Makita Logo PNG
The Makita logo is full of life and energy. It demonstrates a leader in its industry. The emblem reflects the company’s active stance and products composed of moving parts designed for work.
Makita began on March 21, 1915, when Mosaburo Makita opened Makita Electric Works in Nagoya. The workshop sold and repaired electric motors, transformers, and lighting equipment. In 1935, the company entered foreign trade by exporting generators and motors to the Soviet Union. In 1938, it became Makita Electric Works, Ltd.
World War II changed the company’s location. In April 1945, as bombing threatened Japanese industrial centers, the plant was moved from Nagoya to Anjo, where Makita remained after the war. The company then focused on electrical equipment needed during Japan’s reconstruction.
The shift to power tools came in 1958 under President Jujiro Goto. In January, Makita introduced Japan’s first portable electric planer with manual control, followed by a wall chaser the same year. In 1962, the range was expanded to include a circular saw and an electric drill, while the company was listed on the Nagoya Stock Exchange. By 1968, its shares were traded in Tokyo and Osaka, and Makita had become a major Japanese power-tool maker.
In 1969, Makita released the 6500D cordless drill, described in the source history as the world’s first rechargeable battery-powered portable tool. Makita USA, Inc. was founded in New York in 1970, followed by Canada in 1973, and later by subsidiaries in France, Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, and Germany. Later milestones included the 6010D drill in 1978, the 7.2 V battery system by 1987, Sachs-Dolmar in 1991, the TD130D lithium-ion tool in 2005, and an 18 V brushless impact driver in 2009.
Meaning and History
The evolution of logos reveals the company’s global expansion. From the very beginning, the owners did not plan to limit themselves to their country of origin; instead, they targeted the West. However, most of the products were sold in Asian countries, as indicated by the bilingual visual sign. The modern emblem demonstrates broad coverage across countries and continents in the primary international language.
What is Makita?
A large corporation that produces electric and gasoline-powered tools and accessories for them. It offers more than 7,000 items in total. Production facilities are in South America, China, the United States, Canada, and Asian countries. The manufacturer has 40 subsidiaries. The headquarters is located in Anjō.
Old
The corporation’s initial logo consists of three levels. The top-level features a circular emblem with the initial capital letter of the name. Such a symbol was suitable for marking products.
In the center, large kanji characters spell the company’s name in Japanese. Emphasizing the local language demonstrated respect and love for the homeland, with a focus on selling products in Japan and nearby countries. Each character is written sharply and clearly. The outlines of the symbols resemble various tools.
In the bottom row, the English word Makita represents the desire to attract foreign buyers’ attention. The name was chosen after the founder, Masaburo Makita, who opened a company that manufactured generators and motors, which later became a power tool conglomerate.
The gradual change in visual elements told the story of the founders’ plans: to expand from a small workshop throughout the country and then to export abroad.
New
The significant expansion of the company, with the emergence of about 40 subsidiaries, required a review of the visual identity. The modern logo represents leadership and energy.
The red calligraphic inscription, with letters connected at the bottom, demonstrates the Japanese people’s great precision and productivity. The choice of palette conveys that, despite its century-long history, the company’s heyday is just beginning, with new achievements and heights ahead.
The capital letter consists of elements arranged in a staircase pattern. The hooks of the “M” form three schematic images of a handheld drill. This technique embodies the corporation’s sphere of activity and reflects its production of tools of various shapes and sizes for large firms and home use.
Font and Colors
The monochrome logo represents a large-scale corporation. The color is typical for leaders. The manufacturer is ready to offer the world something new. The red hue reflects one of the company’s features: innovative technologies. Makita invests significant resources in development. The bright palette is also related to the theme of electricity.
The font resembles Atomicaboy Regular. Slender letters with smooth elements hint at the harmonious shapes of tools and the pleasant feel of touchable materials. The lower extensions of the characters illustrate the construction element common to many Makita products: a battery pack for autonomous operation that attaches to the product from below. Each letter connects sequentially with the next, demonstrating the plugging in of power tools.