas hot-air conditioner (RHA-2016) Centralized control system for forced- flue gas heaters (for school use)  |
Jar rice cooker (RR-MA) with microcomputer control (first in industry) |
| 1984 | Opened Takamatsu Sales Office (now Shikoku Branch Office) | Established Osaka Office in Research & Development Headquarters Gas tabletop cooker (RT-3EX): With push-button ignition function and flame-failure device  |
Gas tabletop cooker with push-button ignition function (first in industry) Separate-type built-in range (first in industry) |
| 1985 | Yukko UF gas water heater (RUF-160PW): With forced reheating function and self-priming pump | Received Ota Award for water heater with device to prevent incomplete combustion from the Japan Gas Association | |
| 1986 | High Auto UR fully automatic bath-heating system with water heater (RFS-1601AFP) Built-in big oven (RBR-50 series) In-house transmission system (RNT series): With LP gas safety meter reading system |
Received inaugural Chunichi Industrial Technology Award and Grand Technology Prize for ultracompact water heater from Japan Gas Association | |
| 1988 | Established P.T. Indonesia Opened Hong Kong Representative Office |
Developed afterburner-type smokeless grill (first in industry) Equipped fan heater with gas proportional control function (first in industry)  |
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| 1989 | Bikkuri-Yukko low-priced gas water heater: With microcomputer-driven simulation temperature control |
1990s
| Year | Corporate History | New Products | Awards, Industry Firsts, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Established Tsukuba Research Center (now Tsukuba Training Center) Established Rinnai (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Established Noto Tech Co., Ltd. |
Completed construction of development technology building Gas fan heater (RC-315AC): With air purifier and electric dust-collection system Amenity dry gas room air conditioner (RHW-2018, etc.)  |
Developed gas fan heater with air purifier and inner-flame stove burner (both first in industry) |
| 1991 | Established Rinnai Singapore Pte. Ltd. | Gas tabletop cooker with inner-flame burner (RTS-3TK) Saful series of gas tabletop cookers α Kamado-daki rice cookers (RR-05MGT, etc.): With Kamado-daki control function to promote rapid drying of rice   |
Received G Design Award for α Kamado-daki rice cooker Potting of electronic units for water heaters (first in industry) |
| 1992 | Gas tabletop cooker series: With Age-look (oil overheating prevention device) and low-current consumption gas solenoid valve Heat source of water heater with heating system (RUFH-2402AW): Fully automatic 2-drum/3-water type with “Q function,” Hikaru rimokon (“glowing remote control”), and automatic commissioning Developed technology to support potting of electronic units |
Potting of electronic units for stoves (first in industry) Set-free-type built-in hob (stovetop) (first in industry) |
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| 1993 | Established Shanghai Rinnai Co., Ltd. | Gas-blast type high heat griller (RGM-6, etc.)
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Received Energy Saving Vanguard 22 Chairman’s Award (now Energy Conservation Grand Prize) for blast combustion griller
Eight-stage switchable grill burner (first in industry) Equipped gas oven ranges with weight sensors, humidity sensors, etc. (first in industry) |
| 1994 | Completed construction of new Head Office building | Gas water heater with CO sensor (RUX-1616WF) Dishwasher (RKW-450)  |
Received Technology Award for blast combustion griller from Japan Gas Association Commercialized film-fluorine top-plate cooker (first in industry) |
| 1995 | Acquired ISO9001 certification for all domestic factories | Refrigerant-heated gas room air conditioner (RHW-R3025) Water heater: With “Next-Generation Q” function to support confirmation of maintenance information |
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| 1996 | Established Rinnai Holdings (Pacific) Pte. Ltd. in Singapore Certified by International Accreditation Service (IAS) as an authorized testing agency |
Gri-look series of gas tabletop cookers Senior Safe (RBG-30JF1TS): Gas cooker for elderly people Water heaters: Shower control (Next Yukko series） |
Received Grand Technology Prize for gas-blast-type high-heat griller from Japan Gas Association and Excellence Award in inaugural Eco-Design Competition from three major gas companies
Schwank gas infrared griller: First product to be certified product by Japan Far Infrared Rays Association (first in industry)
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| 1997 | Absorption-type household gas-gas air conditioner (RNAL-50G): CFD-free type Gas water heater (RUX-2403WA): With voice remote controlled auto-stop function
Gas tabletop cooker series with Gourmet 7: With gas flow controlled by latch solenoid Bathroom TV  |
Commercialized absorption-type household gas-gas air conditioner (first in world) Equipped water heater with voice remote controlled auto-stop function (first in industry) Received Energy Conservation Grand Prize (Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Award) for gas tabletop cooker with internal-flame burner (commercial-use) |
