Technology

A Prosperous Recycling Society
KOBELCO's Environmental Recycling Machines

In the latter half of the 1970s, as society underwent a change from consumption to recycling,
KOBELCO began focusing its efforts on an environment for the next generation.
KOBELCO has progressed to develop machines specializing in various applications
such as for forestry, metal, and industrial waste recycling, and kept producing clean and environment-friendly products.

The Pioneer and Industry Leader in Building Demolition Machines

In 1977, an age when consumption shifted to resource circulation, KOBELCO became the first in the industry to develop the static hydraulic fracturing nibbler method for building demolition. This nibbler, which forms the foundation for building demolition technology recently, served to introduce KOBELCO to the world as a "leader in construction recycling".
In 2006, the SK3500D was awarded a Guinness Record as "the world’s tallest building demolition machine" at that time. In 2011, KOBELCO announced "NEXT" attachment which was designed to be even safer and easier to use. As a pioneer of the demolition machine’s industry, KOBELCO remains committed to achieving even further heights.

Metal Recycling Machines
Growing with the Industry

The metal scrap industry played a major role in the supply of metal materials for the spread of automobiles, the maintenance of infrastructure, and the development of various manufacturing business. In recent years, Japan's metal materials recycling has contributed towards reducing the burden on the environment, and stands at the world’s top level in terms of both quality and volume.
In the midst of the industry’s development, KOBELCO released Japan's first vehicle dismantling machine in 1979. By 2016, the company released "e-MAG", advanced magnet system which integrates the company's magnet system technology with its advanced hybrid excavator technology. KOBELCO continues the development of metal recycling machines for the sake of maintaining the safety of workplaces, improving productivity, enhancing effectiveness and reducing the burden on the environment.

From Forestry Machines
to the Environment

KOBELCO has promoted the mechanization of forestry machines beginning with the first domestic development of a tower yarder, a machine capable of penetrating uneven surfaces and steep slopes in the forest to collect cut lumber with an overhead wire. At present, KOBELCO offers an extensive lineup of forestry specialized base machines that reflect the operation needs at various workplaces.

To benefit the environment through measures such as global warming prevention and forest maintenance, KOBELCO developed its "carbon offset program"*, based on the carbon offset system established by the Ministry of the Environment. By adding forest absorption credits to its forestry machines, KOBELCO helps to reduce greenhouse gases such as CO² that result from the operation of machines by customers. Since 2013 when started this program, it have produced satisfactory results. In 2015, KOBELCO received the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award for the "Fifth Carbon Offset Award" supported by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

* Carbon Offset is a concept to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Gases whose amounts cannot be eliminated can be offset by emission reductions done elsewhere.

Industrial Waste Recycling Machines
Expand the Possibilities of Business

Social environmental concerns and the enforcement of various recycling laws have resulted in an annual improvement of the recycling rates for industrial waste including wastepaper, metal waste, rubble and waste materials. We KOBELCO focus on expanding the potential of the industrial waste recycling business by developing machines aimed at improving efficiency for handling operations such as loading/unloading of waste from vehicles and throwing the waste to processing machines at each stage. We support the expansion of the industrial waste recycling business by offering recycling machines that can contribute from various angles including throughput expansion and stable operation as well as labor savings, safety maintenance and cost reduction which can lead to increase profits.