ORLANDO, Fla., July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and with the cooperation of Sumitomo Corporation, has received an order from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) to design, build, operate, and maintain three separate Automated People Mover (APM) systems at the Orlando International Airport (OIA) in Orlando, Florida, to be completed in 2018.  This project marks the fourth major international airport in which MHI has implemented an APM in the United States and its seventh overall APM system in the country.

MHIA is responsible for implementing the three systems, which includes the supply and construction of a new, approximately 1.4 mile long APM system connecting the main airport terminal and the South Airport APM Complex – a multi-modal transportation hub – as well as the replacement of two existing 2000 ft. long APM systems connecting the main airport terminal to Airside Terminals 1 and 3. In total, MHI will be supplying 18 new train cars. The Airside Terminals 1 and 3 APMs were originally built in 1981, and MHI will replace these while minimizing any inconvenience to passengers, similar to its successful replacement of the original APM system at Changi Airport in Singapore.  

The contract also includes five years of system operations and maintenance after the construction is completed, with two additional five-year options, which will be performed by the Florida-headquartered joint venture of MHIA and Sumitomo Corporation- Crystal Mover Services, Inc.   

Orlando is a rapidly growing industrial, healthcare, and technology hub, with a well-developed tourism base and the construction of these three APM systems will support the expanding needs of the region.  In addition, the South Airport APM Complex will serve as a regional station for the intercity "All Aboard Florida" rail system, which will be implemented in the near future.

"The GOAA Board is pleased with its selection of Mitsubishi to provide the best APM solution from both a technical and financial standpoint," said Mr. Frank Kruppenbacher, Chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. "These systems will further enhance the premier customer service experience at Orlando International Airport, and we look forward to closely working together with Mitsubishi to successfully implement these systems on-time and within budget."

"We are proud to team with GOAA to create more efficient connections for the travelling public. We have assembled an experienced team with a strong commitment to the local Orlando community, including the participation of over a dozen highly-qualified local firms," said Mr. Darin Friedmann, Vice President and General Manager for MHIA's Transportation Systems Division. "Mitsubishi is proud of continuing our record of success in the United States, especially here in the State of Florida where we already have two APMs in successful service operation."

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the largest APM supplier in the world, having been selected to supply nearly 900 APM cars to date.  Since 1981, Mitsubishi has delivered sixteen APM systems with an additional two large scale urban metro APMs under implementation, including the Macau Light Rapid Transit APM system – the single largest APM order in the industry.  MHI's driverless, fully automated trains are the most advanced available, providing the highest levels of reliability, safety, and performance. The trains are equipped with rubber tires, resulting in smooth and quiet eco-friendly operation.

Mitsubishi's award-winning APM systems are in operation at several of the world's largest and top-ranked airports, including Changi International Airport (Singapore), Incheon International Airport (South Korea), Hong Kong International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Miami International Airport, as well as in numerous urban applications. Furthermore, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries received an order for 108 new cars for the Yurikamome Waterfront APM system in Tokyo in 2010 (which are currently being delivered), 158 cars for the Macau Light Rapid Transit APM, and an order for an additional 16 cars and system upgrades for the Senkang-Punggol APM system in Singapore in 2013.

In addition to the new APM market, MHI is focusing on expansion, upgrades, and replacements to existing lines at numerous projects on a global scale.  Building upon this record of success, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries remains at the forefront of supplying reliable, safe, and innovative transportation systems that will continue to drive the worldwide market and contribute to a more sustainable future.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd, (MHI) a publicly held Japanese corporation. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and founded in 1870, MHI is one of the world's leading heavy machinery manufacturers, with consolidated sales of 3,349.5 billion yen in fiscal 2013, the year ended March 31, 2014. MHI's diverse lineup of products and services encompasses shipbuilding, power plants, chemical plants, environmental equipment, steel structures, industrial and general machinery, aircraft, space systems and air-conditioning systems. MHI is also a global leader in delivering proven transportation solutions, with several decades of experience successfully supplying a broad range of advanced transportation systems for urban (intra-city and inter-city) and airport applications.  MHI's transportation systems have already safely and efficiently transported hundreds of millions of passengers worldwide.

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SOURCE Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc.