Hitachi, Ltd. (Kabushiki Kaisha Hitachi Seisakusho) is a Japanese conglomerate engineering and power systems company. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (Hitachi Gurūpu).
The company was founded in 1910. It started out by producing AC ammeters and voltmeters. A decade later (in 1924) Hitachi developed the first large-scale DC electric locomotive in Japan and in the 1930’s they began producing elevators.
Over the years Hitachi has significantly expanded its business focus. The company now has eleven core business segments (ranging from automotive systems to social infrastructure).
Hitachi is now one of the largest information technology companies in the world – at the forefront of technological innovation.
Hitachi – Products and Services
As of 2014, the company has eleven primary business segments:
Information and Telecommunication Systems – this segment provides Global IT Solutions, ATM and Self Service Terminals, IT Consulting.
Power Systems – this segment develops nuclear power plants and transmission/distribution systems.
Social Infrastructure: Transportation – this segment focuses on transportation, the production of elevators and escalators, and Smart City infrastructure.
Social Infrastructure: Industrial Solutions – this segment produces plant-related equipment and construction, information and control systems, and industrial equipment systems.
Electronic Systems and Equipment – this segment creates power tools and outdoor power equipment/centrifuges, electronic devices manufacturing equipment, and medical imaging systems.
Construction Machinery – this segment focuses on the production of excavators, wheel loaders, and rigid dump trucks.
High Functional Materials and Components – this segment creates metal products, communication and transmission products, and chemical products.
Automotive Systems – this segment focuses on the development and production of automotive systems, navigation and audio-visual, and lithium-ion batteries.
Digital Media and Consumer Products – this segment produces home appliances and provides digital presentation solutions.
Financial Services – this segment provides consumer/corporate financial services (leasing or rental of IT equipment, machinery, buildings, and other capital goods).
Other (Logistics and Other Services)
Hitachi – Company Overview
- Representative Executive Officer and President: Hiroaki Nakanishi
- Type: Public
- Headquarters: 6-6, Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8280, Japan
- Employees: 326,240 (as of end of March 2013)
- Traded as: TYO: 6501
Hitachi – Financial Results
| Key figures (in millions of YEN) | 2013 | 2012 |
| Revenue | 9,041,071 | 9,665,883 |
| Operating income | 422,028 | 412,280 |
| Net income attributable to stockholders | 175,326 | 347,179 |
| Capital investment | 742,537 | 649,234 |
| R&D | 341,310 | 412,514 |
| Total assets (at end of year) | 9,809,230 | 9,418,526 |
| Total stockholders’ equity | 2,082,560 | 1,771,782 |
| (YEN) | ||
| Net income per share (basic) | 37.28 | 76.81 |
| Net income per share (diluted) | 36.29 | 71.86 |
Source: Hitachi Financial Highlights Full Year 2013
Hitachi – Company Developments
On January 30, 2014, the company came to an agreement that Hitachi Medical (a distributor of diagnostic imaging equipment) will be made a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd.