Corporate Data

History of Fuji Electric

Fuji Electric continues to evolve in step with the times and with society,
with technology as our driving force.

	Corporate History	Technology and Product History
1923	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd." "Fuji Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd." was established as a capital and technology alliance between Japanese "Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd." and German "Siemens AG". The company name derived from these two companies' first sound "Fu" and "Si"and the highest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji. Company emblem, FS mark (Used from 1923 to 1978)
1923	Opened the Head Office (Kojimachi Ward, Tokyo City), Tokyo Sales Office, and Osaka Sales Office (present Kansai Branch Office)
1924	First issue of Fuji Electric Journal	Started manufacturing electrical machinery
1925	Started operation of the "Kawasaki factory	Started transformer production
1927		Began electric fan production
1930		Launched mercury-vapor rectifier production Imported mercury-vapor rectifier first in Japan and launched production in Kawasaki factory. Market share was high and contributed for transportation infrastructure organization.
1933		Started expansion circuit breaker production
1935	Established "Fuji Tsushinki Manufacturing Co., Ltd."(present "Fujitsu Limited") by spinning off the Telephone Department
1936		Built its first hydraulic turbine, 4,850HP Francis Turbine Introduced technologies from "Voith Hydro Holding GmbH & Co. KG", and delivered the first hydraulic turbine to "Kaminoshiro power plant".
1937		Began watt-hour meter production
1938		Completed the Asia’s first 230 kV extra-high voltage expansion circuit breaker
1942	Started operation of the "Matsumoto factory"
1942	Established "Fuji Electric Hospital" Expanded the clinic that was located in Kawasaki factory and restructured it into a hospital with separate departments for each field.
1943	Started operation of the "Fukiage factory" and "Toyoda factory".
1944	Started operation of the "Mie factory"
1946	Established the "Federation of Fuji Electric Employees' Unions"
1954		Started ultra-compact magnetic switch production Devised a design and realize microminiaturization.
1954		Began volume production of selenium rectifiers In response to exploding demand for televisions and radios, Fuji Electric began volume production of selenium rectifiers, electronic components that convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). The company soon took an 80%-90% share of the domestic selenium rectifier market.
1955		Started manufacturing juicers Sales of juicers took off from around 1961, playing a role in a nationwide health movement (campaign).
1955		Full-scale foray into thermal power plant business Signed a contract with "Siemens AG" for technology transfer of the steam turbine manufacturing. Subsequently delivered the first super-critical, variable pressure turbine in Japan, which was one of the largest in the country at the time. This move to import European technology marked a change of tack in a domestic power generation market dominated by US technology.
1958		Delivered the first electronic instrumentation system to a water treatment plant in Japan
1959		Began manufacturing silicon diodes
1959		Supplied Energy center facilities Completed the Unit 1 equipment for Tobata Steel Works of Yahata Seitetsu K.K.
1961	Started operation of the "Chiba factory"
1962	Established "Central Training Center"	Developed thyristor inverters
1964	Relocated the Head Office (to 1-1, Marunouchi, Tokyo), Established the "Central Research Laboratory" (Yokosuka City).
1965		Electric propulsion system fitted to Antarctic exploration ship "Fuji" Fuji Electric's propulsion system played active roll because of its speedy forward and backward proplusion functions. It enables to gain great propelling power from low speed.
1966		Supplied nuclear pressure vessels and other equipment to the Tokai Nuclear Power Plant
1966	Established "Fuji Denki Kaden Co., Ltd."	Released medium and large capacity UPS(200 kVA)
1967	Established "Chichibu Fuji Co., Ltd."	Developed earth-leakage circuit breakers
1968	Merged with "Kawasaki Denki Seizo Co., Ltd.", and began operation of the "Kobe" and "Suzuka" factories.
1969		Began production of vending machines Used know-how as a vendor of refrigerated milk showcases to move into vending machines. Delivered 230 beverage vending machines to the 1970 "Osaka World Exposition", prompting the wider spread of domestically made vending machines.
1969		Delivered gas insulated switchgear
1970	Established "Omachi Fuji Co., Ltd."	Released cup-type coffee vending machines
1970	Established employees' pension fund.
1970	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., USA" (Present: "Fuji Electric Corp. of America") Sales of electrical machinery and equipment, semiconductor devices, drive control equipment, and ED&C components in North America and Latin America.
1971	Established "Fuji Electric Educational Fund".	Developed centralized monitoring and control systems for power utility companies. First computerized control system in Japan, using the FACOM-R mini-computer
1971		Started hybrid IC manufacture
1973	Started operation of the "Otawara factory"	Began production of selenium photoconductive drums
1973	The 50th anniversary commemoration project was held.
1973	All Fuji skill competition (3,900 employees participated) was held.	Phosphoric acid fuel cells
1973	Established "Iiyama Fuji Co., Ltd."	Released open showcases
1974	Established "Fuji Denki Reiki Seizo Co., Ltd."	Released installation-type ultrasonic flowmeter
1974		Released coin mechanisms and bill validators
1974		Released automotive exhaust gas measuring equipment
1974		Commercialized cast resin power transformers
1975	Winner of the sheet metal work at the WorldSkills Competition (Madrid).	Began manufacturing bipolar transistors
1975		Developed the "MICREX-P Series", plant control microcomputer system
1976		Started manufacturing general-purpose inverters First in the industry to develop general-purpose inverters. Led the market in creating smaller, more responsive and functional components, resulting in their adoption in a range of fields due to their energy-saving characteristics.
1976		Began manufacturing the FUJILOG Series of the PLC
1976		Released Hot & Cold vending machines
1977	Established "Fuji Facom Corp."	Received an order for our first full-scale geothermal power generation facility 40 MW unit for El Salvador's electricity authority
1978	Devised corporate symbol mark Used from 1978 to 2002.	Began research into "Amorphous solar cells"
1978	Established the "High Voltage & Power Laboratories"	Released new magnetic switch SC series
1980	Established "Fuji Electric Corporate Research and Development Ltd."	Released the programmable logic controller “MICREX-P”
1980	Women’s volleyball team of the Kawasaki Factory won at the national championship in Tochigi Prefecture.
1981		Provided ice-breaking ship Shirase with an electric propulsion system Installed the state of the art PLCs and mini computer which are rare for ships at the time and solid-state relay sequence and centered and automated monitoring systems. Realized durability for severe environmental conditions such as high temperature and high humidity around the equator, impacts and vibrations from advancing frozen seas etc.
1981	Established "U.S. Fuji Electric Inc." (present "Fuji Electric Corp. of America")	Released the FVR Series general-purpose inverter
1982		Completed Japan’s first 30 kW phosphoric acid fuel cell
1983	Completed the new Kobe Factory.
1983	The Matsumoto Factory won the Quality Control Award for Factory by the Deming Prize Committee.
1984	Changed company name : "Fuji Electric Co., Ltd."
1984	Established "Fuji Electric Technology Training Center Co., Ltd. "
1984		Released the programmable logic controller "MICREX-F Series" PLCs play an active role in factory automation control equipment. Fuji Electric standardized networking function to PLCs for the first in the industry and was well-received.
1985		1st generation mini UPS "M-UPS Series" launched Realized small and noise resistant UPSs by modifying MOSFETs for main circuit switching element. At the same time, utilized voltage dip controlling technology as frontrunner of the industry.
1985		Developed 1,000kW phosphoric acid fuel cell
1986	Established "Hong Kong Fujidenki Co., Ltd."	Delivered the world’s largest scale tunnel electrostatic precipitators to the Kanetsu Tunnel
1986		Began manufacturing magnetic recording media (by spattering)
1986		Began manufacturing power MOSFETs
1987	Establishment of "Fuji Electric GmbH" (present "Fuji Electric Europe GmbH" ) Sales of electrical/electronic machinery and components in Europe and Africa.	New IC chip for auto-focus cameras completed
1987		1,000 kW fuel cell for NEDO Succeeded first in rated output testing of Japan's highest capacity unit
1987		Developed IGBT modules
1988		Supplied world's first EIC integrated control system to a steel company
1988		Began manufacturing 1st-generation IGBTs
1989	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Singapore Private Ltd." (present Fuji Electric Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.) Sales of electrical distribution and control equipment, drive control equipment, and semiconductor devices in Asia, Oceania and Middle East.	Began manufacturing the POD programmable operator interface
1989		Developed FA personal computers
1989		Began development of polymer electrolyte fuel cells
1989		Delivered a fuel handling facility system to the Monjyu nuclear power plant
1990	Established the "Fuji Electric Group Union"	Began manufacturing twin-breakers
1990		Released the FVR-G7 and K7 Series general-purpose inverters
1991	Introduced Corporate Philosophy	Developed 2.5-inch magnetic disks
1991	Started operation of the "Yamanashi factory"	Completed an AC traction motor for Shinkansen trains (Nozomi)
1991	Established "Fuji Electric (Scotland) Ltd."
1991	Launched the New Vision 21 Plan
1992		Delivered an ozone water treatment system
1992		Developed the world’s highest capacity IGBT UPS
1992		Delivered electrical equipment to the Tokyo port bridge (Rainbow Bridge)
1993	Established "Human Resource Development Center Co., Ltd."	Delivered the first generator (600MW output) of "Noshiro Power Station"
1993	Established "Fuji Electric Motor (Dalian) Co., Ltd."
1994	Established "Fuji Electric Dalian Co., Ltd."
1994	Established "Fuji Electric Frontier Co., Ltd."	Successful launch of Japan's first "HII rocket" The launch vehicle's power control unit was fitted with an aerospace power transistor made by Fuji Electric.
1995	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Philippines, Inc." Manufacture of semiconductor devices in Philippines.	Successful field experiment of the world's first linear-motor-driven vertical transport systems
1995	Establishment of "Fuji Electric France S.A.S" Manufacture and sales of measurement and control devices in Europe, Africa and Middle East.
1995	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Korea Co., Ltd." Sales of power distribution and control equipment, drive control equipment, rotators, high-voltage inverters, electronic control panels, medium- and large-sized UPS, and measurement equipment in Korea.
1995	Establishment of "Fuji Electric (Thailand) Co., Ltd." Sales and engineering of electric substation equipment, control panels, and other electric equipment in Thailand.
1995	Established "Fuji Electric (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd."
1996	Established "Fuji Electric FA (Asia) Co., Ltd."	Won order for IGBT main converters used in electric railways (world's first large capacity flat IGBT)
1996	Establishment of "Fuji Electric (Malaysia) Sdn. Manufacture of magnetic disk and aluminum substrate for magnetic disk in Malaysia.
1996	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Taiwan Co., Ltd." Sales of semiconductor devices, electrical distribution and control equipment, and drive control equipment in Taiwan.
1997	"Hakko Electronics Co., Ltd" became a subsidiary	Lead-free solder Development of Fuji Electric’s proprietary lead-free solder. Application of eco-friendly solder and printed circuit boards
1997	Established "Hangzhou Fuji Refrigerating Machine Co., Ltd." (present "Fuji Electric (Hangzhou) Software Co., Ltd.")	Expansion of 4th-generation IGBT product lineup
1997		Delivered the Japan’s first high temperature test reactor (HTTR)
1998	Established "CJV" (present "Wuxi Fuji Electric FA Co., Ltd.")	Supplied the world's first large-capacity flat IGBT equipped main converters for Shinkansen trains
1998		Delivered 100kW phosphoric acid fuel cell Delivered the first fuel cells to domestic gas company. Since then, fuel cells installation spreads widely into hotels, education facilities, research facilities, hospitals, office buildings and overseas facilities.
1999	Moved the Head office to the "Gate City Ohsaki" complex in Shinagawa Ward	Released the FALDIC-α Series AC servo system
1999	Established "Fuji Electric Motor Co., Ltd."
1999	Established "Fuji Electric Imaging Device Co., Ltd."
1999	Established "Fuji Electric Storage Device Co., Ltd."
1999	Establishment of "Fuji Electric FA (Shanghai) Co., Ltd." (present "Fuji Electric (China) Co., Ltd.") Sales of locally manufactured or imported products in China, and export of locally manufactured products in China.	Released the "FRENIC5000VG7", high-performance vector-control inverter
1999		New mini-UPS "J-Series" launched Realized the world smallest and lightest power supply inverter systems. Received the Good Design Award in the year.
2000	Established "Fuji IT Co., Ltd."
2001	Established "Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.,"
2001	Established "Fuji Electric Semiconductor, Inc."
2001	Opened China General Representative Office
2001	Established "Fuji Electric (Changshu) Co., Ltd."
2002	Devised corporate symbol mark, and Introduced corporate brand statement Using from 2002. Used from 2002 to 2012.	Established biogas-powered fuel cell power generation system Delivered Japan's first fuel cell cogeneration system (incorporating two 100kW fuel cells) powered by digested sewage sludge gas.
2002	Established "Fukiage Fuji Jihanki KK" (acquired "SANYO Electric Vending Machine Co., Ltd")
2002		Supplied an environmental radiation monitoring system
2002		Developed the Hybrid Servo System, the world’s first hydraulic turbine control system taking account of the environment
2003	The 80th anniversary commemoration project and comprehensive technology exhibition was held.
2003	Changed company name owing to shift to pure holding company system "Fuji Electric Holdings Co., Ltd." As core operating companies, "Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd." / "Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd." / "Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd." / "Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co., Ltd.".
2003	Established Dalian Fuji Bingshan Vending Machine Co., Ltd.
2005	Established Fuji Electric (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd.
2006	Started operation of "Kumamoto factory" *Transfer its business including film type amorphous solar cells on March 31, 2014	Commenced mass production of film substrate "Amorphous solar cells" Began mass producing flexible "Amorphous solar cells" based on plastic film substrate. *This business was transfered on March 31, 2014
2007		Started mass production of perpendicular magnetic recording media Full-scale mass production of world's largest capacity 2.5-inch glass substrate media (160GB/disk), 3.5-inch aluminium substrate media (334GB/disk).
2008	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Semiconductor (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd." Manufacture of semiconductor devices in Malaysia.
2008	Established "METAWATER Co., Ltd." (joint venture with "NGK Insulators, Ltd.")
2008	"Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd." Merged operation with "Schneider Electric Japan Ltd."
2009	Establishment of "Fuji Electric India Pvt. Ltd." Sales of drive control equipment and semiconductor devices in India.	High-voltage drop/dip compensator using a lithiumion capacitor released. The world's first embedded lithium-ion capacitor realized environmental load reduction in a significantly smaller package.
2009		Developed power MOSFETs for space applications
2010	Began operation of the Tsukuba Factory It started as the "Tsukuba Technical Center" of Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd. as Fuji Electric Systems merged its power supply business with TDK-Lambda Corporation. * Integrated with a Matsumoto Airport-adjacent area and renamed to "Tsukuba Factory" on April 2011.	Developed a new three-level converter circuit and a new three-level power module, realizing highly efficient electric power conversion It reduces the power loss of power conversion equipment including power supplies and invertors. It applied power conditioners for renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic power and wind power, UPS and inverter.
2010		140MW geothermal power plant, the largest single-unit capacity in the world, started operation (New Zealand "Nga Awa Purua Power Station") The Fuji Electric has been developing its geothermal power generation business since the 1970s in Southeast Asia, New Zealand, the United States, Iceland, and other countries around the world, and has succeeded in installing numerous geothermal power systems.
2010		High-speed electric vehicle battery charger went on sale Charging and CAN communication control, which is core of the CHAdeMO standard, is developed by condensing know-how of electric distribution and control technologies and energy management system's information control technologies. *Discontinued
2010		Delivered micro-grid system to outlying islands, and took part in installation and verification testing Delivered micro-grid systems to outlying islands. The systems mitigate variable power output from solar generation and wind power generation by charging and discharging fuel cells to stabilize the power system.
2010		Development of next-generation SiC power semiconductor modules We have developed a SiC module that reduces the volume to approximately one-fourth that of conventional ones and has low electricity losses to achieve high efficiency of the power control.
2011	Changed company name : "Fuji Electric Co., Ltd." Merger of "Fuji Electric Holdings Co., Ltd." with "Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd."	High-Voltage Inverter with Water-Cooling System "FRENIC 4800VM5" went on sale The FRENIC 4800VM5 employs a water-cooling system to reduce the heat generated by conversion circuits. Compared to conventional air-cooling systems, the method achieves greatly improved cooling efficiency and allows the capacity of high-voltage inverters to be increased while their size is reduced.
2011	Establishment of "GE Fuji Meter Co., Ltd." (joint venture with "General Electric")	Released hybrid heat pump vending machines
2011	Merger of "Fuji Electric Co., Ltd." with "Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd"
2011	Establishment of "PT Fuji Electric Indonesia" Sales of inverters, servos, UPS, tools, and other component products in Indonesia.
2012	Devised corporate brand statement <Brand Promise> Through our pursuit of innovation in electric and thermal energy technology, we develop products that maximize energy efficiency and lead to a responsible and sustainable society. Using from 2012.	Launched dedicated inverters for air-conditioning and water treatment systems, "FRENIC-HVAC" and "FRENIC-AQUA". Feature a slim design that allows the units to be mounted against a wall and produced as specialized equipment loaded with the standard functions required to independently operate fans and pumps in air-conditioning equipment and water supply and drainage facilities.
2012	Merger of "Fuji Electric Co., Ltd." with "Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co., Ltd."	Development of inverter equipped with next-generation power semiconductor SiC-SBD, a first in Japan SiC-SBDs were fitted on power conditioning systems and UPSs.
2012		Launched power conditioning systems for mega solar power generation systems. Fuji Electric commercialized the world's first three-level module in which a new RB-IGBT and an existing IGBT are integrated in one package. Achieving world highest efficiency of 98.5% (DC 1,000 V product).
2012		Released coffee machines for convenience stores
2013	Establishment of "Fuji Electric Vietnam Co.,Ltd" Sales of electrical distribution and control equipment and drive control equipment in Vietnam.	Released the "MICREX-VIEW XX", small- and medium-scale monitoring and control system
2013	Established Fuji Tusco Co., Ltd.
2013	Began operation of the factory at "Fuji Electric Manufacturing(Thailand) Co.,Ltd"
2013	Introduced manufacturing lines for 6-inch SIC Power Semiconductors
2014	Created new corporate brand emblem for products	Launched power electronics equipped with SiC power semiconductors FRENIC-VG Power conditioning sub-system for high-capacity mega solar use
2014	Established "Fuji SMBE Pte. Ltd." Manufacturing and sales of low-voltage switchboards (switchgear, controlgear) in Singapore
2014	Established "Shanghai Electric Fuji Electric Power Technology (Wuxi) Co., Ltd."
2015	Established "Reliable Turbine Services LLC"(United States)	Launched aerosol analyzers Began contributing to elucidation of nature of PM2.5
2015		Launched steam generation heat pumps Started making contributions to energy savings through recycling of low-temperature factory exhaust heat
2016	Established "Fuji CAC Joint Stock Company"(Vietnam) Engineering of substation equipment and process control systems	Launched large-capacity UPS equipped with SiC power semiconductors for the North American market
2016	Established "Fuji SEMEC Inc."(Canada)	Launched 145 kV gas- insulated switchgears compatible with the standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission
2016		Began shipping direct water-cooled power modules for automotive applications(Built-in RC-IGBT)
2016	Established "Fuji Gemco Private Limited" (India) Design, manufacturing, sales, and engineering of drive control systems
2016	Completed the "Power Electronics Technical Center" in the Suzuka Factory
2017		Delivered of one of Japan's largest geothermal binary plants 5050kW for Takigami Binary Power Plant
2017	Established "P.T. Fuji Metec Semarang"	Supplied SiC equipped main converters for Shinkansen trains
2018	Established "Dalian Fuji Bingshan Smart Control Systems Co., Ltd."	Supplied exhaust gas cleaning systems for ships
2018		Began shipping 7th-generation RC-IGBT for industrial equipment
2019	Established "Consul Neowatt Power Solutions Private Limited" (present "Fuji Electric India Pvt. Ltd.")	Developed the multi communication unit (MCU) The MCU is an important communication component to build ICT solution services. It can access various network devices and directly communicate with smartphones and servers.
2019		Released an on-site diagnostic system that uses analytics & AI
2020	Completed the "Power Electronics Equipment Engineering Center" in the Chiba Factory
2021		Released the UPS7500WX Series high capacity UPS
2023		Released the Sustainable Vending Machine Series, which significantly reduces power consumption