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History

Sept. 1905 Founded as Kobe Seikosho (Kobe Steel Works) of Suzuki Shoten, a leading trading firm at that time.
Jun. 1911 Incorporated as K.K. Kobe Seikosho (Kobe Steel Works, Ltd.) with capital of 1.4 million yen.
Jul. 1917 Inaugurated the Moji Plant.
Sept. 1918 Increased capital to 10 million yen.
Feb. 1920 Inaugurated the Nishi Kaigan Plant (later renamed Kobe Works - Wakinohama Area).
Feb. 1921 Acquired the Toba and Harima plants of Teikoku Kisen K.K. and changed their names to Toba Denki Seisakusho (later to the Toba Plant) and Harima Zosenjo, respectively.
Apr. 1921 Increased capital to 20 million yen.
Oct. 1928 Decreased capital to 10 million yen to offset accumulated losses and increased it to 20 million yen to decrease borrowings.
Dec. 1929 Kobe Steel's Harima Zosenjo became the shipbuilding subsidiary Harima Zosenjo K.K.
Apr. 1937 Inaugurated the Nagoya Plant.
Jul. 1937 Inaugurated the Higashi Kaigan Plant (later renamed Iwaya Plant).
Jul. 1937 Increased capital to 45 million yen.
Oct. 1939 Inaugurated the Chofu Plant.
Oct. 1939 Increased capital to 90 million yen.
Mar. 1941 Inaugurated the Yamada Plant.
Apr. 1942 Inaugurated the Okubo Plant.
Jun. 1942 Increased capital to 180 million yen.
Jan. 1943 Inaugurated the Hidaka Plant.
Mar. 1943 Acquired Nihon Tessen K.K. and named it the Amagasaki Plant. Capital increased to 182.7 million yen.
Jul. 1943 Inaugurated the Tokyo Plant.
Jan. 1944 Inaugurated the Noto Plant.
Apr. 1944 Inaugurated the Matsuzaka Plant.
May 1945 Acquired the Kochi Plant from Kochi Denki Yakin Kogyo.
Jun. 1949 Corporate restructuring plans, prepared in accordance with the Corporate Restructuring and Improvement Law, were approved by the Japanese government.
Aug. 1949 Decreased capital to 18.27 million yen to offset losses brought about by corporate restructuring. The Chofu and the Moji plants started as a separate company, Shinko Kinzoku Kogyo K.K., and the Toba, Yamada, Matsuzaka and Tokyo plants started as another company, Shinko Electric Co., Ltd. Kobe Steel continued with the Yamate, Wakinohama, Iwaya, Nagoya, Okubo, Hidaka, Amagasaki, Noto and Kochi plants.
Oct. 1949 Increased capital to 418.27 million yen to repay debts incurred in restructuring.
Sept. 1950 Approved as an engineering contractor by the Hyogo prefectural government.
Sept. 1950 Closed the Noto Plant.
May 1951 Inaugurated the Nagato Plant (currently Chofu-Kita Plant).
Nov. 1951 Increased capital to 836.54 million yen.
Aug. 1952 Increased capital to 1,673.08 million yen.
Sept. 1953 Acquired the Takasago Works from the Ministry of Finance.
Apr. 1954 The Amagasaki Plant became a subsidiary called Shinko Wire Co., Ltd. with capital of 100 million yen.
May 1954 Increased capital to 3,600 million yen.
Jun. 1954 In alliance with Pfaudler of the United States, turned the Enameled Products Department into Shinko Pfaudler Co., Ltd., capitalized at 135 million yen. In 1989, Shinko Pfaudler changed its name to Shinko Pantec Co., Ltd.
Jan. 1957 Absorbed Shinko Kinzoku Kogyo K.K., which was separated from Kobe Steel in August 1949, and increased capital to 3,984 million yen.
Feb. 1957 The Construction Department became a subsidiary called Shinko Koji K.K. with capital of 5 million yen.
Aug. 1957 Increased capital to 7,968 million yen.
Jan. 1959 Inaugurated Kobe Works in Nadahama, Kobe as an integrated steelworks.
Oct. 1959 Increased capital to 12,000 million yen.
Apr. 1960 Inaugurated the Central Research Laboratory.
Sept. 1960 Increased capital to 20,000 million yen.
Sept. 1960 Opened a liaison office in New York, U.S.A.
Nov. 1960 Opened a liaison office in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Mar. 1961 Inaugurated the Fujisawa Plant.
Aug. 1961 Increased capital to 32,000 million yen.
Oct. 1961 Inaugurated the Ibaraki Plant in Osaka.
Mar. 1962 Closed the Yamate Plant and transferred its production equipment to Ibaraki Plant.
May 1962 Inaugurated the Okubo-Nishi Plant (later known as the Akashi Plant).
Sept. 1962 Increased capital to 43,200 million yen.
Sept. 1964 Inaugurated the Asada Research Laboratory.
Apr. 1965 Absorbed Amagasaki Steel Co., Ltd. and increased capital to 58 billion yen. Added three plants--Amagasaki, Sakai and Kure.
Apr. 1965 Changed English name of the company from Kobe Steel Works, Ltd. to Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Oct. 1965 Increased capital to 58,580 million yen.
Feb. 1966 Approved as a constructor by the Ministry of Construction.
Oct. 1966 Sold the Sakai Plant to Nisshin Steel.
Apr. 1967 Inaugurated the Hatano Plant.
Apr. 1968 Inaugurated the Kakogawa Plate Mill.
Aug. 1969 Inaugurated the Moka Plant.
Mar. 1970 Inaugurated Kakogawa Works.
Apr. 1970 Inaugurated the Structural Engineering Research Laboratory.
Jul. 1970 Inaugurated the Saijo Plant.
Oct. 1970 Increased capital to 76,154 million yen.
Dec. 1971 Approved as a specialty constructor by the Ministry of Construction.
May 1975 Increased capital to 101,285 million yen.
Sept. 1975 Inaugurated the Fukuchiyama Plant.
Nov. 1976 Opened liaison offices in Singapore and Los Angeles.
Feb. 1977 Opened a liaison office in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Jul. 1977 Inaugurated the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory.
Aug. 1978 Opened a liaison office in London.
Feb. 1981 Opened a liaison office in Mexico City.
Apr. 1981 Incorporated the New York and the Los Angeles offices as an American corporation called Kobe Steel America Inc.
Jan. 1983 Opened a liaison office in Melbourne, Australia.
Jul. 1983 Invested in Yutani Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Mar. 1984 Closed the Kochi Plant.
Oct. 1984 Incorporated the London Office as a European subsidiary called Kobe Steel Europe Ltd.
Nov. 1984 Moved the Sharjah Office to Bahrain and incorporated it as a subsidiary called Kobelco Middle East (E.C.)
Aug. 1985 Inaugurated the Biotechnology Research Laboratory.
Jan. 1986 Opened a liaison office in Beijing, China.
Jul. 1987 Completed the first-phase construction of Kobe Corporate Research Laboratories in Seishin Industrial Park, Kobe.
Sept. 1987 Upgraded eight domestic offices to sales offices.
Oct. 1987 Closed the Amagasaki Plant.
Nov. 1987 Closed the Kure Plant.
Dec. 1987 Inaugurated the Harima Plant.
Apr. 1988 Established U.S. headquarters, Kobe Steel USA Inc., in New York City to replace Kobe Steel America Inc.
Apr. 1988 Closed the Moji Plant.
Sept. 1988 Closed the Hidaka Plant.
Oct. 1988 Inaugurated Kobe Steel Europe Ltd. Research Laboratory in Surrey, U.K.
Apr. 1990 Opened a liaison office in Moscow.
