MERL - Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories

One of the world's largest companies, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has $41 billion in annual sales, $2.9 billion in operating profits (in the year ending in March 2018) and more than 139,000 employees around the world (see www.MitsubishiElectric.com).


Mitsubishi Electric's Historical Highlights

1921 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation established
1931 First Mitsubishi Electric elevator
1953 First Mitsubishi Electric television
1973 US operations established
1980 First outdoor color video Diamond Vision display (Dodger Stadium)
1984 World's first spiral escalator
1997 America's first plasma TV
2010 Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America named GM Supplier of the Year (11th straight year)
2011 Awarded contract to install the world's fastest elevators (59 feet/second, Shanghai Tower)
2012 Emmy® Award for Pioneering Development of Large-Venue, Large-Screen Direct View Video Displays

 

Mitsubishi Electric's Business

Mitsubishi Electric is composed of a wide range of operations. The primary business units are listed below. Together, these ten business units produce most of Mitsubishi Electric's revenue. Due to the wide applicability of MERL's research, MERL works with them all.

  • Air Conditioning Systems
    Room air conditioners, package air conditioners, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, ventilators, air curtains.
    • Home Products
      Refrigerators & freezers, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, vacuum cleaners, electric fans.
  • Factory Automation Systems
    Programmable controllers, AC servo systems, inverters, industrial robots, processing machines.
    • Automotive Equipment
      Charging & starting products, electrification products, electric power steering system products, safety and driving assistance system products, car multimedia products.
  • Building Systems
    Elevators, escalators, moving walks, modernizations, hand dryers.
    • Energy Systems
      Power generation systems, transmission & distribution systems, medium- & low-voltage switchgear and systems, nuclear systems, power information & communication technology.
  • Semiconductors & Devices
    Power modules, high-power devices, driver ICs, sensors, high-frequency devices, optical devices, TFT-LCD modules, contact image sensors.
  • Space Systems
    Space systems (satellite programs, satellite platforms, satellite components, optical and radio telescopes, satellite communications), high-precision GPS mobile measurement system (Mobile Mapping System).


It is worthy of note that there are over 30 major independent companies in the world that use the word "Mitsubishi" in their names. These companies include Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings and Mitsubishi Motors, all of which are also among the world's largest companies. They have shared roots in 19th century Japan; however, they have been separate for many years and Mitsubishi Electric has been separate from all of them since its founding in 1921.

 

Mitsubishi Electric's US Operations

A significant part of Mitsubishi Electric's sales are in North America and many of Mitsubishi Electric's business units have North American subsidiaries. The largest US operations are listed below (see also www.us.mitsubishielectric.com).

 

 

Mitsubishi Electric Corporate R&D

Mitsubishi Electric has a global R&D network comprising five laboratories. The chart below summarizes the primary activities of these labs. MERL collaborates with all of these labs.

  • Coporate R&D

    Tokyo, Japan
    Corporate R&D Headquarters.

  • Advanced Technology R&D Center

    Amagasaki, Japan
    Power Electronics, Electro-mechanical, Ecology, Energy, Materials, Devices, Systems and Imaging Technologies.