Hitachi buys European sales partner

Hitachi Medical of Tokyo has acquired the majority of shares of its European sales partner, Ecoscan Ultrasound Holding of Zug, Switzerland. Ecoscan has distributed Hitachi Medical Ultrasound products in Central Europe since 1996, and has a direct sales and service organization that encompasses 140 employees in eight countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Ecoscan will now operate under the name Hitachi Ultrasound Holding with Hitachi Ultrasound subsidiaries in the countries it covers.

The purchase comes as Hitachi strengthens its commitment to ultrasound, as well as its distributor connections around the world for other modalities. In October, Hitachi Medical Systems America established Hitachi Medical Systems South America, a sales and service joint venture between HMSA, Hitachi Medical, and Mitsui geared toward the open MRI market (SCAN 10/27/99).