Hitachi High-Technologies America Formed to Address High-End Instrumentation Solutions Market
Mar 20, 2002 13:38 PM
-- New Unit Formed from the Combination of Nissei Sangyo America, Ltd.; the Semiconductor Equipment Group of Hitachi America, Ltd.; and Hitachi Instruments, Inc. --
BRISBANE, Calif. and CHICAGO, Ill., March 20, 2002 - Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation and Hitachi America, Ltd., subsidiaries of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), today announced the formation, on April 1, 2002, of Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc., a new company in North America resulting from the combination of the Nissei Sangyo America, Ltd. subsidiary of Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation of Tokyo Japan; the Semiconductor Equipment Group of Hitachi America, Ltd. and the Hitachi Instruments, Inc. subsidiary of Hitachi America.
The integration of Hitachi's instruments and semiconductor manufacturing equipment operations in North America follows the February 2001 agreement between Hitachi, Ltd. and Nissei Sangyo Co., Ltd. of Japan under which Hitachi's Instruments Group and Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Group were transferred to Nissei Sangyo on October 1, 2001, forming Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Hitachi High Technologies America Inc., 53% owned by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation of Japan and 47% by Hitachi America, Ltd., will be headed by Kazuhiko Wakino as president and CEO and will be based in Schaumburg, Illinois.
In making the announcement, Mr. Wakino, currently president of Nissei Sangyo America, Ltd., said, "The consolidation of our instruments and semiconductor manufacturing equipment operations with Nissei Sangyo's trading company functions provides great benefit to our customers. It will increase efficiencies in our management structure that will speed decision-making and product development. Also, by concentrating resources, we expect to strengthen our competitiveness in these markets with the best possible solutions as we fulfill our mission to be the world leader in instruments and semiconductor manufacturing equipment."
Commenting on the new company, Yoshihiro Koshimizu, president and CEO of Hitachi America, Ltd., said, "The combination of these three groups in America is part of the overall 'i.e.HITACHI Plan' to enhance Hitachi's market focus and become a "Best Solutions" partner to its customers. This consolidation is part of a Group strategy of strengthening nanotechnology operations, which include the instruments and semiconductor manufacturing equipment businesses, and is also based on a fundamental strategy of further strengthening and expanding the integration of operations between Hitachi's business groups and affiliated companies."
Nissei Sangyo America, Ltd., is part of a worldwide trading company for the Hitachi Group, and now brings its comprehensive marketing and sales experience to Hitachi High Technologies America. It offers a wide array of products, including liquid crystals, semiconductors, optical communications components, silicon wafers, non-ferrous materials, chemicals, consumer products, chemical analyzers and electron microscopes.
Hitachi America, Ltd., Semiconductor Equipment Group, contributes its strong background in the selling and servicing of advanced microwave plasma etchers and SIMOX implanters that are used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. It also is highly regarded for its award-winning Catalytic Decomposition System (SCDS) for PFC (perfluorocompounds) abatement.
The advanced technology expertise of Hitachi Instruments, Inc. in physical and life sciences will also be incorporated in Hitachi High Technologies America. Hitachi Instruments is focused on the service of scanning electron microscopes, and the sales and service of spectrophotometers, liquid chromatography equipment, and other advanced measurement technologies that have found application in electronics, medical, environmental, biotechnology, nanotechnology and life sciences.
Hitachi High Technologies America will comprise seven divisions: Electron Microscope, Semiconductor Equipment, Life Sciences and Engineering Center, Electronics Applied Systems, Electronic Components, Electronic Products and Advanced Materials. The Electron Microscope and Semiconductor Equipment divisions will be part of the Device Manufacturing Systems Group and the Life Sciences Division and Engineering Center comprises the Life Sciences Group. Administration headquarters for all Hitachi High Technologies America divisions will be in Schaumburg, Ill. Electronic Applied Systems and Semiconductor Equipment divisions are based in Dallas, Texas; Electronic Components and Electronic Products in Schaumburg, Ill.; Advanced Materials in Los Angeles, Calif.; Electron Microscope in Pleasanton, Calif.; and Life Sciences in San Jose, Calif.
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is established by integrating Nissei Sangyo Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Group and Instruments Group of Hitachi, Ltd. The company is engaged in activities in a broad range of fields, including device manufacturing equipment, life sciences, information and manufacturing, electronic components, and advanced industrial materials. For further information, visit http://www.hitachi-hitec.com/oversea/index.html.
Hitachi America, Ltd. markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics and semiconductors, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information on Hitachi America, visit http://www.hitachi.us/.
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2000 (ended March 31, 2001) consolidated sales of 8,417 billion yen ($67.9 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.
* At an exchange rate of 124 yen to the dollar.
Outline of Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc. (April 1, 2002)
Location: Schaumburg, Ill.
President and CEO: Kazuhiko WakinoM
Capital: $15 million
(53% owned by Hitachi High Technologies Corporation and 47% by Hitachi America, Ltd.)
Business: The company sells and services semiconductor manufacturing equipment, analytical instrumentation, scientific instruments, bio-related products, as well as industrial equipment, information equipment, electronic devices and electronic and industrial materials.
Employees: 630