TOKYO--(Business Wire)--
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (President and CEO: Setsuhiro Shimomura)
(TOKYO:6503) announced today it has now achieved 400,000 units in cumulative
Japanese domestic production of elevators and escalators. The 400,000th unit, an
elevator for Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd., was shipped from the company`s Inazawa Works
on June 4, 2009. Mitsubishi Electric`s cumulative worldwide production total of
elevators and escalators has now reached approximately 750,000 units.
Inazawa Works, located in Inazawa City of Aichi Prefecture, Japan is the
domestic base of production as well as the global base for development of
Mitsubishi Electric`s elevators and escalators. It oversees the technology of
the company`s 11 elevator/escalator factories around the world, from where
products have been shipped to 88 countries worldwide. The 173 meter-high
elevator testing tower "SOLAÉ", which was built on the grounds of Inazawa Works
in 2007, is used for R&D of high-speed and large-capacity elevators for
super-high rise buildings. Mitsubishi Electric endeavors to continue its efforts
in providing safe, comfortable and highly efficient elevators and escalators.
History of Mitsubishi Electric`s Elevators and Escalators
Mitsubishi Electric`s production of elevator components first started in 1931,
and until now the company has, as the top elevator/escalator manufacturer in
Japan, provided vertical transportation characterized by safety, comfort and
efficiency.
Integrated production of Mitsubishi Electric`s elevators and escalators started
in 1935 at its Kobe Works. The company`s first elevator was installed in the
Mitsubishi Kobe Hospital, while its first escalator was installed in the
original store of Isetan, a leading department store chain in Japan. In 1937, an
elevator factory was established in Nagoya, and in 1964, the Inazawa Works was
founded, and has now become the company`s main factory for elevators and
escalators.
Mitsubishi Electric manufactured its 10,000th elevator/escalator in 1965, and
the next year, the Inazawa Works completed the construction of its first
elevator testing tower, 65 meters in height. In 1972, the company became the
first Japanese manufacturer to market a double-deck elevator, and, in 1978,
installed an elevator in the Sunshine 60 Building, Tokyo, which was the world`s
fastest elevator at the time with a vertical speed of up to 600 meters per
minute.
In 1982, Mitsubishi Electric launched Japan`s first inverter-controlled elevator
with variable voltage and variable frequency (VVVF). The next year, the
company`s accumulated domestic production of elevators and escalators reached
100,000 units. The company also developed the world`s first spiral escalator in
1985, and in 1988, launched an artificial intelligence (AI) group-control
system, called the "AI-2100".
In 1993, the same year that Mitsubishi Electric achieved an accumulated domestic
production total in elevators and escalators of 200,000 units, the company once
again broke the world record for the fastest elevator at the time, installing in
the Yokohama Landmark Tower an elevator with a speed of up to 750 meters per
minute.
Mitsubishi Electric`s 300,000th unit of elevators/escalators made in Japan was
reached in 2000, while the next year, the company marketed "ELESAVE", a
cutting-edge hybrid elevator system that uses rechargeable batteries. This was
followed by, in 2004, Mitsubishi Electric`s development of a "variable traveling
speed elevator system", the first in Japan, which reduces elevator waiting and
riding times. The same year, the company`s accumulated domestic production of
elevators and escalators reached 350,000 units. In 2007, the company completed
the construction of "SOLAÉ", the world`s tallest elevator testing tower at the
time, 173 meters in height.
About Mitsubishi Electric
With over 80 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products to
both corporate clients and general consumers all over the world, Mitsubishi
Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) is a recognized world leader in the
manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in
information processing and communications, space development and satellite
communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy,
transportation and building equipment. The company recorded consolidated group
sales of 3,665.1 billion yen (US$ 37.4 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March
31, 2009. For more information visit http://global.mitsubishielectric.com
*At an exchange rate of 98 yen to the US dollar, the rate given by the Tokyo
Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2009.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Product Inquiries
General Affairs Department
Inazawa Works
Tel: +81-587-24-5502
http://www.mitsubishi-elevator.com/
or
Media Contact
Yurika Fujimoto, +81-3-3218-3380
Public Relations Division
prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp
http://global.mitsubishielectric.com/news/
Copyright Business Wire 2009
