Hitachi Via Mechanics will invest one billion yen (approximately US $11.3 million) to build a new manufacturing plant of NC drilling machines in China by the end of 2010. The plant will feature a capacity of 1,000 units per year.

About Hitachi Via Mechanics, Ltd.

Hitachi Via Mechanics, Ltd. was established in 1968. Since then, as a member of the Hitachi Group, Hitachi Via Mechanics has been engaged in manufacturing, marketing and service activities in the area of printed wiring board (PWB) manufacturing systems, on which the leading-edge electronics equipment industry is based; factory automation (FA) equipment and systems for a broad range of machining and manufacturing tasks; ark welding and cutting systems that are indispensable to industry and always making important contributions to this industrial sector.

In its main product area, PWB drilling machines, Hitachi Via Mechanics holds over 70% of the Japanese market and close to 50% of the world market, which indicates the high level of customer support and confidence the company has gained. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi-via.co.jp/.