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Built to last

From our parent company’s infrastructure to our products and aftersales service network, everything about Kobelco is built to last. Our history is a story of hard work, steady growth and long-term commitment to the values that have underpinned our company since the start. This long-term commitment is central to Kobelco’s activities in Europe. It can be seen in our reliable, Japanese-built machinery, our comprehensive network, our efficient services and parts distribution and our participation at key industry events including bauma, INTERMAT and SaMoTer.

1930

KOBELCO’s parent company, Kobe Steel, releases Japan’s first construction machine, a 50K (1.5 m³) electric mining shovel.

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1953

The first 10KT (6t) and 20KT (10t) truck cranes are released in Japan.

1967

The H208, the first crawler-type hydraulic excavator is released, applying Kobelco’s proprietary technology with an ‘operator-first’ approach.

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1979

“KOBELCO” is adopted as an internationally recognised trademark.

1984

The 7000 series of completely hydraulic crawler cranes is launched.

1993

The SL13000 super-large crawler crane is introduced.

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1996

Kobelco pioneers the revolutionary Short Radius (SR) concept with its ‘Beetle’ series of short rear tail swing mini excavators.

2000

The Construction Machinery Division of Kobe Steel merges with Yutani Heavy Industries Ltd. and Kobe Steel Kobelco Construction Machinery Co. to form Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

2003

Kobelco launches new activities in Europe (Kobelco Cranes Europe Ltd.), the US (Kobelco Cranes North America Inc.) and China (Chengdu Kobelco Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd.).

2006

obelco leads the industry by exhibiting an actual hybrid excavator (monitor machine) at INTERMAT in Paris.

The SK3500D demolition machine is recognised as ‘the world’s tallest building demolition machine’ by Guinness World Records.

Meanwhile, medium-sized hydraulic excavators undergo a full model change, achieving a 20% reduction in fuel consumption compared to earlier models.

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2007

A short rear tail swing hydraulic excavator is released featuring the new iNDr cooling system.

2013

Kobelco Construction Machinery Europe B.V. is established as a sales and service company in the Netherlands.

2015

An office is opened in Germany to reinforce large-sized crawler crane operations.

2016

The new SK200H hydraulic excavator is released featuring a lithium-ion battery, revolutionising the concept of hybrid excavators.

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2019

The new hydraulic excavator in the 7 ton class is launched, transforming usability and comfort for operators.

2020

Kobelco completes a successful long-distance demonstration of the K-DIVE remote control concept.

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2021

The SK1300DLC, currently the world’s largest OEM manufactured building demolition machine, is released.

2022

The SK1300DLC wins an Innovation Award at the World Demolition Summit in Vienna, Austria.

Kobelco exhibits at the 33rd edition of bauma, the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery.

2023

Kobelco celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its renewed operations in Europe with a special event in Amsterdam for dealers and partners. It uses the occasion to reveal the new SK26SR-7 mini-excavator and announce the upcoming relocation of the KCME headquarters to a state-of-the-art facility in Lelystad, Netherlands.

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2024

KCME launches a new European corporate identity that celebrates its Japanese heritage while reinforcing its commitment to the European market.

2025

KCME opens its new European headquarters in Lelystad, Netherlands.

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