Kobelco celebrates 90th anniversary

While 2020 has presented some unprecedented global challenges, it is also a year of celebration for Kobelco Construction Machinery.

This year marks 90 years since the manufacturer created Japan’s first electric mining shovel in 1930, an innovation that paved the way for all future Kobelco construction machinery.

By 1960, Kobelco completed the Okubo factory and manufacturing of construction machinery began.

Today, this factory, one of four in Japan still exists and is dedicated to the production of Kobelco cranes.

More recently, the company has moved into producing demolition machines. The SK350DLC-10, SK400DLC-10 and all feature Kobelco’s Next system for both high-level and foundation demolition work, giving the operator the ability to change tools on site and work at multiple heights with a single machine.

President and CEO Yoshinori Onoe said: “Ever since we produced our first large domestic electric shovel in 1930, we have continued to create a variety of products to meet customer demand by adapting to our environment and developing new technologies.”