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| 1998 | Established Rinnai Hong Kong Ltd. Established Rinnai Viet Nam Co., Ltd. |
75cm-wide glass-top built-in hob (stovetop) (RBG-G730J2R) Gas fan heater with full-fledged air purifier (RC-260TAC)  |
Received Special Prize for absorption-type household gas air conditioner at Eco-Design Competition and Technology Prize from Japan Gas Association |
| 1999 | Formed business partnership with Gastar Co., Ltd. Established RG Co., Ltd. |
High-efficiency condensing gas water heater (RUXC-X2000W) Equipped water heaters with low-NOx burners Hot-water-based clothes dryer Hot-water-based bathroom heater (RBH-W30KE） High-efficiency built-in hobs (stovetops) (RBG-30A5, etc.) Developed water heater electronic units and remote controls for Ariston Thermo (Italy)   |
Commercialized household condensing gas water heater (first in Japan) Developed high-efficiency Super Eco Burner (first in industry) |
2000s
| Year | Corporate History | New Products | Awards, Industry Firsts, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Improved inner-flame burner (Eco-Max Burner) | Received Energy Conservation Grand Prize (Minister of International Trade and Industry Award) for high-efficiency condensing gas water heater | |
| 2001 | Received Grand Technology Prize for high-efficiency condensing gas water heater from Japan Gas Association | ||
| 2003 | Acquired ISO14001 certification for all domestic factories | Gas fan heaters with sterilizing ion function (RC-A291, etc.）
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Received Energy Conservation Grand Prize (Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Award) for glass-top stove with inner-flame burner Received 2003 Good Design Award for gas fan heater Equipped gas appliances with plasma cluster ion function (first in industry)  |
| 2004 | Established Guangzhou Rinnai Gas and Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. | ||
| 2005 | Received Grand Technology Prize for Eco-Jozu condensing water heater with heating system from Japan Gas Association
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| 2006 | Established RBS Thermo Technology Co., Ltd. | Received Grand Technology Prize for bathroom heater/dryer with “Mist Sauna” function from Japan Gas Association
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| 2007 | DELICIA series of built-in hobs (stovetops)
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Received 2007 Good Design Award for built-in hobs (stovetops) Digital terrestrial television for bathrooms (first in industry) |
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| 2008 | Established Rinnai Italia S.r.l. Opened Integrated Logistics Center |
Dishwasher with baking soda cleaning mode
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Commercialized built-in dishwasher with baking soda cleaning mode (first in world） Received 2009 Good Design Award for seven products, including built-in hobs (stovetops), dishwashers, and fan heaters Received Super Nova Star Award (energy-saving award) for gas tankless water heaters from Alliance to Save Energy in the United States |
| 2009 | Established Rinnai Canada Holdings Ltd. | Eco-Jozu high-efficiency condensing water heaters with heating systems (RVD-E series)
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Received 2009 Good Design Award for six products, including built-in hobs (stovetops), drop-in stoves, and Eco-Jozu condensing water heater with heating system |
2010s
| Year | Corporate History | New Products | Awards, Industry Firsts, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Opened Production and Technology Development Center | Eco-Jozu high-efficiency condensing water heater with bath-filling system (RUF-E series) Eco-Jozu high-efficiency condensing water heaters (RUX-E series) ECO ONE hybrid water heater  |
Commercialized household hybrid water heater that combines heat pump and high-efficiency condensing water heater (first in world first). Received 2010 Good Design Award for five products, including built-in hobs (stovetops) and SOLAMO gas water heater that utilizes solar heat Received Grand Technology Prize for DELICIA GRiLLER and DELICIA Udea built-in hobs (stovetops) from Japan Gas Association |
| 2011 | Opened Nishi-Nihon Customer Center | Eco-Jozu high-efficiency condensing water heaters with heating systems (RUFH-E series): Ene-look remote controller (200V series)
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Rinnai-brand hybrid water heater certified as meeting “top-runner standard” (under Standards of Judgment for Residential Construction Clients) by Institute for Building Environment and Energy Conservation (now Institute for Built Environment and Carbon Neutral for SDGs) Received Grand Technology Prize for SOLAMO gas water heater that utilizes solar heat from Japan Gas Association (awarded jointly award Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Tokyo Tateyama Aluminium, Inc., and Gastar Co., Ltd.) Received 2011 Good Design Award for five products, including built-in hob (stovetop), built-in dishwasher, remote controller for water heater with heating system, and commercial-use kitchen unit |
| 2012 | Second-generation ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system
