History
Qingdao No.2 Radio Factory, the predecessor of Hisense Group, was established in September 1969;[10] this is the year its existence was first officially recognized.[Bell 2] The small factory's first product was a radio sold under the brand name Red Lantern, but the company later acquired the know-how to make TVs through a trial-production of black and white televisions ordered by the Shandong National Defense Office.[11] This involved the technical training of three employees at another Chinese factory, Tianjin 712, and resulted in the production of 82 televisions by 1971[11] and the development of transistor TVs by 1975.[Bell 2] Their first TV model, CJD18 was produced in 1978.[12]
Television production in China was limited until 1979, when a meeting of the Ministry of Electronics in Beijing concluded with calls for greater development of the civil-use electronics industry.[11] Qingdao No.2 Radio Factory was then quickly merged with other local electronics makers and began to manufacture televisions under the name Qingdao General Television Factory[Bell 2] in Shandong province.[Bell 2]
Color televisions were manufactured through the purchase of a production line from Matsushita,[Bell 2] the first of many such technology transfers from foreign firms Hisense has made in order to remain competitive. The companies it has bought from include Hitachi, Lucent, Matsushita, NEC, Sanyo, Toshiba, and Qualcomm.[Bell 3]
The Hisense Group emerged in 1994[11] from a tumult started in 1992 by then-president Zhou Houjian[13] or perhaps even by Li Dezhen, director of the Electronic Instrument Bureau of Qingdao.[Bell 2] The Hisense Electrical Appliance Share Holding Company (now, Hisense Electrical Co Ltd) was publicly listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in April 1997.[Bell 2] Increased competition and price wars in the Chinese electronics market in the 1990s were a boon to Hisense,[11] which acquired ten failing enterprises by 1998.[Bell 2]
Eager to expand beyond consumer electronics, Hisense Group aimed to also become a regional leader in household appliances, computers and communications.[11] This strategy prompted great outlays of capital on R&D and on the creation of industrial parks,[11] etc.
In 2013, Hisense invented a type of transparent 3D television.[14]
In July 2015, Hisense bought a Mexico facility from Sharp for $23.7 million alongside rights to use the Sharp brand on televisions sold in North and South America.[15]
In November 2017, Hisense announced that it would acquire a 95% controlling stake in Toshiba Visual Solutions for US$113 million.[16] In 2018, Hisense became the majority shareholder in Slovenian appliance manufacturer Gorenje with 95.4% of shares.[17]
In 2020, it introduced the world's first true 8K 10 bit HDR screen TV that is based on an AI-powered HDR algorithm and an image quality engine claiming 6.5T supercomputing power.[18]
In May 2022, Hisense announced the launch of the company’s first 4K Fire TV. The TV has a 50-inch 60Hz display with a bezel-less design. It uses Hisense’s ULED technology and comes with support for Dolby vision HDR with Fire TV built in.[19]
Operations
Subsidiaries
Hisense R&D center in
Qingdao, China
Hisense owns over 40 subsidiaries,[28] both in and outside China. A list is available here.
Hisense-Hitachi Air-conditioning System Co Ltd was established in 2003 as a joint venture between Hitachi and Hisense, Hisense-Hitachi Air-conditioning System Co Ltd is an air-conditioner company that sells under the brand names "Hisense-Hitachi" and "Hitachi". It designs, manufactures and markets its products, which include commercial and household central air-conditioning systems, in China. Hisense-Hitachi products are also sold in Japan. It operates a commercial air-con production facility in the Hisense Information Industrial Park.
Hisense Air Conditioning Co Ltd is a subsidiary set up in the Hisense Pingdu Home Appliance Industrial Park in Pingdu, China, in 1996 to produce air-conditioners using frequency conversion air-conditioner technology purchased from Sanyo.[11]
Hisense Australia Pty Ltd is headquartered in Qingdao, China, Hisense's Australian subsidiary helps distribute Hisense products in this country.[29]
Hisense (Beijing) Electric Co Ltd was formed from the assets of a failing joint venture between Whirlpool and Beijing Snow Flake,[11] Hisense was able to take over a modern refrigerator factory near Beijing that with the help of local government after Whirlpool had withdrawn from the project in 1998.[11] Hisense (Beijing) Electric Co Ltd is now responsible for R&D, production and marketing of refrigerators.
