Hitachi

Hitachi is a computing and electronics conglomerate based in Japan. It includes enterprise storage giant Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) and disk drive maker Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.

Founded in 1910 and incorporated in 1920, Hitachi started as an electrical repair shop. Today, it has a workforce of some 389,752 around the world and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Hitachi's operations are divided into seven industry segments: information and telecommunications systems; electronic devices; power and industrial systems; digital media and consumer products; high functional materials and components; logistics, services and others; and financial services.

In April this year, the Japanese tech giant announced plans to buy over Canadian ID management company M-Tech, which has since been renamed Hitachi ID Systems. The acquisition rounds out the company's biometrics, RFID and smart card security services.