Apr. 1990 Upgraded the Nagoya Sales Office to a branch office.
Apr. 1990 Inaugurated the Tsukuba Research Laboratory and moved the Biotechnology Research Laboratory from Kobe to the new facility.
Apr. 1990 Inaugurated the Electronic Materials Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Jul. 1990 Established USS/KOBE Steel Company, an equal partnership joint venture with USX Corporation.
Nov. 1990 Issued 200 million additional shares at the market price.
Jan. 1991 Established KSL Alcoa Aluminum Company, Ltd. (or KAAL)--a joint venture with the world's leading aluminum producer, Alcoa Inc.--to produce and market aluminum can stock.
Jan. 1992 Sold 21,660 square meters of land in Nakahama-cho, Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture and plant buildings and offices totaling 2,513 square meters to Daido Sanso K.K.
Apr. 1992 Consolidated research facilities in a new complex called Kobe Corporate Research Laboratories in Seishin Industrial Park, Kobe.
May 1992 Moved the Iron and Steel Division's Iron and Steel Technology Laboratories adjacent to Kakogawa Works.
Oct. 1992 Listed Kobe Steel shares on the London Stock Exchange.
Oct. 1992 Established an unlisted sponsored American Depository Receipt (ADR) facility through the Bank of New York for over-the-counter trading of Kobe Steel shares.
Nov. 1992 Inaugurated the Toyohashi FA and Robotics Center.
Jan. 1993 Closed the Mexico Office.
May 1993 Integrated three machinery plants in Takasago Works and the Iwaya Plant into the newly completed industrial Machinery Plant.
Jan. 1995 The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake caused damage equivalent to 102 billion yen to the Kobe Head Office and Kobe and Kakogawa works.
Feb. 1995 Partly resumed the operation of rolling facilities at Kobe Works which had been shut down due to the earthquake.
Mar. 1995 Closed the Nagoya Plant after the start-up of full operation at the Daian Plant.
Apr. 1995 Established post-quake reconstruction headquarters to restore operations damaged by the earthquake.
Feb. 1996 Invested in Daikan Corporation, a drum producer.
Mar. 1996 Sold a portion of land in Ohama, Amagasaki, and the Wakinohama and Iwaya areas in Kobe.
Apr. 1996 Turned the specialty steel tube and pipe business into Kobe Special Tube Co., Ltd. and the cutting tool business into Shinko Kobelco Tool Co., Ltd.
Oct. 1998 Dissolved business affiliation with Texas Instruments Incorporated in KTI Semiconductor (a semiconductor manufacturer), and engaged Micron Technology Inc. as the new partner in the joint venture. Accordingly, the name of the joint venture was changed to KMT Semiconductor, Ltd.
Mar. 1999 Closed the Toyohashi FA and Robotics Center.
Apr. 1999 Turned divisions into internal companies and introduced a system of corporate officers.
May 1999 Grouped the scattered offices of the Tokyo Head Office into one building in Kita-Shinagawa, Tokyo.
Jul. 1999 Formed a broad alliance with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and Mitsubishi Shindoh Co., Ltd. for copper products.
Oct. 1999 Consolidated the construction machinery business and subsidiaries Kobelco Construction Machinery, Ltd. and Yutani Heavy Industries, Ltd. into a new subsidiary called Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
Dec. 1999 Established a joint venture with NOF Corporation to manufacture welding materials for stainless steels. The new company was named Shinko Taseto Co., Ltd.
Mar. 2000 Issued one share in Kobe Steel, Ltd. for one share in Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (par value per share: 50 yen). 545,100 shares were issued in total and the capital was increased to 213,667.24 million yen.
Apr. 2000 Shifted the painting robot business to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the handling robot business to Okura Yusoki Co., Ltd.
