Taguchi developed a MOS-type gas sensor that can detect combustible gases and reducing gases with a simple circuit. Together with his high-school classmates, he began commercialization of the gas sensors under the trade name TGS (Taguchi Gas Sensor) for incorporation into residential gas detectors in Japan as well as other countries.

Taguchi, who was an avid fan of opera, named the company Figaro with the intention to reflect his vitality, enthusiasm and curiosity, just like Figaro, the main character of Rossini's opera "The Barber of Seville".

The company was picked by the mass media as a leading venture company, and became a popular company, with the ratio of applications from students exceeding 100 times. The company also gained credibility as a leading manufacturer of gas sensors through quick development of countermeasures against false alarms by improving gas sensing materials and filters.

The company received the Tanahashi Award of the Electrochemical Society of Japan as the electrochemistry and industrial physics based technology development enterprise for "Development of Semiconductor Gas Sensors".

In anticipation of future overseas expansion, the North American Office was established in Illinois, USA. This US office would later function as a base for global expansion.

The company purchased a building in the Minoo Textile Complex and relocated the head office and factories. With the facilities and environment in hand to meet the needs of society, the company began to build a world-class mass production system.

Figaro received the Technology Award of the Chemical Society of Japan for ”Development and industrialization of SnO2 sintered semiconductor gas sensor”.

A joint venture with RIKEN KEIKI Co., Ltd. was established in Sakurai City, Nara, to expand sales of gas sensor application products.

At a time when Japanese manufacturers were not making many inroads into the Chinese market, the company established a Japan-China joint venturein Tianjin, China, which was rare at the time, and aggressively entered the Chinese market, believing that it would be a base for expansion into Asian market in terms of production and sales.

Legislation to mandate the installation of carbon monoxide alarms was introduced in some U.S. states, leading a sharp increase in orders for TGS203. After 14 years since the establishment of the North American office, overseas business development gained momentum.

The development of new sensing elements based on thick-film printing technology has led to miniaturization and reduced power consumption as well as a significant increase in production capacity, expanding a market from the safety field to the control and comfort field as air quality sensors.

A joint venture SHANGHAI SONGJIANG FIGARO ELECTRONICS., LTD. was established in Shanghai, China for production and sales of gas detectors for Chinese market.

To meet market requirements for battery operable and high accuracy CO sensors, Figaro’s first electrochemical CO sensor was developed and released, bringing further market share expantion in the North American CO detector market.

There was a need for catalytic type gas sensors in addition to MOS-type gas sensors in order to further expand the customer base in Japan and overseas in the field of combustible gas detection. As a response to such need, the catalytic type gas sensor was developed and launched.

Figaro received the Grand Prize of Technology of Japan Gas Association (JGA) for ”Development of commercial ventilation alarm”.

In 2011, it became compulsory in Japan for the passenger transportation industry to conduct breath tests with alcohol testers when departing and returning from work. Since then, new models of breath alcohol tester "FUGO" series have been developed and released in response to changes in market requirements.

Further miniaturization and low power consumption of MOS type gas sensors were achieved through MEMS technology.

The subsidiary company was established in Shanghai, China, with the aim of strengthening sales of gas sensors to the Chinese market.

Figaro was selected as one of the small and medium-sized companies that have secured a global market share of 10% or more for a specific product or service for at least one year within the past three years.