11/23/2001
For Immediate Release
HITACHI MEDICAL SYSTEMS AMERICA DOMINATES U.S. MRI EQUIPMENT MARKET MERITING FROST & SULLIVAN MARKET PENETRATION AWARD
CONTACT:
Sheldon Schaffer
Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc.
1959 Summit Commerce Park
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
800.800.3106
330.425.1313 Ext. 5447
330.425.1410 FAX
Sandra King
King Strategic Communications
El Segundo, CA
310.322.7205 Phone
310.640.0899 Fax
Vicki Spahn
Frost & Sullivan
210.247.2496 Phone
info@hitachimed.com
www.hitachimed.com
Twinsburg, Ohio -- November 23, 2001 -- Hitachi Medical Systems America (HMSA) announced that it has been awarded the distinguished 2001 Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Market Penetration Award for the U.S. MRI equipment market.
According to new market information from Frost & Sullivan, United States MRI Equipment Market Report, HMSA holds more than 17 percent of the total U.S. MRI installed base and more than half of the installed base of Open MRI systems.
“Hitachi has successfully maintained its standing as the number one Open MRI manufacturer in the U.S. market. Hitachi’s first Open MRI system, the AIRIS®, made its debut in 1995; it was an instant hit. In 1998, Hitachi followed up with the AIRIS II system, which has proven equally successful. All told, Hitachi has installed more than 1,000 MRI systems in the U.S., holding more than 17 percent of the total U.S. MRI installed base, and more than half of the installed base of Open MRI systems,” says Antonio Garcia, Frost & Sullivan industry research analyst.
“Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc. is very proud of the strong market position we have captured in just twelve years,” says Richard L. Ernst, President and CEO. “We are equally proud that Open MRI, a technology pioneered by Hitachi, has become such an important part of diagnostic imaging.” “The success of Open MRI,” Ernst states, “is a testimony not only to Hitachi technology, but also the quality of HMSA marketing and customer support. We look forward to furthering our market penetration as the AltaireTM , introduced in 2001, brings high-field performance to Open MRI.”
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, a global leader in international strategic market consulting and training, presents Market Engineering Awards to companies that demonstrate the diligence, perseverance, and dedication required to develop a successful business plan and excel in the increasingly competitive global marketplace. Frost & Sullivan rigorously analyzes specific criteria to determine Market Engineering Award recipients in a variety of regional and global market landscapes. Founded in 1961, Frost & Sullivan is headquartered in San Jose, CA with offices located worldwide: New York, San Antonio, Toronto, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur. For further information, visit http://awards.frost.com.
About Hitachi Medical Systems America
Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc. markets premium, high performance magnetic resonance (MR) imaging products of Hitachi Medical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. These include the AIRIS and AIRIS II Open MR systems with advanced permanent magnet technology and the new Altaire high-field performance Open MR system. HMSA has established itself as a major provider of magnetic resonance imaging systems with more than 1,000 systems installed throughout the United States and 2,300 worldwide. Since the company first popularized the concept of Open MR a decade ago, it has been the fastest growing segment of MR imaging, and today accounts for nearly 50 percent of all MR imaging system sales.