Apr. 2000 Increased equity in affiliate Nippon Koshuha Steel Co., Ltd. from 30.6% to 51% and turned it into a subsidiary. Nippon Koshuha's marketing rights and steelmaking operations for bearing steel were transferred to Kobe Steel.
Sept. 2000 Transferred the engineering plastics business to Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics Corporation.
Dec. 2000 Signed a basic agreement with Sumitomo Light Metal Industries, Ltd. to form a broad alliance in the aluminum extrusion business.
Dec. 2000 Signed a cooperative agreement with U.S. Steel for research and development (R&D) in the field of automotive steel sheet technology.
May 2001 Placed our management rights in KMT Semiconductor under the control of Micron Technology, Inc., our joint venture partner, by transferring all of our 75% equity in KMT to Micron.
Aug. 2001 Established Shinko Kobe Power Inc. and transferred the wholesale power supply business at Kobe Works to the new company.
Sept. 2001 Signed a final agreement with Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. and CNH Global N.V. of the Fiat Group to form a global alliance for construction equipment.
Sept. 2001 Transferred the Machinery Company's BGA and CSP printed circuit board inspection equipment business to Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Dec. 2001 Formed an alliance with Nippon Steel Corporation to improve the competitiveness of the two companies through mutual support in such areas as raw materials procurement and logistics.
Dec. 2001 Formed a strategic global cooperation pact for specialty steel wire rod and bar used in automotive applications with Italy's Lucchini Group, Europe's top manufacturer of specialty steel long products.
Jan. 2002 Signed a cooperation agreement with Austria's voestalpine Stahl GmbH for automotive steel sheet technologies.
Mar. 2002 Absorbed real estate subsidiary, Shinko Kosan, Ltd. and established the Real Estate Company. This increased Kobe Steel’s capitalization by 1.5 billion yen to 215.1 billion yen.
Apr. 2002 The 700,000-kilowatt No. 1 Power Plant of Shinko Kobe Power Inc. began commercial operation.
May 2002 Agreed with Kawasaki Steel Corporation to form an alliance to strengthen both companies’ welding businesses. Areas include research and development of welding consumables, production and procurement.
Nov. 2002 Agreed to establish a Joint Study Committee with Nippon Steel Corporation and Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. Also concluded agreements with Nippon Steel, for enhanced collaboration and cross shareholding, and with Sumitomo Metals, for a broad alliance and cross shareholding.
Nov. 2002 Established Kobe Welding of Tangshan Co., Ltd. - a joint venture of Shinsho Corporation, Matsushita Industrial Equipment Co., Ltd. and China's Tangshan Kaiyuan Electric Co., Ltd.
Jan. 2003 Issued additional 107 million shares for third-party allocation to Nippon Steel Corporation and Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. Accordingly, the capital was increased to 218,163,248,065 yen. Kobe Steel also invested in both companies.
Mar. 2003 Acquired additional shares in Sumitomo Titanium Corporation (increasing the equity share to 24.8% from 8.8%), turning it into an equity-valued affiliate.
Apr. 2003 Consolidated the marketing and design divisions of our crushing equipment business with those of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. into a new 50/50 joint venture called Earth Technica Co., Ltd.
Apr. 2003 Transferred 65% of its outstanding shares held in Genesis Technology Inc., a semiconductor testing business, to GTI Holdings.
May 2003 Agreed with Shinko Pantec Co., Ltd. to combine Kobe Steel's environmental business in the Infrastructure and Engineering Company into Shinko Pantec in October 2003, and rename the new entity Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd.
May 2003 Established Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products LLC, a joint venture with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, to manufacture and market aluminum forgings for automobile suspension systems in the United States.
Aug. 2003 Announced plans to expand the existing alliance with Alcoa Inc. in automotive aluminum and discontinue the can stock joint ventures.
Oct. 2003 Established KOBE JFE Welding Co., Ltd. with JFE Steel Corporation and consigned solid wire production at both companies to the new entity.
