Corporate Chronology

Osaka Iron Works(proprietorship, the predecessor of Hitachi Zosen) era

1881	E.H. Hunter, of England, founded the Osaka Iron Works(proprietorship) on the Ajikawa riverbank, Osaka.
1882	The Hatsu Maru (14GT wooden ship), the first new ship, is constructed.
1890	The Kumagawa Maru, Japan's first steel-hulled ship, is built for Osaka Shosen (now Mitsui O.S.K. Lines).
1900	Sakurajima Works starts operations. (relocated to the Ariake Machinery Works in September 1997.)
1907	The Japan's first Western-style whaling ship, the No. 2 HogeiMaru, is constructed. Tokyo liaison office is opened.
1908	Japan's first tanker, the Tora Maru constructed.
1911	Innoshima Works starts operations.

Old Osaka Iron Works Ltd. era

1914	Osaka Iron Works is reorganized as a joint-stock company.
1922	Chikko Works starts operations.
1927	Dojima Ohashi, an arch bridge, and other structures are completed in succession for the municipal government of Osaka.
1930	The Heiyo Maru and Heian Maru large-scale cargo and passenger ships for Nippon Yusen K.K. are constructed (these ships established a new record for river launches in Japan).

New Osaka Iron Works Ltd. era

1934	The company makes a new start as Osaka Iron Works Incorporated (marking the incorporation of the current Hitachi Zosen Corporation ) .
1937	Osaka Tekko, a technical journal, is inaugurated.

As Hitachi Zosen Corporation

1943	The name is changed to Hitachi Zosen Corporation. Mukaishima Works starts operations.
1944	Kanagawa Works starts operations.
1948	Hitachi Zosen Technical Review is inaugurated.
1949	Technical Research Institute is opened. The first whaling ship is constructed for Norway following World War II as a result of government trade.
1950	A technological tie-up for B&W type diesel engines is concluded.
1951	An order is received for tanker from customer in United States - the first order received under the private trade program to export a ship after the end of World War II. The first B&W marine diesel engine is completed.
1956	Offices are opened in London and New York.
1960	A technological tie-up is concluded with Von Roll Environmental Technology Ltd. of Switzerland for a De Roll type refuse incineration plant.
1965	A De Roll-type refuse incineration plant is completed for the municipal government of Osaka (the first mechanical incineration plant with power generation facility manufactured in Japan). Sakai Works starts operations.
1966	Sakurajima Works restarted as a specialized plant for land machinery.
1969	A number of orders are completed for De Roll-type refuse incineration plants for Tokyo Metropolis.
1971	Maizuru Works starts operations.
1972	Orders are received for two cargo ships for China.
1973	Ariake Works starts operations.
1977	Construction is completed for 500,000-ton tanker for Esso.
1979	Ariake Works starts operations.
1981	Hitachi Zosen celebrates its 100th anniversary.
1987	The world's first multiple-face shield tunneling machine is completed.
1990	Construction of ultra-large steel mill plants is completed for Baoshan Iron and Steel of China and Sicartsa Steel Mill in Mexico.
1993	Construction of Japan's first double hull VLCC is completed. Sakai Works starts operation as the specialized plant for steel structures. Slurry-shield tunnel boring machine (with the world's largest diameter of 14.14m) is produced.
1994	The world's first triple-face shield tunneling machine is completed.
1996	A refuse incineration plant for the Clean Association of Eastern Saitama District receives MITI (now METI) Minister prize for Excellent Environmental Equipment. Electric power supply business is inaugurated. Japan's first super refuse-fired power generation plant comes on stream.
1997	An order is received for the world's first fifth-generation semisub rig. Sakurajima Works is closed, and facilities are transferred to Ariake Works; Ariake Machinery Works starts operations. Construction of the B&W marine diesel engine (74,640 hp) is completed (one of the world's largest).
2000	An order received for the No.1 gasification melting furnace. Yumemai Ohashi, the world's first floating swing bridge is constructed. 8,000 hours of continuous operations are achieved by refuse incineration plant delivered for Taiwan.
2001	A large-scale desalination plant is constructed in Saudi Arabia.
2002	The Basic Agreement on Consolidation of Shipbuilding Operations is concluded with NKK Corp (now JFE Steel corporation). The shipbuilding operation is transferred to Universal Shipbuilding Corporation on October 1. The Hitz brand name goes into use as of October 1.
2003	The world's most advanced electronic controll marine engine of a large size is produced for large vessels. A desalination plant is constructed for Oman.
2004	An order is received (as member of international consortium) for Stonecutters Bridge - the world's secondlongest cable-stayed bridge - for Hong Kong. Kyoto Municipal Waste Edible Oil Fuel Production Facility is completed with the greatest manufacturing capacity in Japan.
2005	Refuse incineration plant is constructed for Odate City (the first intermediate processing operation of municipal refuse in Japan under PFI legislation).
2006	A desalination plant is constructed in Abu Dhabi.
2007	Japan's largest gasification melting furnace is completed for Toyoda City. An order is received from South Africa for world's largest coal-to-liquids (CTL) reactor.
2008	A new factory is constructed in Sakai Works for extension of industrial machinery and shield tunneling machinery production.
2009	Ten Group companies are absorbed. Completed a new plant for manufacture of medium-sized diesel engines at Ariake Works. Launched a joint venture in China for manufacture of marine diesel engines.
2010	Launched a joint venture in China for manufacture of marine deck machinery.
2010	Acquired European refuse incineration plant maker. (current name: Hitachi Zosen Inova AG)
2011	Hitachi Zosen celebrates its 130th anniversary.
	Establishment of Indian Subsidiary.
	Launched a joint venture in China for manufacture of Precision Machinery Business.
	An Order received for one of the world's largest tunel boring machine.
	First ever marine vessel equipped with Pre-Turbo SCR system achieves compliance with Tier III NOx emission standards.