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Commercialized hybrid water heater with heating system that achieved primary energy efficiency of 125%
ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system (160L model) achieved primary energy efficiency of 156% (highest in industry) Received 2012 Good Design Award for five products, including built-in hob (stovetop), remote controller of water heaters, water heater, and ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system |
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| 2013 | Established Akatsuki Factory Opened Parts Center in line with business integration |
Speedy Kanta-kun gas clothes dryer
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Received Technology Prize for Jikabi-No-Takumi gas rice cooker and DELICIA built-in hobs (stovetops) from Japan Gas Association Received 2013 Good Design Award for DELICIA built-in hobs (stovetops) |
| 2014 | LiSSe built-in hobs (stovetops)
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Received Energy Conservation Grand Prize (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award) for ECO ONE hybrid water heater and heating system
 Received 2014 Good Design Award for Jikabi-No-Takumi gas rice cooker, Speedy Kanta-kun gas clothes dryer, built-in hobs (stovetops), built-in dishwasher, and remote controller for floor heating systems Received Kitaguni Energy Conservation and New Energy Grand Prize for hybrid water heater with heating system for the Hokkaido market |
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| 2015 | Acquired Brivis Climate Systems Pty. Ltd. (Australia) Opened Dubai Representative Office |
Third-generation ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system
A-style gas fan heater with plasma cluster ion function  |
Received 2015 Good Design Award for ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system
Commercialized water heater with heating system equipped with “Blackout Mode” to enable hot-water supply during power failure  |
| 2016 | Brought Gastar Co., Ltd. into scope of consolidation | ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system linked with smartphone app and storage battery
Bath-hot! bathroom heater/dryer (standard module type) Remote monitoring unit for commercial-use water heaters (No. 50) DELICIA built-in hobs (stovetops) linked to smartphone app with auto-cooking menu  |
Built ECHONET Lite communication conversion adapter into the ECO ONE dedicated remote control, enabling operation from outside the home via the HEMS system (first in industry) Established maintenance system utilizing remote monitoring unit Received 2016 Good Design Award for remote control terminal for water heaters with heating systems (MBC-300V series)  Developed smartphone app with cooking support function for DELICIA cookers |
| 2017 | Wiz gas fan heater with air purifier LiSSe built-in hob (stovetop) with cocotte plate compatibility  |
Received Energy Conservation Grand Prize (Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Award) for third-generation ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system
ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system (160L model) achieved primary energy efficiency of 156% (highest in industry) Harmo space heater, which combines gas fan heater with electric heater (first in Japan)  Received 2017 Good Design/Best 100 Award for G:101 domino-style gas built-in hobs (stovetops)  Received 2017 Good Design Award for Harmo gas fan heater Launched Dokodemo Rinnai App service Electric bathroom heater/dryer that operates in conjunction with gas bathwater filler/heater (first in industry) |
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| 2018 | Opened Higashi-Nihon Logistics Center | Condensing water heater for U.S. market
LAKUCIE fine tabletop cooker  |
Received 2018 Aichi Environment Award Gold Prize for ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system
Received 2018 iF Design Award for G:101 domino-type gas built-in hobs (stovetops) Received 2018 Good Design Award for gas built-in hobs (stovetops) for Southeast Asian market Began service linking remote controller for water heater with heating system to smart speakers |
| 2019 | Established Brand Promise and redesigned the Rinnai logo |
8kg-type Kanta-kun gas clothes dryer (largest drying capacity in industry)    |
Received Minister of the Environment Award of Cool Choice Leaders Aware 2018 for ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system
Received Encouragement Award at EcoPro Awards 2019 for “Best water heater with heating system” that responds to the energy and environmental issues in each country and region Received 2019 Good Design/Best 100 for domino-type IH cooking heater  Received 2019 Good Design Award for domino-type drop-in hob (stovetop) series |
2020s
| Year | Corporate History | New Products | Awards, Industry Firsts, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Micro Bubble Bath Unit
 +R RECIPE smartphone app
Kanta-kun commercial-use gas clothes dryer with coin timer
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Received Red Dot Design Award for G-LINE series of domino-type drop-in hobs
Received Japan Child Care Advocate Grand Prize 2020 for Kanta-kun gas clothes dryers Received 2020 Good Design Award for Micro Bubble Bath Unit |