Hisense-Whirlpool (Zhejiang) Electric Appliances Co Ltd is a joint venture between Hisense Kelon and Whirlpool formed in 2008 for the development and production of washing machines and refrigerators,[30] Hisense provides this joint venture with refrigerator know-how and Whirlpool, its washing machine manufacturing expertise.[31] The company operates a plant in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, which manufactures washing machines and large capacity refrigerators.[32]
Hisense Export & Import Co Ltd was created in 1991, this subsidiary is tasked with establishing OEM contracts with foreign companies.[Bell 4]
Hisense Hungary Kft is a failed[33] subsidiary established in 2004[Bell 4] as a joint venture with Flextronics, it was located in Sárvár, Vas County, Hungary.[Bell 4] Hisense Hungary Kft assembled TVs.[Bell 5]
Initially, few of the products it manufactured were sold under the Hisense brand name, and production focus was on OEM products,[Bell 4] instead. As of 2009, the television plant has been shut down due to falling orders, and Hisense Hungary Kft operates with a staff of 13.[33]
Hisense (Shandong) Information Technology Co Ltd was created in 2001 and located in Jinan, Shandong province, this subsidiary is responsible for infrastructure-use IT. It develops and markets security technology and intelligent traffic control products and their software.
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Ltd is listed on two stock exchanges, Hisense Kelon is a large Hisense subsidiary.
Hisense Intelligent Commercial Equipment Co Ltd was founded in 1989, this subsidiary manufactures, designs, markets and services POS terminal, electronic cash registers and other specialized peripheral equipment for retailing, tax monitoring and finance.[34] It is also responsible for R&D[34] and manufactures at the Hisense Yellow Island Information Product Manufacturing Park.[35]
Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Co Ltd was created in 2005, Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Co Ltd has its roots in the Hisense Mobile Communications Research Institute, an R&D team created in 2000.[36] Holding a total of 233 patents, 64 inventions and 116 software copyrights,[37] its products include mobile handsets, Linux OS smart phones, wireless modules, PC cards and industry customized terminals.[36]
Hisense Optics Co Ltd was established in 1996, Hisense Optics has its roots in Qingdao Camera Co, a former subsidiary of Qingdao Electric Instrument Bureau, which in 1995 was facing bankruptcy when the government of Qingdao erased its debts and gave its assets to the Hisense Group who renamed it Hisense Optics.[11] This subsidiary operates a remote control factory, a degaussing coil factory and an accessory parts factory. Products manufactured include remote controls,[38] degaussing coils and injection molded parts. It may also produce, or did produce, optical instruments, cameras and telephones.[11] It operates an injection molding workshop in Nancun town, Qingdao.
Hisense Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd was created as a joint venture between Hisense, Ligent Photonics Inc, et al. in 2003 this subsidiary develops fiber optic products. Its R&D facilities are located in Chicago and Qingdao, and it has a production base in latter location.[39] It is also responsible for marketing Ligent Photonics Inc products in Asia.[40]
Hisense South Africa Development Enterprise Pty Ltd is the company's first overseas subsidiary, this failed joint venture with South African bank NED[Bell 4] had a factory in South Africa that manufactured televisions and home-theater equipment.[Bell 4] It may still be responsible for R&D[Bell 6] and distribution to local retail outlets.[Bell 4]
Hisense USA Co is a Georgia-based subsidiary responsible for some activities in the US, Hisense USA may distribute products to retailers or establish an R&D center.[41] Founded in 2000[Bell 4] or 2001,[41] it was initially headquartered in Los Angeles.[Bell 4] It may initially have included an R&D facility.[Bell 3] As of 2009, it has locations in Gwinnett, Suwanee, and unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia.[42]
Ligent Photonics Inc was established in 2002 as a joint venture with Hisense, this subsidiary designs, develops and fabricates optical components for the telecommunications and data communications industries.[40] Products are designed at its St Charles, Illinois headquarters and manufactured in China.[39] This joint venture sells in North America, Europe and the Middle East through a network of sales representatives and in Asia through Hisense Optoelectronics.[40]
Qingdao Hisense Communications Co Ltd is a subsidiary manufactures mobile phones and operates an R&D facility.[43] Established in 2001, it has a technical cooperation effort with Qualcomm and operates a mobile phone production base in a Hisense IT Industrial Park 90 minutes from Qingdao.[43] One of its products, the Hisense C108, is the first mobile phone to use Qualcomm's biomimetic screen technology, Mirasol,[44] which allows it to be easily read in direct sunlight.
