For anyone who relies on a fresh, sharp edge, the name Olfa is synonymous with quality and innovation. Founded in Japan, Olfa didn't just create a utility knife; they invented the concept that is now a worldwide standard—the snap-off blade cutter. As a specialist supplier of Olfa replacement blades, we know their story is one built entirely on ground-breaking design.
The Lightbulb Moment: A Bar of Chocolate and Broken Glass
The remarkable history of Olfa begins in 1956 with founder Yoshio Okada. Working in post-war Japan's printing industry, Okada was frustrated by how quickly cutting blades would dull, leading to wasted time and materials. He realized the need for a knife that always provided a sharp edge.
His ingenious solution came from two surprising sources of inspiration:
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A Bar of Chocolate: Okada recalled the segments of chocolate bars that could be easily broken off, revealing new portions.
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Broken Glass: He noted the intensely sharp edge of recently fractured glass.
Combining these observations, Okada developed the concept of a multi-segmented blade with scored lines that could be safely snapped off to expose a new, razor-sharp point.
Setting the Worldwide Standard
Okada's invention, the world's first snap-off blade cutter, was a revolution in efficiency. He standardized the precise length, width, and angle of the blade segments—dimensions that quickly became the de facto world standard for utility knife blades, including the common 9mm and 18mm sizes.
Olfa's innovation didn't stop there. In 1979, Yoshio Okada introduced a second major innovation: the world's first rotary cutter. This tool, with its circular rolling blade, fundamentally changed how people cut fabric, becoming an essential tool for quilters and crafters globally.
Safety, Branding, and Philosophy
Every element of the Olfa brand, from its name to its famous colour, is rooted in its founding principles:
• The Name and Logo: The name OLFA is derived from two Japanese words: oru (折る, to break) and ha (刃, blade)—literally "to break a blade." The company’s parallelogram logo is a direct representation of the shape of a newly snapped blade segment.
• The Iconic Yellow: In 1967, Okada chose the company's signature soft yellow color. This was a deliberate choice to stand out in a world of dull-coloured tools. He associated the shade, similar to an egg yolk, with both safety and familiarity, ensuring the tool was easy to spot in a messy workspace and signalling the company's commitment to user safety.
Olfa's core philosophy is simple yet powerful: "Through the making of hand tools, we thrive to enrich the lives of people around the world and contribute to cultural development." This vision is achieved through a commitment to Originality and providing reliable quality that continually seeks to surpass client expectations.
The lasting success of Olfa is a testament to Yoshio Okada's initial genius. The quality of their design and commitment to precision steel production is why Olfa blades remain the preferred choice for professionals and why replacement blades are always in high demand.
For your replacement Olfa blades, our online Olfa Blade pages on Prime Tooling