Our Innovation
History
In every era, Hitachi has brought innovation to the issues society faces, in step with the economic,
social and environmental changes of the times. Beginning with product development and manufacturing driven by independently developed technology, Hitachi has honed Operational Technology(OT) that moves production site equipment and systems throughout the manufacturing process.
During periods of high growth, Hitachi engaged in the development of large-scale systems to support
infrastructure, and was vigorously involved in the development of Information Technology (IT). What
has emerged since is Hitachi’s transformation into one of the world’s most unique companies,defined by sophisticated OT and manufacturing technology, cutting-edge IT, and products known
for high quality and reliability.
Digital technology is fundamentally changing the way the modern world is structured. Based on
its strengths in OT, IT, and products, Hitachi aims to help address the issues faced by today’s society
through its Social Innovation Business, which supplies advanced social infrastructure systems.
In this way, Hitachi is contributing to gains in people’s quality of life, while helping to realize asustainable society.

1910sOriginal manufacturing technology
supports Japan’s industrial base1960sControl technology and information
systems to support social
infrastructure in period of rapid
economic growth

2010sDigital solutions using theInternet of Things (IoT) andartificial intelligence (AI)contribute to realization of asustainable society
1974
HITAC M-series computers developed forlarge-scale information systems
In the 1970s, Hitachi developed and supplied thehigh-powered computers needed to satisfy thesocial demands of the time for new ticket reservationand online banking systems. The IBM-compatible
M-180 computer launched in 1974 was wellreceived due to its combination of advanced
power and functionality, enabling total systems tosatisfy modern requirements.

Shinkansen high-speed railway technology

1910
Five-horsepower induction motor,
Hitachi’s first product
1933
Steel mill motor operates safely for 32 years
The 7,000-kW DC mill motor with an Ilgner
control system to power rolled steel productionthat Hitachi supplied to the state-owned Yawata
Steel Works in 1933 was the most advanced
motor of its kind in the world at the time. It set a
record of 32 years ofaccident-free operation.

2In 1959, construction began on the Tokaido
Shinkansen with the aim of creating the world’s
first high-speed railway capable of speeds up to200 km/h. In 1962, based on the results fromtesting a prototype train on a model section oftrack, Hitachi produced the first 0-series rollingstock for the Shinkansen. A total of 212 cars weresupplied by 1970. Hitachi was responsible fordeveloping and designing the varied control
equipment to support Shinkansen safety. On thepassenger service side, in partnership with Japan
National Railways, Hitachi also developed theMARS-1 ticketing and reservation systems,
Japan’s first online system. The system began
operating in Tokyo from 1960. The MARS-101
system was later developed for full-scale online
operation in 1964. The
Midori no Madoguchi
ticketing and reservation
service started in 1965.

2004
Virtual storage technology for the Internet age
Rising Internet adoption led to rapid growth in thevolume of data transmitted worldwide, in turnstimulating demand for safe and efficient technology
to store vast amounts of data. Using world-first
virtualization technology developed in-house,
Hitachi created a way to integrate the capacity ofmultiple data storage units. This innovation
improved the efficiency of data utilization andmanagement significantly.

Integration of OT and IT at the Omika Works
From its inception, Hitachi began developing
electric motor control systems, switchboards
and other OT equipment, and refining thesetechnologies with customers in industries such assteel. In 1969, when Japan was experiencing
years of fast economic growth, Hitachi set up theOmika Plant (now the Omika Works) as a specialist
factory for the control systems business. With thedevelopment of IT, Hitachi integrated IT with theadvanced OT cultivated over decades to drive
the evolution of information control systems forsupporting social infrastructure operations suchas railways and electric power. In recent years,
Hitachi has begun applying IoT to reform production
processes, incorporating its acquired know-how
into a range of digital solutions that mainly target
customers in the manufacturing sector.

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