Qingdao Hisense Network Technology Co Ltd was established in 2004, this subsidiary grew out of an internal Hisense department, the Information Technology Center and provides IT consultancy services.[45]
Qingdao Hisense Property Management Co Ltd provides property management services, as well as product design, mold design, pattern making and mold processing and manufacturing through this subsidiary.[46]
Qingdao Hisense Real Estate Co Ltd was created in 1995, this subsidiary has more than 40 completed developments in Shandong province, including residential buildings, apartments, villas, townhouses, office buildings and large industrial parks.[47]
Qingdao Hisense TransTech Co Ltd was founded in October 1998, this subsidiary manufactures and markets electronics[48] for urban traffic, public transport and logistics.[49] Its products include traffic light control systems, traffic signal controllers, comprehensive public security and traffic information platforms, digital traffic violation video processing systems, public transport dispatch systems, the Hisense intelligent vehicular terminal, the Hisense mobile audio-visual intelligent vehicular terminal and electronic stop signs.[49] Its products are marketed under the HiCon, HiECS, HiATMP, and HiDVS brand names.[48]
As of 2005, Hisense Italy, Hisense's Italian office, may manage own-brand (as opposed to OEM) sales .[Bell 5]
Wuhu Ecan Motors Co Ltd is a joint venture between Guangdong Kelon (Rongsheng) Co Ltd, Xiwenjin Co Ltd and Luminous Industrial Ltd, this company produces electric motors for the information industry and for use in office automation.[50] It is located in the Wuhu National High-tech and Industry Development Zone.[50]
Production bases
Hisense owns at least 14 manufacturing parks, worldwide,[35] and operates a number of production bases.
Hisense Guangdong Multimedia Industrial Base was put into operation on 28 September 2007, this industrial base produces flat panel TVs[51] and is located in the Shunde District of the city of Foshan, Guangdong.[52]
Hisense Industrial Park in South Africa is a Hisense South African production base will manufacture televisions and white goods.[53]
Hisense Information Industrial Park was created in 2001[54] and located in Qingdao, Shandong,[55] this industrial park is situated on 80 hectares of land.[34] Hisense-Hitachi operates a commercial air-conditioning manufacturing facility in the park and from 2007 a LCD TV module production line also calls the park home.[51]
Hisense Pingdu Home Appliance Industrial Park was located in Pingdu, Shandong, it is home to Hisense Air Conditioning Co Ltd.
Hisense Yellow Island Information Product Manufacturing Park was encompassing over 200 acres (0.81 km2), Hisense Yellow Island Information Product Manufacturing Park is one of the twelve industrial parks owned by Hisense[35] as of 2009.
Huzhou production base is a Hisense inverter-type/variable-frequency air-conditioner production base is located in Huzhou, Zhejiang, and was set up on 8 May 2005.[56] A joint venture between Hisense Air Conditioner Co Ltd and Zhejiang Xianke Air Conditioner Co, it is operated by subsidiary Hisense (Zhejiang) Air Conditioner Co Ltd and comprises a 60,000 square meter factory and over 200 mu of land.[57]
Hisense Whirlpool (Huzhou) Household Appliances Industrial Park is a production base that manufactures washing machines and refrigerators for a joint venture with Whirlpool is situated at this Huzhou park.[58] It comprises an 80,000 square meter factory on 20 hectares of land.[58]
Nanjing Refrigerator Industrial Park is located in the Nanjing Xingang Economic and Technological Development Zone of Nanjing, Jiangsu, a refrigerator production base is situated in this industrial park.[56] The site's factory is 52,000 square meters in size.[59]
Sichuan production base is a Hisense Kelon refrigerator production base with a 36,000 square meter factory is located in Chengdu, Sichuan.[60]
