Founded as Kyoto Ceramic Company Limited in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori, to manufacture ceramics (specifically a ceramic insulator used in television tubes); renamed Kyocera Corporation in 1982; began camera production after acquiring Yashica Co Ltd in 1983, continuing to produce cameras under the Yashica and Contax brands (production ceasing in 2005); currently (2011) involved in printing, digital imaging systems electronic devices, telecom equipment, semiconductor components and applied ceramic products.