The SCREEN Group traces its history back 150 years to Ishida Kyokuzan Printing Works, a lithographic printing shop founded in Kyoto in 1868. In 1934, we succeeded in producing Japan's first photographic glass screens, eventually leading to our R&D division being spun off as an independent venture company in 1943 to become Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Our corporate name actually originated with those first glass screens.
Through the years, the SCREEN Group has continued to meet the rapidly changing needs of various fields, including the electronics industry, particularly in the semiconductor and display markets, and the printing industry, our foundational business area. Our cutting-edge solutions have also enabled us to open up a range of innovative new areas. From our humble origins, we have grown steadily to become a global enterprise with numerous products that hold top shares in their respective markets.
As the SCREEN Group has grown, we have built our expertise in the areas of surface processing, direct imaging and image processing, developing them into our three core technologies. Working from this foundation, we have continued to target sustainable growth, including the development of new business opportunities, with a view to creating a strong and diversified corporate portfolio.
The SCREEN Group is constantly working to satisfy the expectations of each of our many stakeholders. We have implemented various initiatives to enhance the transparency and soundness of our operations, including, in 2014, our transition to a holding company structure with the associated change of our corporate name.
We have also committed ourselves to the promotion of CSR-based management emphasizing ESG* criteria and participation in the United Nations Global Compact. These and other initiatives have been well received, resulting in the Group's inclusion in the prestigious JPX-Nikkei Index 400 and certification for the Japanese government's 2018 health and productivity white 500 list.
We are already in the second year of "Challenge 2019", our latest three year medium-term management plan. This strategy is based on our corporate philosophies of "Sharing the future", "Human resource development" and "The pursuit of technology" and will continue to guide our progress for the fiscal period from March 2018 to 2020. As always, the Group's core goal remains the further enhancement of our corporate value.
April 1, 2018