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Hitachi

Japanese multinational conglomerate founded in 1910.

Hitachi, Ltd. is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It operates in digital systems, power solutions, railway systems, healthcare, and finance. Hitachi is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is a key component of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX Core30 indices. The company has a significant global presence, with a large portion of its revenue coming from international markets, particularly Asia, Europe, and North America.

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Timeline

Hitachi Founded in a Copper Mine

In 1906, Hitachi was founded in a copper mine located just under 100 miles northeast of Tokyo. Namihei Odaira, a key figure in Hitachi's history, joined the company a few years later and played a significant role in developing Japan's first-ever 5-horsepower electric motor in 1910.

Hitachi was founded in 1910 as an electrical repair shop. Over the years, it expanded its operations to become one of Japan's largest and most diversified companies, operating in various sectors including electronics, automotive systems, and construction.

Formation of Hitachi Company and Completion of Five-Horsepower Induction Motor

In 1910, Hitachi Company was formed and they successfully completed the development of a five-horsepower induction motor.

Completion of 2-kVA Transformer

In 1911, Hitachi completed the production of a 2-kVA transformer.

Production of AC Ammeter and Voltmeter

In 1914, Hitachi started the production of AC ammeter and voltmeter.

Hitachi becomes an independent company

In 1920, Hitachi, Ltd. transitioned from being a subsidiary to an independent company under its current name. This marked a significant milestone in the company's history.

Completion of Japan's first mainline electric locomotive by Hitachi

In 1924, Hitachi completed Japan's first mainline electric locomotive, JNR Class ED15.

Start of manufacturing elevators and electric refrigerators by Hitachi

In 1932, Hitachi started manufacturing elevators and electric refrigerators.

Completion of 23,600-horsepower Illgner set

In 1933, Hitachi completed the 23,600-horsepower Illgner set.

Completion of 5,000-line automatic private branch exchange

In 1940, Hitachi completed the 5,000-line automatic private branch exchange.

Hitachi builds its first power shovel

In 1949, Hitachi constructed its first power shovel, which marked the beginning of Hitachi Construction Machinery. This innovation helped the company recover and expand its business scope.

Namihei Odaira returns to Hitachi

In 1951, Namihei Odaira returned to Hitachi after the purge of key pre-war Japanese figures ended. However, he passed away later that year at the age of 77.

Completion of 55,000-kW Hydrogen-cooled Turbine

In 1954, a 55,000-kW hydrogen-cooled turbine was successfully completed.

Completion of First Large-scale Cold Strip Mill in Japan

In 1955, the first large-scale cold strip mill in Japan was completed, marking a significant milestone in industrial production.

Completion of 100,000-kW Francis Water Turbine and 93,000-kVA AC Generator

In 1956, a 100,000-kW Francis water turbine and a 93,000-kVA alternating current generator were successfully completed.

Establishment of Hitachi America, Ltd.

In 1959, Hitachi expanded its business overseas with the establishment of Hitachi America, Ltd. This move marked the company's global expansion and presence.

Hitachi develops MARS-1 electric train seat reservation system

In 1960, Hitachi introduced the world's first electric train seat reservation system, MARS-1, for Japanese National Railways. This system revolutionized seat booking for express trains nationwide.

Hitachi sells fully-automated washing machines and completes experimental nuclear reactor

In 1961, Hitachi started selling fully-automated washing machines and successfully completed its first experimental nuclear reactor. These innovations showcased Hitachi's diversification and technological advancements.

Opening of the Shinkansen High-Speed Railway Line

In 1964, the world's first high-speed railway line, the Shinkansen, was opened. Hitachi played a crucial role in developing the Series 0 rolling stock, Automatic Train Control system (ATC), and Computer-Aided Traffic Control System (COMTRAC), contributing to the punctual and safe operation of the Shinkansen.

Introduction of HITAC 10 High Performance Mini Computer

In 1969, the HITAC 10 High Performance Mini Computer was introduced.

Development of all-transistor color televisions

In 1970, the company developed and mass-produced all-transistor color televisions, marking a significant advancement in television technology.

Development of computer-aided traffic control system for the Shinkansen

In 1971, Hitachi developed a computer-aided traffic control system specifically for the Shinkansen (Bullet Train), improving efficiency and safety of train operations.

Hitachi's Twin-Well Hi-CMOS Process

In 1978, Hitachi introduced the Twin-Well Hi-CMOS process, revolutionizing the global semiconductor industry. This innovation allowed Hitachi to develop chips with significantly lower power consumption compared to competitors like Intel.

Founding of Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory

Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory (HCL) was established in 1985 as a research centre funded by Hitachi within the University of Cambridge. It currently specializes in quantum computation and magnetism.

Development of World's Fastest Supercomputer by Hitachi

In 1989, Hitachi developed the world's fastest supercomputer based on superconductive technologies.

Establishment of Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. was established in 1994. It is a global company known for its diverse range of products and services.

Introduction of Suica contactless fare card system

In 2001, the Suica contactless fare card system was introduced at 424 JR East stations in the Greater Tokyo Area. Developed using Sony's FeliCa system, Hitachi built the server-side system. Suica has since become widely used for contactless payments.

Hitachi reveals first consumer HDD with 1 TB storage

At CES 2007, Hitachi unveiled the first consumer HDD with a storage capacity of 1 TB, which was then released in the same year. This marked a significant advancement in consumer storage technology.

Hitachi's Strategic Overhaul After 2008 Global Financial Crisis

Hitachi faced a pivotal moment after the 2008 global financial crisis, experiencing a record loss and prompting a strategic overhaul. The company shifted its focus to the 'Social Innovation Business', emphasizing infrastructure and IT strengths, and underwent significant structural changes to adapt to market dynamics.

Hitachi sells HGST to Western Digital

In March 2011, Hitachi agreed to sell its hard disk drive subsidiary, HGST, to Western Digital for a combination of cash and shares worth US$4.3 billion.

Hitachi sells 3.5" HDD division to Toshiba

Due to concerns of a duopoly of WD and Seagate Technology by the EU Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, Hitachi's 3.5" HDD division was sold to Toshiba. The transaction was completed in March 2012.

Hitachi's Investment in IoT Interests

In May 2016, Hitachi announced a significant investment of $2.8 billion into its Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives, showcasing its commitment to expanding its technological capabilities and presence in the digital realm.

Hitachi Data Systems merges with Hitachi Vantara

On September 19, 2017, Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) merged with Hitachi Vantara, forming a new company that consolidated the operations of Pentaho, Hitachi Data Systems, and Hitachi Insight Group. The rebranding led to the discontinuation of the company name 'Hitachi Data Systems' (HDS) and its logo in the market.

Zoomdata Partnership with Hitachi INS Software for Big Data Analytics

On March 14, 2018, Zoomdata announced a collaboration with Hitachi INS Software to advance the big data analytics market in Japan.

Consolidation of Honda and Hitachi Automotive Parts Businesses

In October 2019, Honda and Hitachi initiated talks to merge their automotive parts businesses, resulting in the formation of Hitachi Astemo in January 2021.

Divestment of Hitachi Metals

In September 2020, Hitachi Metals is set to be divested as part of the long-term restructuring plan by the Hitachi group.

Rebranding to Hitachi Energy

In October 2021, Hitachi Energy was introduced as the new brand name for the enterprise, marking a significant shift in branding strategy.

Hitachi's Global Revenue in Fiscal Year 2022

In the fiscal year 2022, Hitachi generated approximately 61% of its total revenue of 10.9 trillion yen from international markets. The major contributors to this global revenue were Asia, Europe, and North America.

Spin-off of Hitachi Vantara LLC's digital solutions business

On November 1, 2023, Hitachi spun off Hitachi Vantara LLC's digital solutions business into a new company named Hitachi Digital Services. Following this restructuring, Hitachi Vantara shifted its focus to providing storage and hybrid cloud-centric data infrastructure services.

Establishment of Hitachi Energy Ltd.

In 2024, Hitachi Energy Ltd. was established as a company known for its open culture of collaboration and co-creation, attracting many new talents to join.

Hitachi Energy 2030 Plan

A plan set by Hitachi Energy to advance a sustainable energy future for all by the year 2030.

End of the Timeline
Hitachi

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