In the late 1950s, Shu Yuan Hsu was a man with an inquisitive nature and a mind that expanded beyond his small fishing village in rural Taiwan. He was an agricultural cultivator, a tradesman, and a business owner who had a passion for finding the most efficient way to do things.
Shu Yuan Hsu was an entrepreneur who came from humble beginnings. He was fascinated with solving problems. One of his first inventions was a mechanism for extracting rocks out of water pipes to keep them clear during the drilling of wells. Typically, when companies encountered this problem, they had to abandon the project. His invention made it possible to complete more projects, in turn creating better business results for the companies.
After he sold this first invention, Shu Yuan Hsu began producing and selling rice noodles — always looking for ways to improve the efficiency of the process. During this time, he invested in a small motorcycle to use on deliveries.
One day, the motorcycle broke down. Shu Yuan Hsu took it to a mechanic who told him that the oil seal had failed. At the time, oil seals were imported from Japan, and very expensive to replace.
Shu Yuan Hsu’s inquisitive mind saw a problem that could be solved. He began to study and understand rubber technology, and with his sons developed the very first oil seal produced in Taiwan.
He held on to his strong conviction in innovation over the years, and business dealings in his local town drove the values of integrity and perfectionism. Even in retirement, Mr. Shu Yuan Hsu would walk through K.O.K. factories, engaging enthusiastically with employees and ensuring that everything was running in the most efficient manner.
Today, these values of integrity, efficiency, and innovation are still the absolute foundation upon which KOK operates.
Along with the first oil seals, many of the early machines used to mold them were designed by Shu Yuan Hsu himself. Today, some of those machines still prove to be the most efficient and precise methods of getting things done.
In 1963, K.O.K. International built a well regarded name for itself in the local Taiwanese manufacturing market. Our original oil seal was quickly adopted as the first choice in the Automobile and Motorcycle OEM markets in Taiwan. Since then, our craft has been perfected, and K.O.K. polymeric solutions are now international contenders among industry leaders.
Demand for K.O.K. oil seals grew quickly, leading to the need to establish additional manufacturing facilities in emerging markets.
As the KOK name earned trust from well known customers, they began requesting complementary components.
Motivated by this customer demand, the K.O.K. product range began to diversify to O-Rings, static seals, boots, bellows, other pneumatic seals and rubber and engineered plastic parts for a variety of applications in a broad range of markets.
The custom of innovation and perfection has continued over time. K.O.K. International has repeatedly invested more than the industry standard and worked meticulously to be a high quality OEM supplier of a wide range of rubber, rubber-bonded and engineered plastic products.
Over the course of investments, expansions and establishing facilities around the world, KOK has continued to learn, gain experience, develop and evolve into the multinational manufacturing leader it is today.
Through maintaining a solid value system built on a continuous focus on innovation and integrity in both business practice and product, KOK has evolved to become one of the world’s leading innovators of polymeric solutions. But what sets us apart is our commitment to the success of our customers.
We partner closely with our customers to assist them in achieving their goals. Mr. Shu Yuan Hsu’s original concepts of innovation, integrity, and creating win-win situations and continuous improvement mean that our customers get the best quality and the best results, always.
K.O.K. was the first in the industry in Taiwan to earn two distinctive quality certifications, QS9000 and ISO 9001, and is still the first choice of many OE manufacturers around the world. See our industry specific quality certifications below.
A quality standard developed by a joint effort of the “Big Three” American automakers, General Motors, Chrysler and Ford in the 1990s. This standard has been retired, and replaced with IATF 16949.
A quality standard with criteria of a strong orientation to the customer, including a number of consolidated customer specific requirements.
Sets the criteria for a quality management system used by manufacturers globally, and is the only standard for quality management for which certification can be earned
Our philosophy means to meet the demands of our customers – providing solutions for customers with even the highest quality requirements.
Innovation is at the core of everything we do. That means finding innovative ways to reduce waste, improve processes, and create a sustainable future for our customers, employees, communities, and the planet.
Read more about our sustainability promise.
From clean room production of completely custom designed seals to high-quality and high-volume metal parts, K.O.K. can produce the parts you need to your exact requirements.
See our capabilities here.