Toshiba Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate manufacturing company with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. They primarily specialize in infrastructure, consumer products, electronic devices, and components.
Toshiba is a global leader in semiconductor sales and ranks fifth in worldwide personal computer manufacturing, trailing behind Hewlett-Packard and Dell from the U.S., Acer from Taiwan, and Lenovo from China. As a prominent player in high technology, Toshiba specializes in developing and marketing advanced electronic and electrical products. These include information and communications equipment, systems, internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and materials, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems, as well as household appliances. The company's origins can be traced back to 1939 when it was formed through the merger of two companies: Tanaka Seizosho (Tanaka Engineering Works), founded by Hisashige Tanaka in 1875 as Japan's first telegraph equi
...pment manufacturer; and Shibaura Seisakusho (Shibaura Engineering Works), which changed its name in 1904.
Japan experienced modernization and became a global industrial power during the Meiji Era. Shibaura Engineering Works was instrumental in this process, as it became a prominent producer of heavy electrical machinery. Concurrently, Hakunetsusha, founded in 1890, was at the forefront of manufacturing incandescent electric lamps in Japan. As time passed, Hakunetsusha expanded its product line and eventually renamed itself Tokyo Denki (Tokyo Electric) in 1899. Subsequently, in 1939, Shibaura Seisakusho and Tokyo Denki merged to create a new company known as Tokyo Shibaura Denki.
In 1978, Toshiba Corporation officially changed its name. The company's growth was driven by both internal expansion and acquisitions. In the 1940s and 1950s, Toshiba acquired heavy engineering and primary industry firms while establishing subsidiaries in later decades. Notable subsidiaries include Toshiba EMI (1960),
Toshiba International Corporation (1970s), Toshiba Electrical Equipment (1974), Toshiba Chemical (1974), Toshiba Lighting and Technology (1989), Toshiba America Information Systems (1989), and Toshiba Carrier Corporation (1999). Throughout its history, Toshiba introduced various technological advancements in Japan such as radar in 1942 and the TAC digital computer in 1954. Significant developments in 1959 included transistor television and microwave oven. A color video phone was created in 1971, followed by a Japanese word processor introduction in 1978, an MRI system launch in 1982, and the unveiling of a laptop personal computer in 1986. NAND EEPROM technology was invented in 1991, with DVD production beginning in 1995. Additionally, the release of the Libretto sub-notebook personal computer occurred in 1996 while the HD DVD format was introduced in2005. Through a merger with Semp (Sociedade Eletromercantil Paulista) of Brazil that took placein1977,SempToshiba,a new entitywas formedThe Toshiba-Kongsberg scandal, also known as the scandal between Toshiba and Norwegian company Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk, emerged in 1987. It involved allegations against Toshiba's subsidiary, Toshiba Machine, for unlawfully selling CNC milling machines to the Soviet Union. These machines were utilized by the Soviets to manufacture silent submarine propellers, which violated international embargoes set forth by the CoCom agreement on specific nations.
The incident strained relations between the United States and Japan. This led to the arrest and prosecution of two senior executives, as well as sanctions imposed by both countries. The United States had relied on noisy boats from the Soviets for detectability, making technology that enhanced stealthiness in USSR submarines a major security concern. Senator John Heinz accused Toshiba and Kongsberg of endangering U.S. security for $517 million. In 2001, Toshiba entered into an agreement with
Orion Electric, an OEM consumer video electronic manufacturer and supplier. The purpose of this contract was to meet the increasing demand in the North American market by producing and supplying consumer TV and video products for Toshiba.
From 2001 to 2008, Orion acted as both the supplier and manufacturer for Toshiba-branded CRT-based TVs and plasma TVs under an OEM production partnership. However, in December 2004, Toshiba decided to cease their in-house manufacturing of CRT televisions. Similarly, in 2006, Toshiba also discontinued their in-house production of plasma TVs. Consequently, Orion swiftly took over as the supplier and manufacturer for Toshiba's CRT-based TVs and plasma TVs until 2007. To ensure its future competitiveness in the flat-panel digital television and display market, Toshiba made substantial investments in a new display technology called SED. Prior to World War II, Toshiba was affiliated with the Mitsui Group zaibatsu.