Apr. 2004 Consolidated the copper tube businesses in Japan and Asia with those of Mitsubishi Material Corporation into a joint venture called Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube, Ltd.
Apr. 2004 Turned the crane business at Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. into a 100% owned subsidiary called Kobelco Cranes, Co., Ltd.
Apr. 2004 Shinko Kobe Power Inc.'s No. 2 Power Plant began commercial operation. (Together with the No. 1 Power Plant, Kobe Steel has a power generation capacity of 1.4 million kW and is Japan's largest wholesale supplier of electricity.)
Apr. 2004 Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube, Ltd. was formed from Kobe Steel's copper tube business in Japan and Southeast Asia and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation's copper tube business. As a result, Kobe Copper (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. became Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube (M) Sdn. Bhd. Mitsubishi's Thai subsidiary became Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Sept. 2004 Established Japan Medical Materials Corporation by combining Kobe Steel's Medical Implants & Materials Department with the medical materials business of Kyocera Corporation.
Mar. 2005 Nippon Steel Corporation, Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. and Kobe Steel agreed to further enhance their cooperation under their three-way alliance.
Apr. 2005 KOBE-JFE Welding Co., Ltd. was renamed Kobe Welding Wire Co., Ltd. Kobe Steel also acquired 80% of the stock of JFE Welding Rod Co., Ltd.
Sept. 2005 Kobe Steel marked the 100th anniversary of its foundation.
Oct. 2005 Kobe Steel's real estate business was transferred to subsidiary Kobe Development,which in turn was renamed Shinko Real Estate Co., Ltd. At the same time eight related companies became group companies of Shinko Real Estate. The eight companies were Shinko Insurance Service, Hachinohe Waterfront Development, G-clef Service, Shinko Kosan Kensetu, Shinko Real Estate Building Service, Shinko Real Estate Expert Service, Shiroyama Kaihatu and Aono Resort.
Mar. 2006 Kobe Steel, Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Industries agreed to study countermeasures in the event that an unsolicited takeover bid is made to one of the three companies.
Apr. 2006 Turned its corporate logo mark, KOBELCO, into a group brand.
Apr. 2006 Adopted a policy in the event a substantial amount of company shares is attempted to be purchased (anti-takeover measures).
Sept. 2006 Started commercial operation of the No. 5 continuous bloom caster at Kobe Works. The No. 4 billet caster was subsequently shut down.
Jan. 2007 Dissolved two joint ventures with Alcoa for the transportation industry. The two ventures were Kobe Alcoa Transportation Products, Ltd. and Alcoa Kobe Transportation Products Inc. Technical collaboration with Alcoa was continued.
Apr. 2007 Decided to adopt a new large-scale purchase policy of its shares (anti-takeover measures), subject to final approval at the general shareholders meeting in June.
May 2007 Restarted Kakogawa Works' No. 2 blast furnace. As a result, the No. 1 blast furnace was shut down.
Dec. 2007 Relit the No. 3 blast furnace at Kobe Works after rebuilding it in an extremely short time of 45 days.
Apr. 2008 Transferred entire equity stake in crushing equipment joint venture EarthTechnica Co., Ltd. to joint-venture partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
May. 2008 Kobe Steel and Kobelco Construction Machinery Group donated two excavators and four wheel loaders (valued at 4 million yuan) to Chengdu, Sichuan Province in China to assist in the recovery efforts of the Sichuan Earthquake. In addition, a monetary donation of 1 million yuan was also made.
Jul. 2008 Agreed to transfer the steel powder business of its U.S.-based subsidiary Kobelco Metal Powder of America, Inc. to North American Höganäs, Inc., a subsidiary of Sweden's Höganäs AB
Dec. 2008 Inaugurated the UBC Demonstration Plant in South Kalimantan, Indonesia and began large-scale demonstrative plant operation for upgraded brown coal.
Jan. 2009 Commemorated the 50th anniversary of integrated steel production.
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