Sumitomo earned a high acclaim in the U.S. people mover market due to our successful undertaking of the Miami project. In 2003, we went on to win a bid for the Washington Dulles International Airport. In 2005, we became the successful bidder for a people mover project at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. And in 2008, we clinched a second order at Miami International Airport. In February 2009, Sumitomo, together with business partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., established a company in charge of operations and maintenance work for people mover systems at these airports, and this helped pave the foundation for Sumitomo to launch a full-fledged people mover business in the United States. We have been now steadily gaining ground in the U.S. market based on which we can aim to take the top position. “Our future goal is to get Sumitomo involved in all people movers to be introduced in North America,’’ said Shinji Kobayashi, who has took a position of Mr Kato in the States as project leader.
Reflecting on the path taken by Sumitomo, Mr Kato said, “Taking advantage of the business foundation a numerous number of our predecessors had built in the United States in the past, Sumitomo was able to receive its first order for a public works project in the country, including construction work. And the number of projects undertaken by us in the country has been steadily increasing. Our own efforts earned us entry into new fields. We felt a great sense of fulfillment for such an achievement.’’ Responding to Mr Kato’s remarks, Mr Isshiki spoke of his future hopes: “We have received a baton from Mr. Kato. Based on his team’s achievements, we want to craft a new business platform and pass it to the next generation.’’
“Holding up the environmental friendliness of people moving systems and Sumitomo’s total coordination strengths, we would like to tap into urban redevelopment business as our future business target,’’ said Katsuji Nakagawa, who heads Sumitomo’s transportation equipment business. “Taking advantage of Sumitomo’s business strengths as a general trading house as much as possible, we would like to operate a railway company and also launch a real estate business, such as the development of commercial and amusement facilities along the railroad line, and in the future we would like to transform such operations into a big business which is in charge of comprehensively developing the concerned regional area,’’ Nakagawa said, speaking of his ultimate business goals.
Operations Sumitomo’s Transportation Project & Equipment Department is now undertaking in the United States and Asia mark an important step for the company to achieve these goals.
A people mover system now under construction at Washington Dulles International Airport by Sumitomo is an underground project linking a 3.5-kilometer distance between the airport’s main terminal building and two concourses. The project is set for completion in July 2009. As the construction work for the Miami project has been delayed substantially, Washington Dulles’ people mover is expected to mark the first time a Sumitomo’s people mover has reached completion. The people mover to be constructed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the third of its kind to be undertaken by Sumitomo, links a 2.3-kilometer distance between the airport and adjacent facilities—an international convention hall and rental car facilities. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2009. The second Miami project, called as “MIA Mover”, connects a 2-kilometer distance between the airport and adjacent complex transportation facilities (bus, railway and rental cars). This project is to be completed in August 2011. Turning to Asia, Sumitomo has already received an order to build a people mover system at Incheon International Airport in South Korea. Sumitomo and its business partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have together commanded the second largest share of the world people mover market.