Toshiba, currently part of the Mitsui keiretsu, has special arrangements with Mitsui Bank and other members. Being a member of a keiretsu traditionally implies loyalty to other members, both professionally and personally. This loyalty even extends to the beer that employees consume, particularly Asahi in Toshiba's case.
In July 2005, BNFL announced its intention to sell Westinghouse Electric Company for $1.8bn at the time. The bid attracted interest from various companies such as Toshiba, General Electric, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. On January 23, 2006, the Financial Times reported that Toshiba had won the bid with an offer worth $5bn. This decision surprised industry experts who questioned selling one of the world's largest nuclear reactor producers just before the expected growth in the nuclear power market.
China, the United States, and the United Kingdom are all projected
to make significant investments in nuclear power.
On October 17, 2006, Toshiba purchased Westinghouse for $5 billion, giving them a majority share of 77%. The Shaw Group and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. own shares of 20% and 3% respectively. In late 2007, Toshiba replaced Discover Card's logo on a screen at One Times Square with their own logo. This screen is famous for displaying the New Year's countdown and messages from Toshiba. In January 2009, Toshiba also acquired Fujitsu's HDD business.
The completion of the business transfer is expected by the end of Q1 2009. Toshiba also manufactures fully automatic digital rice cookers as part of their small household appliances line. A new company called "Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Corp." was established in the United States in March 2008, specializing in marketing and promoting advanced boiling water nuclear power plants and providing support services. It is believed that Toshiba and the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry are collaborating on developing a small (30MW) nuclear plant called Toshiba 4S for installation in Galena, Alaska. Additionally, Toshiba holds a strong position in the global semiconductor market, as seen in its ranking in the Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Market Share Year by Year report.
Toshiba announced in April 2009 their intention to reduce the workforce by cutting 270 jobs in Britain and transferring production to Poland. This move involved discontinuing the manufacturing of flat-screen televisions at their factory located in Plymouth, England. As a result, the warranty and parts departments would also be relocated to Eastern Europe, which might pose challenges for handling customer issues and returns. Furthermore, starting from September 1st onwards, purchasers of LCD Televisions would
no longer be covered by the standard warranty. On September 7th of that same year, Toshiba confirmed their plan to shift flat-panel television production from Plymouth to Bratislava, Slovakia.
Toshiba has recently expanded its operations by establishing a new plant in the Czech Republic for service and spare parts. They have also opened a call center in Mumbai, India to handle customer care and returns. Toshiba is involved in various sectors through its affiliated companies, including Toshiba Laptops, Laptop Computing UK, Laptop Computing IE, Laptop Computing SW, Laptop Computing FI, Laptop Computing DK, and Laptop Computing NO Digital Products Group. They also have entities such as Mobile Communications Company, Digital Media Network Company, Personal Computer Network Company- Business Communications Division, Electronic Devices Components Group, Semiconductor Company, Display Devices Components Control Center,and Hard Disk Drive.
In terms of infrastructure systems group activities,Toshiba works with Fujitsu on HDDs with Full Disk Encryption (FDE). Additionally,t hey have the Toshiba Power Systems Company which specializes in combined-cycle gas power plants,nuclear power plants ,hydro-electric power plants and related components.Toshiba encompasses various companies, including Westinghouse Electric Company which was acquired in October 2006. Toshiba Industrial Systems Company focuses on electrical equipment while Social Infrastructure Systems Company handles aspects of social infrastructure. Toshiba TEC Corporation specializes in Retail Solutions such as Multi-Function Peripherals, Auto ID Solutions, Barcode Printers, and RFID Products. They also deal with Inkjet head. In terms of corporate affairs involvement, Toshiba collaborated with United Parcel Service (UPS) to enhance their laptop repair process based on customer feedback. Customers now bring their laptops to a UPS Store for shipment to a certified repair facility managed by UPS in Louisville, Ky., where the
repairs are handled before returning the laptops directly to the customers. Regarding HD DVD, on February 19, 2008, Toshiba announced its decision to withdraw from the competition with Blu-ray Disc devices supported by Sony and Pioneer after conducting a business assessment. Consequently, Toshiba ceased production of HD DVD players and recorders.
