History

In 1905, the general partnership trading company Suzuki Shoten acquired a steel business in Wakinohama, Kobe, called Kobayashi Seikosho, operated by Seiichiro Kobayashi, and changed its name to Kobe Seikosho.
Then, in 1911, Suzuki Shoten spun off the company to establish Kobe Steel Works, Ltd. at Wakinohamacho, Kobe.

Years	Contents
	Establishment of the Group and development of business foundation for expansion of Japanese steel industry After the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese Navy adopted a policy of developing privatesector factories. The Group expanded its scale by receiving technical guidance and orders from the Kure, Maizuru, and Yokosuka Naval Arsenals.
	1905 Established
	Begins steel casting and forging business
	1914 Begins machinery business Begins first domestic development of air compressors
	1916 Begins steel products business
	1917 Begins copper business
	1926 Begins engineering business Completes Japan’s first cement plant
	1930 Begins construction machinery business Completes first domestically produced electric mining shovel
	1937 Listed on the stock market
	Begins aluminum business
	1940 Begins welding business Produces the first welding electrodes in Japan
	Early resumption of steel production after the war and establishment of a position as a pioneer in the industrialization of titanium Wire rod production resumed for the reconstruction of Japan within three months after the end of the war. In 1949, we began Japan’s first research and development of titanium, and in 1955 we began industrial production. Our Company, a pioneer in titanium, has grown into a comprehensive manufacturer of titanium, from melting to final products.
	1955 Achieves first industrial production of titanium metal in Japan
	1959 Establishes integrated steel production
	1960 Opens office in New York
	Building the foundation for integrated management of steel, nonferrous metals, and machinery; Overseas expansion of the KOBELCO brand We developed diverse businesses and built the foundation for integrated management through the establishment of Kakogawa Works for integrated steel production, the start of the direct reduction ironmaking plant business, etc. In addition, the establishment of the KOBELCO brand has increased recognition of the Group’s technologies, products, and business activities both in Japan and overseas.
	1962 Begins overseas plant business Japan’s first plant export (East Pakistan, currently Bangladesh)
	1968 Establishes production base in Thailand
	1970 Completes Kakogawa Works
	1975 Introduces automated guideway transit (AGT) system Begins operation of AGT system “KRT” at Okinawa International Ocean Exposition
	1979 Establishes KOBELCO as international unified trademark
	Develops ARCMAN™ welding robot
	1983 Acquires U.S. company Midrex Technologies, Inc. Begins direct reduction ironmaking plant business
	1988 Establishes U.S. headquarters
	1990 Establishes manufacturing and sales base for automotive hot-dip galvanized steel sheet in the U.S.
	From disaster recovery to improved competitiveness; Contributing to the restoration of local communities with a new style of urban power plant The Company suffered the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. The blast furnace at the former Kobe Works (the current Kobe Wire Rod & Bar Plant) was severely damaged but restored in two and a half months. It became a symbol of Kobe’s post-earthquake reconstruction. In 2002, we began the electric power business, leveraging our in-house power generation knowhow of the ironmaking business. To date, we have been contributing to the improvement of the power supply rate in Kobe City and the Hanshin area.
	1996 Enters wholesale power supply (IPP) business
	2000 Establishes Corporate Code of Ethics
	2002 Starts commercial operations of Kobe Power Plant No. 1 unit
	2004 Establishes manufacturing and sales base for standard compressors in China
	Starts commercial operations of Kobe Power Plant No. 2 unit
	Strengthening Group management and business structures for the next 100 years In 2005, our Group celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. In order to further enhance the collective strengths of the KOBELCO Group, we have strengthened the Group management and business structures, including the establishment of overseas regional headquarters.
	2006 Establishes corporate philosophy
	Starts operations of special steel wire rod processing base for automobiles in China
	Starts operations of aluminum forging plant for automotive suspension products in the U.S.
	Establishes manufacturing and sales base for nonstandard compressors in the U.S.
	2009 Establishes China headquarters
	2014 Establishes manufacturing and sales base for automotive cold-rolled, high-tensile strength steel in China
	2016 Begins producing aluminum panel material at Tianjin plant in China Becomes first Japanese company in China to produce automotive aluminum panel material
	Begins Electric Power Business
	Taking on the challenge of realizing carbon neutrality to achieve a sustainable society In 2021, our Group set its 2030 target and 2050 vision from the two aspects of reducing CO₂ emissions in production processes and contributing to reduction of CO₂ emissions through its distinctive technologies, products, and services. We will implement various measures aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in respective businesses.
	2017 Launches Next 100 Project
	Announces quality misconduct and establishes measures to prevent recurrence
	Establishes headquarters in Southeast Asia and South Asia
	Consolidates upstream processes at Kakogawa Works
	Acquires Quintus Technologies of Sweden (the world's leading isostatic press manufacturer)
	2018 Establishes production and sales base (KPEX) in the U.S. for aluminum extrusions and fabricated products
	2019 Establishes regional headquarters in Europe
	Starts commercial operations of Moka Power Plant No. 1 and No. 2 units
	2020 Formulates Group Corporate Philosophy
	2021 Announces KOBELCO Group Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2021–2023)
	Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary
	Starts commercial operations of Kobe Power Plant No. 3 unit
	2022 Announces the launch of low-CO₂ blast furnace steel product Kobenable Steel
	Begins capital and business alliance with Miura Co., Ltd.
	Scheduled to start commercial operations of Kobe Power Plant No. 4 unit

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