PLEASANTON, Calif. – Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc. (“HTA”) announces the global release of the Chromaster High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system with enhanced performance, ease-of-use, and robustness.

HPLC is an analytical tool for qualitative and quantitative measurements of liquid soluble substances with a high degree of accuracy. A key design specification for the Chromaster is the unmatched dwell volume for conventional low pressure gradient HPLC systems. Low dwell volume affords market leading versatility necessary for accommodating and transferring methods from existing HPLC platforms, which is critical for upgrading and replacing systems in the regulated pharmaceutical environment. Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (“HHT”) designed the Chromaster for a wide range of application areas including research & development and quality control in pharmaceutical manufacturing, food & beverage, and chemical industries. The estimated HPLC market size is US$2.8 billion (SDI Global Assessment Report); HHT will promote global sales efforts with a target of 2,000 systems to be sold in FY11.

Chromaster New Features and Improvements:

1. System Performance

Innovative, new low pressure gradient mode yields improved peak/gradient retention time. Autosampler adopts a new high precision syringe drive unit for improved accuracy and volume reproducibility. Detectors incorporate ingenuity to improve baseline stability by reducing the influences of ambient temperature change.

2. Ease-of-Use

The optional GUI (Graphical User Interface) controller offers a high level of visibility, integrated control, and accessibility for automation. Available column management system enables column log data regardless of the column manufacturer. Chromaster maintains full front access operation for user convenience, and built-in common accessories and optimized tubing afford an attractive, space-saving design.

3. Robustness

The Hitachi reputation for instrument reliability continues with the Chromaster, which is made using stronger stainless steel materials and is manufactured with Hitachi’s stringent quality control standards.

•About Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc. (www.hitachi-hta.com)

Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc., headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. HTA has sold and supported analytical instruments in the U.S. for over 40 years. HTA comprises many divisions, including its Life Sciences Division, headquartered in Pleasanton, California. HTA’s Life Science Division markets and services a wide range of analytical and clinical innovative instrumentation to meet the needs of the life science, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. HTA activities include customer service and support, product development, applications, training, sales and marketing.

•About Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (www.hitachi-hitec.com/global)

Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation is a global company that specializes in the development and marketing of cutting-edge technologies in a broad range of fields from leading-edge materials, biotechnology products, semiconductor production systems, and IT solutions and products. HHT is a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., founded in 1947 and headquartered in Tokyo with 24 offices in Japan and 56 offices outside of Japan in 27 countries.