Sankosha hosts 40th anniversary celebration

Sankosha Manufacturing Corp., which has its U.S. headquarters in Elk Grove Village, held its 40th anniversary celebration in Tokyo, Japan.

Sankosha is an international firm specializing in the manufacturing and distribution of equipment for the laundry and dry cleaning industry.

The gathering of international leaders in the industry celebrated Sankosha's history, innovation and product development at the gala event. Invited attendees to the celebration included Tom Zengeler, president of Zengeler Cleaners with locations in Northbrook, Winnetka, Deerfield, Northfield, Hubbard Woods, Long Grove and two stores in Libertyville.

Sankosha was founded by Mitsuyuki Uchikoshi about a decade after starting his own career in the cleaning business. He began as a dry cleaner in 1968 and from the very beginning, Uchikoshi was always drawn to the role equipment played in the cleaning process. Because he was committed to making that process easier and more efficient, he eventually became a manufacturer of high-end equipment that focused on improving the workflow at every stage of the cleaning process. Additionally, Mr. Uchikoshi was committed to manufacturing the highest quality equipment in the cleaning industry.

After extensive research, Sankosha USA was born in Elk Grove Village in 1993. Uchikoshi's next step was to identify qualified dealers throughout the United States and create partnerships with them, thus providing both sales and service domestically.

Zengeler said he has enjoyed a long history with Sankosha, believing both companies share in their commitment to quality and value that eventually translates into the highest possible level of satisfaction for customers. Because of the close relationship between Sankosha and Zengeler, Zengeler was given the honor of making the ceremonial "toast" to Sankosha and the Uchikoshi family to officially commemorate the occasion.