1881

• E.H. Hunter, of Northern Ireland, 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

• 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

• Japan's first Western-style whaling ship, the No. 2 Hogei Maru, is constructed.
• Tokyo liaison office is opened.

1908

• Japan's first tanker, the Tora Maru constructed.

1911

• Innoshima Works starts operations.

1914

• Osaka Iron Works is reorganized as a joint-stock company.

1922

• Chikkou 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).

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.

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

• 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.

1973

• Ariake Works starts operations.

1977

• Construction is completed for a 500,000-ton tanker for Esso.

1979

• Ariake Land Machinery 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

1991

• Ibaraki Works starts operations.

1993

• Construction of Japan's first double-hull VLCC is completed.
• Sakai Works starts operation as a specialized plant for steel structures.
• Slurry-shield tunnel boring machine (with one of the world's largest diameters 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.
• The world's largest B&W marine diesel engine (74,640 hp) at the time is completed.

2000

• An order is 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.
• HEC Corporation is acquired.

2003

• The world's most advanced electronic controll marine engine for large vessels is produced.
• A desalination plant is constructed for Oman.

2004

• 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

• One of Japan's largest gasification melting furnace is completed for Toyoda City.

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.
• Acquired European refuse incineration plant maker(current name: Hitachi Zosen Inova AG).

2011

• Hitachi Zosen celebrates its 130th anniversary.
• Establishes local subsidiary in India.
• Vessel put into service employing world's first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) NOx removal system for marine engines compliant with IMO Tier III NOx emission standards.

2012

• Established a joint-venture manufacturer of process equipment in India.
• Precision Machinery Center is completed.
• Shield tunneling machine with world's largest diameter, at 17.45 m, is completed for Seattle, Washington

2013

• Acquired all shares of U.S.-based NAC International Inc.
• Established local subsidiary in Myanmar.

2014

• Established local subsidiary in Indonesia.
• Daiki Ataka Engineering Co.,Ltd is acquired.
• SCR system for marine engines received world's first FTA approval.

2015

• Company expands into retail electricity market as power producer and supplier (PPS) with power produced from renewable energy.
• Omonogawa Wind Power Station is completed, starts operations under Omonogawa Wind Power Co., Ltd.

2017

• Acquired shares of "Osmoflo Group".
• Long-term Hitz 2030 Vision and medium-term management plan Change & Growth start.
• Established local subsidiary in Thailand.

2018

• Company becomes Japan's first issuer in manufacturing industry of Hitachi Zosen Green Bonds.
• Joint-venture company aimed at expanding our service business in China is formed.
• Hitz Advanced Information Technology Center (A.I/TEC) starts operations.
• Completion of Phase 1 construction ,the world largest WtE Plant in Changsha China.

2020

• The New Medium-term Management Plan "Foward 22" started.
• Completed Japan's first undersea installation type flap gate type floodgate installation work for Iwate Prefecture.

2021

• Hitachi Zosen celebrates its 140th anniversary.
• 'PtG Square' starts operations in the Chikko Works.
• Established Underground Infrastructure Technologies Corporation (UGITEC), a joint venture with Kawasaki Heavy Industries for the shild machine business.

2022

• Hitachi Zosen Inova AG acquires shares in Steinmüller Babcock Environment Group and makes it a subsidiary.
• Selected as a DX Certified Operator by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
• Signing of the UN Global Compact.

2023

• The New Medium-term management plan "Forward 25" start.
• Established Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine Co., Ltd.