Tokyo, May 2017 – Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) announced that it has entered the elevator market in Europe with the acquisition of Temple Lifts Ltd., the UK-based company which manages the sales, installation, maintenance and repair of lifts in the UK. Hitachi will expand its elevator business in UK by using Temple's sales channel, knowledge and existing high quality technology in lift maintenance, adding Hitachi's highly efficient products.

Hitachi has been expanding its elevator business in China and other Asian countries, India, and the Middle East in recent years. Hitachi has invested in many RCEP member countries where expedited growth is expected: the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2015), the Republic of Indonesia (2016), the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2016) and the Kingdom of Cambodia (2016).

Hitachi has considered entering the European lift market, which accounts for over 30 per cent of the global share of the market, for some time. After comprehensive consideration, Hitachi decided to enter the UK due to the significant size of the market and a stable growth rate in Europe among other reasons.

Temple's lift business was founded nearly 30 years ago in 1989 and is responsible for sales, installation, maintenance and repair. Temple currently has about 5,000 maintenance contracts, owing to its high reputation and remarkable technical ability to maintain many manufacturer's lifts.

Hitachi will offer its high-end products and high quality maintenance to clients by utilising Temple's excellent reputation, backed by long-standing client relationships and strong technical knowledge. Further, Hitachi will expand its Social Innovation Business globally, aiming for further penetration in European and African markets, using the knowledge earned through this acquisition.