Hitachi 2004 Annual Report Download - page 9

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)
HDDs are seeing rapidly expanding use in
digital consumer electronics and other new
fields in addition to existing IT applications,
namely servers and PCs. Significant growth
in HDD demand is expected in the coming
years. With the broadest lineup of products in
the industry and world-class R&D capabilities,
Hitachi is well positioned to benefit. And it
leads the industry in the highly promising field
of 2.5-, 1.8- and 1.0-inch small HDDs. It is
also developing high areal density technology
that will make possible smaller HDDs with
greater storage capacity using perpendicular
magnetic recording technology. Hitachi has
already achieved an areal density of 230
gigabits per square inch, the highest level at
the time of development. China is another
source of potential growth, with rapid
expansion in the HDD market anticipated in
this country. Hitachi is upgrading production,
sales and support systems in this country.
Plasma TVs
I
As a leading manufacturer of plasma TVs,
Hitachi has helped create the plasma TV
market through accomplishments such as the
launch of the world’s first 32 inch/37 inch high
definition plasma TVs and models incorporat-
ing high-capacity HDDs. Hitachi has also
created “Wooo World,” new lifestyle proposals
that use plasma TVs as the nucleus for
combining DVD cameras, HDD/DVD recorders
and other new-generation AV devices. These
efforts have won Hitachi strong applause from
many customers in Japan. Hitachi also has
been just as much a driving force in markets
overseas. In markets from Asia to the U.S. and
Europe, Hitachi has had a hand in creating
plasma TV markets worldwide. This year,
Hitachi will raise its profile further in AV digital
consumer electronics through a tie-up with
Paramount Pictures for promoting the
blockbuster movie, “War of the Worlds.” In
order to strengthen this business further,
Hitachi made Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display
Limited a subsidiary, with the aim of unifying
business strategy from the production of
panels to assembly of finished products.
Hitachi is also promoting a wide-ranging
strategic partnership with Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co., Ltd. in a broad range of plasma
TV fields, including development, production,
marketing and intellectual property.
H
Automotive Systems
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A Hitachi 55 inch plasma TV
A lineup of Hitachi HDDs (from left: 2.5 inch,
1.8 inch, 1.0 inch and 1.0 inch (planned))
Four functions are essential to an automobile:
driving, steering, braking and communicating.
Toward creating Intelligent Transport Systems
(ITS) that fuse these four functions, Hitachi is
seeking to expand its automotive systems
business by concentrating on four promising
areas in three fields: “environment” (engine
management systems and electric powertrain
systems), “safety” (drive control systems) and
“information” (vehicle information systems).
Hitachi strengthened its R&D capabilities in
this area through a merger with TOKICO LTD.
and Hitachi Unisia Automotive, Ltd. that
brought together a host of technologies. In
other news, Hitachi established Hitachi
Vehicle Energy, Ltd. with Shin-Kobe Electric
Machinery Co., Ltd. and Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.,
both of which have much experience in
battery businesses. This company is develop-
ing and manufacturing rechargeable lithium-
ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles.
05Hitachi, Ltd. Annual Report 2005 05Hitachi, Ltd. Annual Report 2005