Kobelco Compressors America (KCA) to expand Houston service plant

Kobe Steel announces that Kobelco Compressors America, Inc. (KCA), the North American base for the Company’s non-standard compressor business, has begun construction to expand its Houston service plant.

Kobe Steel’s machinery business segment is working to expand its overseas parts and maintenance business^*1 as part of a growth strategy to further stabilize earnings. KCA, the North American production and sales base for non-standard compressors^*2, has provided after-sales service (parts supply, maintenance, etc.) to customers in North America, Central and South America. To better respond to customer demands, it has decided to expand its Houston service plant and increase capacity.

This expansion will allow the company to strengthen its after-sales service for non-standard compressors across North and Central/South America and other regions, as well as provide after-sales services for the large mixing and pelletizing system Long Continuous Mixer (LCM) ^*3 units.

KCA has so far carried out repairs in a building with an airtight area^*4, a 30-ton crane, and small machine tools. The installation of warehouse and blast painting areas and new 50-ton and 30-ton cranes in the expanded area will enable repairs for large machinery in the plant. The enlarged section is scheduled to be operational by the end of fiscal 2025.

The Kobe Steel Group (also known as the Kobelco Group) will continue to proceed with its transformation into an appealing company through the provision of technologies, products, and services, while striving to realize a world in which people, now and in the future, can fulfill their hopes and dreams while enjoying safe, secure, and prosperous lives.