The HD DVD format was negatively impacted because major US film studios supported the Blu-ray format, which was created by Sony, Panasonic, Philips, and others. Atsutoshi Nishida, Toshiba's President, stated that a quick decision was necessary to prevent problems for consumers and acknowledged their inability to win. However, Toshiba continued supplying machines to retailers until March 2008 and offered technical support to the estimated one million global HD DVD player and recorder owners. The president of Toshiba expressed no plans for manufacturing Blu-ray disc players and emphasized the company's intention to thoroughly consider its role in online video-downloading.
Toshiba plans to maintain collaborative relationships with companies such as Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, major Japanese and European content providers, Microsoft, Intel, and HP. These companies joined Toshiba in building up the HD DVD market. Toshiba will explore potential collaborations with these partners using assets generated from the development of HD DVD for future business opportunities.
The battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray has been likened to the VHS versus Betamax war in the 1980s. However, by early 2008, Blu-ray Disc gained support from all four major Hollywood studios. Consequently, Toshiba has announced a new lineup of standalone Blu-ray players and drives for PCs and laptops.
The Japanese company has stated its intention to join the BDA, the organization in charge of overseeing the development of the high-definition
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(June 2008) E-waste is a detrimental environmental problem caused by the improper disposal of electronic devices, such as computers, DVD players, and cell phones. The incorrect handling of e-waste releases harmful substances like lead and mercury into the soil and water, posing risks to human health, animal life, and plant growth. Toshiba has actively tackled this issue and achieved top ranking in Greenpeace's seventh edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics along with another company. They scored 7 for their eco-friendly practices.
Toshiba's recycling and chemical use have been enhanced, resulting in a higher score of 7 out of 10 points compared to its previous ranking at number six. The company prioritized the improvement of its performance in Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), which evaluates how effectively a company handles electronic waste from its own products that are discarded. In addition, in 2008, Toshiba collaborated with China's Tsinghua University to establish the Toshiba Energy and Environment Research Center in Beijing. This research facility focuses on energy conservation, environmental concerns, and includes a team of forty university students who conduct research on electric power equipment and innovative technologies for addressing global warming.
Toshiba and Tsinghua University in China have joined forces to create eco-friendly and energy-efficient products. Since October 2007, they have been working together on research initiatives aimed at decreasing automobile pollution and developing low-impact power systems. In the electronics sector, Toshiba faces tough competition from Panasonic, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, Sony, JVC, Thomson SA, Hewlett-Packard, Sharp
Corporation, Philips, Hitachi, Pioneer, Mitsubishi Electric , Daikin , LG-Philips LCD , Dell , General Electric , Siemens , and Apple Inc.Tsinghua University collaborates with various projects such as Fabrik, Compaq Nuclear Power Plants, Areva, Hitachi Mitsubishi Power Systems Division (Turbines), Alstom GE, and Hitachi. Toshiba is also involved in different areas such as HD DVD technology, the work of Toshio Doko, the development of Toshiba DynaSheet, and the production of laptops including Toshiba Satellite, Toshiba Portege, Toshiba Tecra, Qosmio , Libretto,and Equium. In addition to this, Toshiba has joint ventures with Samsung through a subsidiary called Sort Computer Corporation. They are known for their flash memory solutions including SmartMedia and xD-Picture Card. Toshiba also produces digital audio players like Gigabeat. Furthermore,Toshiba expanded its involvement in sports sponsorship by endorsing teams like Toshiba Brave Lupus in rugby.
