Kobelco Compressors America Completes Houston Service Shop Expansion

Sep. 29, 2026

Kobe Steel, Ltd.

Kobe Steel announces that Kobelco Compressors America, Inc. (KCA)—the Company’s North American base for non-standard compressors—has completed the expansion of its Houston Service Shop in La Porte, Texas, USA. The renewal and re-opening were celebrated on site.

This expansion further strengthens aftermarket service for compressors used in various process industries, such as petrochemical, refining, energy, and offshore oil and gas. The upgraded facility provides expanded spaces for overhauls of compressors^*1 and LCM plastic mixing and pelletizing systems^*2 (extruders), along with dedicated areas for hydro blasting, non-destructive testing (NDT), painting, climate-controlled storage, and parts inventory management.

The Houston Service Shop supports screw, centrifugal, and reciprocating compressors, as well as　extruders. With this expansion, the KCA will strengthen its aftermarket service by leveraging the global technical resources of the Kobelco Group, thereby enhancing its ability to support customers across North, Central, and South America. Through this, the company aims to further contribute to stable operations of customers’ facilities and increase value over the entire product lifecycle.

Peter Venizelos, Head of Aftermarket Sales, Service & Engineering at KCA said, “Our enhanced capabilities strengthen our aftermarket service, enabling us to provide improved reliability and responsiveness in facility maintenance and service. Supported by an experienced local team at KCA and direct access to Kobelco Group’s expertise and global engineering network, we serve as a key service center for customers across the Americas.”

The Kobe Steel Group (also known as the Kobelco Group) is advancing transformation initiatives to become a more appealing company for stakeholders under its current Medium-Term Management Plan (Fiscal 2024–2026). To realize this goal, the Group is promoting transformation initiatives, collectively called KOBELCO-X. This enhancement to the production capacity at KCA is part of the Group’s AX (ambidexterity) initiative, contributing to the machinery segment’s efforts to enhance earning power and pursue growth.

Our Group will continue to advance transformation initiatives aimed at making our company more appealing to all stakeholders, while providing solutions to the needs of society through the integration of our distinctive technologies, products, and services, with a view to a world in which people, now and in the future, can fulfill their hopes and dreams while enjoying safe, secure, and prosperous lives.