Hitachi Healthcare Americas Corporation will now go by the name Fujifilm Healthcare Americas Corporation, following the transfer of Hitachi’s diagnostic imaging business to Fujifilm.

Initiated in March in a $1.6 billion absorption-type company split deal, the transfer took place when Hitachi split off its imaging business as a separate company that was absorbed by Fujifilm Healthcare, which was established by Hitachi to act as the successor.

The new name officially went into effect on July 1, 2021. “Combining Fujifilm’s advanced processing algorithms and robust A.I. technologies, we are in the best position to offer a comprehensive portfolio of imaging solutions that resolves the evolving challenges of healthcare,” said the company in a statement.
The combination of both companies’ diagnostic imaging businesses is expected to provide Fujifilm a more comprehensive healthcare solution that includes CT, MR, diagnostic imaging, enterprise imaging, endoscopy, endosurgery, ultrasound and in vitro diagnostics. Fujifilm plans to expand its diagnostics business globally as a leading growth driver, with the aim of achieving a turnover of 860 billion yen ($7.7 billion) within the next three years. This would be a more than 50% increase in growth compared to the fiscal year ending in March 2020.

The deal adds a large range of CTs, X-rays, ultrasound and MR systems to Fujifilm’s portfolio and expands its medical business. It also introduces a new portfolio of endoscopic ultrasound PACS, which is expected to put Fujifilm on equal footing with global medical imaging players such as Siemens, General Electric and Philips. Fujifilm’s advanced image processing technology and AI solutions will be used with these products to enhance quality of care and create new values for providers.

Hitachi’s decision to transfer its diagnostic business stems from a desire to broaden its healthcare business into groupwide efforts around its digital technologies. It is now focused on accelerating a global rollout of its particle treatment systems, enhancing its in vitro diagnostic systems business for early disease detection, expanding its cell manufacturing solutions in regenerative medicine, and continuing to offer high-value-added services in IT, including medical and nursing data linkage platforms and new services leveraging AI and analytics.

In addition to the name change for Hitachi Healthcare Americas Corporation, its European counterpart was also renamed as Fujifilm Healthcare Europe. It made its debut the same day at a European virtual event where it showcased a complete and integrated portfolio of diagnostic products and services, including CT, MR, X-ray, AI, PACS, endoscopy and ultrasound systems.

“Our goal is to position ourselves as a market leader and number one comprehensive partner for the Healthcare community in Europe in the field of prevention and diagnosis," said Toshi Iida, president and managing director of Fujifilm Europe.

The new company is working to develop new solutions that include minimally invasive treatments using hybrid diagnostics, while Fujifilm and Hitachi use their individual channels to maximize sales opportunities for it.

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