Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 58 No.2 (June 2021)

FOREWORD

Technical Review Special Edition:
Logistics, Thermal & Drive
Systems
Tak ashi Mikogami
Exec utiv e Vi ce Pres ide n t,
Pres id en t a nd C EO ,L og is tics , T her ma l & D r ive Sys te ms

Welcome to this special edition of our technical review featuring our logistics, thermal & drive
systems.
Logistics, Thermal and Drive Systems (LT&D) is an MHI business domain specializing in mass
production in the four business areas of logistics, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, engines
and energy, and turbochargers. Founded on April 1, 2020, the LT&D domain aims to strengthen thecompetitiveness of MHI’s mass-production businesses by “developing markets by bringing about asynergistic effect by selling products and creating added value through combining multipleproducts.”
Our products are facing a great turning point, given the circumstances in which technologicalinnovation through advancement of electrification, automation and IoT application, energy
transition toward a decarbonized society, and a new lifestyle under the COVID-19 pandemic ismoving forward.
This special edition introduces new products linked with these changes in the times and the latest
technologies that offer solutions to issues.
First are our products in the logistics business, which are developed with the keywords ofenvironment, automation and safety. Specifically, these products are: the new power pallet truck,“PREMiAR® EM” for the European warehouse market, the realization of pallet handling in a mixed
fleet environment of forklifts and automatic guided vehicles, forklifts complying with the European
Stage V emission regulations , and the automatic human detection system for forklifts.
Next is the air-conditioning and refrigeration systems business, in which our products aredeveloped with consideration for the environment and energy conservation. Featured in this special
edition are: the humidity control outdoor air processing air handling system (Direct X Comfort) thathas both energy-saving features and comfort, the aquifer thermal energy storage system with a low
GWP turbo heat pump utilizing unused energy, the engine-driven refrigeration unit TU series using
a low GWP refrigerant, and the low-vibration electric compressor for air conditioning systems ofhybrid and electric vehicles.
In the engine and energy business, our products and technologies that help to realize adecarbonized society are presented. These include: the diesel engines for forklift trucks complying
with the European Stage V emission regulations, the remodeling of existing gas engines for higherefficiency, the remote monitoring and remote control applications in the engine and energy business,

1

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 58 No.2 (June 2021)
2and the new engine products for low carbon and decarbonization.
Lastly, in the turbocharger business, our overseas production bases, globalized system for thedevelopment of technologies including collaboration with overseas universities, and production
system are introduced. Specifically, these are: the turbocharger development for next-generation
hybrid electric vehicles, the evaluation method for the reliability of variable geometry turbochargers
for gasoline engines using digital mock-ups, the turbocharger joint research center launched with
Imperial College London, and the Mitsubishi Turbocharger base in the Chinese market.
Under the new organizational structure, MHI’s mass-production business continues to take on thechallenge of developing new technologies/products in such a way as to meet not only the newstandards set by megatrends including decarbonization, electrification and automation, but also theneeds of society such as comfortableness under the COVID-19 pandemic. We will fulfill these goals
together with Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd.
and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd. We appreciate your continued
support.