At a time when a modernizing Japan relied on imports for almost all of its industrial goods, Yoshisuke Ayukawa acquired malleable cast iron manufacturing technology and established Tobata Foundry, the predecessor of Hitachi Metals. In 1912, the company began manufacturing Gourd brand-black heart malleable cast iron pipe joints. The company later began to make products for other uses including shipbuilding, railways, and spinning machines, and orders grew steadily as the superior quality of these products was recognized. Business areas were diversified through mergers with Teikoku Foundry, which at the time was producing steel for steel rolling, Kizugawa Manufacturing, a producer of fittings, and steelmaker Yasugi Steel Manufacturing.

As the business expanded to cover heavy industries in general, Tobata Foundry changed its name to Kokusan Industries.

Hitachi transferred its metals business with five originally Tobata Foundry plants (Tobata, Fukagawa, Kuwana, Wakamatsu, and Yasugi) to establish Hitachi Metals Industries.

Merged with Hitachi Cable, the Hitachi Group’s electric wires and cable business, in 2013. As the pace of movement toward a low-carbon society accelerated, the merger was intended to create synergies in terms of technologies and sales in the automotive, electronics, and industrial infrastructure segments.

Hitachi Metals Industries changed its name to Hitachi Metals. Through creative monozukuri and proactive mergers and acquisitions, the company went through a succession of changes and grew to become one of the world’s leading materials manufacturers.

Merged with Hitachi Ferrite in 1995 to strengthen the soft magnetic materials business in response to increased demand for noise reduction in automobiles and electronics.

Made a subsidiary to strengthen the production system for neodymium magnets and to optimize the material flow from raw materials to finished products.

Acquired the MetglasTM (amorphous metal materials) Division of Honeywell International of the United States. Strengthened the soft magnetic materials division as demand in the electronics segment grew for size and weight reductions, energy conservation, and electromagnetic noise reduction.

Established through the merger of the magnetic materials and applications operations of Hitachi Metals and Sumitomo Special Metals to manufacture high-performance neodymium magnets and ferrite magnets widely used in motors for automotive equipment and home appliances. With demand for automotive-use motors expected to grow, the merger was carried out in 2007 to integrate the magnetic materials businesses and to increase synergies.

Made MMC Superalloy, with extensive experience and technological capabilities in aircraft parts, a subsidiary with a view toward global growth in core industries including aircraft and energy. Hitachi Metals’ Okegawa Works established in April 2018.