HITACHI has created a new company in Europe, specifically to look after its air conditioning business.
Hitachi Air Conditioning Europe SAS brings together all the company's European air conditioning sales, manufacturing and service operations into one company. Previously, Hitachi's air conditioning business operated as two separate entities in Europe with manufacturing based in Barcelona, and sales, marketing and other operations run from the central office in Velizy, Paris. Existing sales offices in France, Italy, Spain, UK, Germany, Russia and Ireland, remain.

Speaking of the new business, Kenichi Munakata, president of the newly formed company, said: 'It represents a considerable investment and highlights our commitment to the European market as a whole. Whilst the operations will not change from a geographical standpoint, this unification of our businesses will deliver further benefits to ultimately leverage the economies of scale and scope that such a change will deliver.'

David Oldroyd, vice president and md of Hitachi Air Conditioning Europe SAS, said: 'Moving to the new business structure will bring great benefits not only for our own organisation, but especially for our partners, distributors and customers. The change will enable Hitachi to be the leading support organisation, strengthening localised product development and production. In order to develop new and exciting products, we are looking forward to strengthening our product development team in Europe.'

Hitachi and Hitachi Appliances are conducting similar strategic reorganisations in its Indian and Chinese air conditioning business, pursuing a strategy of globalising its operation through localisation.