Move to strengthen development and production and accelerate expansion of elevator and escalator business globally
TOKYO, Dec 15, 2015 - (ACN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have reached an agreement to set up a new elevator plant in Korea. The plant, to be run by Mitsubishi Elevator Korea Co., Ltd. (KMEC), a Mitsubishi Electric subsidiary, will be located in the Incheon Free Economic Zone. KMEC will relocate its development and manufacturing base from the present Incheon factory to a new facility and will start manufacturing elevators for both the Korean and overseas markets, expanding its annual production capacity by 2.5 times to 4,000 units.
MC's elevator business in Korea dates back to 2001 when KMEC, its elevator distribution joint venture with Mitsubishi Electric, was established. KMEC has since been expanding its business steadily. The elevator and escalator market in Korea is expected to reach 24,000 units for newly constructed buildings in 2015, with demand in Korea remaining stable at about 25,000 units. KMEC began exporting high-quality, price-competitive high-speed elevators in 2008 and since then, it has served as Mitsubishi Electric's global supply base for such models. The facility's R&D center will absorb selected development functions currently based in Mitsubishi Electric Inazawa Works in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and this will enable KMEC to strengthen its development and supply functions as well as its business base for sales, engineering, development, manufacturing, installation and maintenance, thereby bolstering its business in Korea and its capacity to respond to global market needs.
MC and Mitsubishi Electric will supply high-quality, price-competitive high-speed elevators utilizing KMEC's advanced engineering capabilities and access to global markets, especially in the ASEAN and Middle Eastern regions. KMEC is also planning to construct a 80-meter high elevator test tower and a field training center for installation and maintenance in an effort to enhance the capacity of engineers, all with the aim of improving the quality and reliability Mitsubishi Electric's products and services and further boosting customer satisfaction. In Korea, KMEC will expand the production of the "NexPia", a regional strategic model, and strengthen sales targeting low- and mid-rise buildings.
Through the construction of this new factory in Korea and the expansion of KMEC's development and production capabilities, MC and Mitsubishi Electric will continue to strengthen their combined business foundations as a strong competitor in the and elevator and escalator business in Korea. MC also intends to continue seeking expansion for its elevator and escalator business globally in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.
"NexPia", KMEC's signature product in the Korean market
Reference Information
Outline of New Plant
Location: Incheon Free Economic Zone, Incheon, Korea Area: 18,200 m2 Total Building Area: 19,300 m2 Purpose: Development and manufacture of elevator parts Production Start Date: April 2017 Production Capacity: Up to 4,000 units / year Investment Amount: 33,000 mil KRW (approx. 3,500 mil JPY) Number of Employees: Approx. 120 (at start of operations) Related Facilities: 80-meter high elevator test tower; field training center
About KMEC
Company Name: Mitsubishi Elevator Korea Co., Ltd. (KMEC) Business: Manufacture, sale, installation and maintenance of Mitsubishi elevators and escalators Location: Seoul, South Korea Representative: Yong-Sung Kim, President and CEO Investment Ratio: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, 54%; Mitsubishi Electric Building Techno-Service Co., Ltd., 26%; Mitsubishi Corporation, 20% Capital: 8,000 mil KRW (approx. 880 mil JPY) Date Established: December 2001 Number of Employees: 509 (as at the end of March 2015)
About Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC; TSE: 8058) is a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses across virtually every industry including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, foods, and environmental business. MC's current activities are expanding far beyond its traditional trading operations as its diverse business ranges from natural resources development to investment in retail business, infrastructure, financial products and manufacturing of industrial goods. With over 200 bases of operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide and a network of over 500 group companies, MC employs a multinational workforce of nearly 60,000 people. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishicorp.com.
Source: Mitsubishi Corporation
Contact:
Mitsubishi Corporation Telephone: +81 3 3210 2171 Facsimile: +81 3 5252 7705
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