History of the business

History of the business TOP

After introducing hydraulic technology, we expanded production by opening the Nishi-Kobe Works and establishing the Hydraulic Machinery Department.
In addition to producing and developing hydraulic equipment in fields such as construction machinery, marine machinery, and industrial machinery, we have also been involved in the production and development of hydraulic systems, industrial vehicles, and hydrogen-related products.

• 1916/ Taisho 5

  The start and development of business through introduction of technology

  The technology for the Hele-shaw electro-hydraulic steering gear, which uses the Hele-shaw pump, was introduced at the engine construction factory of the Kawasaki Dockyard (currently Kobe Works)

  

  Hele-shaw electro-hydraulic steering gear

• 1924/ Taisho 13

  Starting manufacture of Hele-shaw pumps

  This pump, which was driven with an electric motor, could change the discharge rate and flow direction of oil. It was the leading hydraulic pump of its time and was used as the hydraulic source for steering gears for a long time.

  

  Hele-shaw hydraulic pump

• 1936/ Showa 11

  Construction and sales of screw pumps begin

  We formed a technology alliance with IMO of Sweden for screw pumps, and we produced lubricating oil pumps and heavy oil injection pumps.

  

  Screw pump

• 1950/ Showa 26

  Development of precision gear pump manufacture

  Kawasaki Aircraft Co., Ltd. developed gear pumps for fiber spinning in the manufacture of chemical fiber, and they also produced large pumps for polymer manufacturing in the same year.

  

  Precision gear pump

• 1962/ Showa 37

  Wave of technology introductions from Europe

  It was necessary to further expand our range of hydraulic equipment to meet the growing demand in Japan, so we introduced pumps, motors, and valves from Europe, which was a leader in hydraulics at the time.

  

  B-series bent-axis axial piston pump

• 1968/ Showa 43

  Opening of Nishi-Kobe Works

  In the late 1960s, our domestic share for hydraulic machinery and equipment rose to 7.1%.
  Due to rapidly increasing demand and the expansion of the market, we opened the Nishi-Kobe Works and established the Hydraulic Machinery Division.

  

  Nishi-Kobe Works

• 1968/ Showa 43

  Expansion of technology developed by Kawasaki

  We developed swash plate axial piston pumps and motors.

• 1976/ Showa 51

  Construction and sales of high-pressure screw pumps (B4 type)

  

  B4 series screw pump

• 1986/ Showa 61

  Establishment of Kawasaki Hydraulic Co., Ltd. and transfer of the service and maintenance operations of Hydraulic Machinery Division’s products

  We established a subsidiary specializing in the design, manufacture, sale, and repair of fishing gear, as well as after-sales service for the division’s products.

• 1987/ Showa 62

  Division renamed Precision Machinery Division

• 1993/ Heisei 5

  Establishing production sites for European and American customers

  We established Kawasaki Precision Machinery (UK) Ltd. in the United Kingdom and started production of Staffa Motor.

  

  Establishment of Kawasaki Precision Machinery (UK) Ltd.

• 1994/ Heisei 6

  Establishing sales bases in the United States

  We established the Precision Machinery Business Division at Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., and secured sales bases in the United States.

• 1996/ Heisei 8

  Initiatives to improve productivity

  We received the Award for Excellence in Consistent TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) Commitment, which is aimed at the constitutional improvement of personnel and equipment.

  

  Unmanned operation of casing processing line at night

• 1997/ Heisei 9

  Forming a sales alliance for multi-action motors with Poclain Hydraulics s.a. in France
  Entering a service agreement for hydraulic components with a Chinese hydraulics company

• 1998/ Heisei 10

  Acquiring ISO 14001 certification from Norway’s certification body, DNV
  Receiving TPM Excellence Award

• 2002/ Heisei 14

  Spun off from Kawasaki Heavy Industries and merged with Kawasaki Hydraulic Co., Ltd., established as Kawasaki Precision Machinery Ltd.

  

  Logo of Kawasaki Precision Machinery

• 2003/ Heisei 15

  Investing in Flutek Co. Ltd. (South Korea)

  We aimed to strengthen our production and sales bases in China and South Korea.

• 2005/ Heisei 17

  Establishment of Kawasaki Precision Machinery (Suzhou) Ltd. in China

  

  Kawasaki Precision Machinery (Suzhou) Ltd.

• 2007/ Heisei 19

  Construction of a core parts factory at Nishi-Kobe Works

• 2010/ Heisei 22

  Remerging with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, renamed Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Precision Machinery Company

• 2012/ Heisei 24

  Establishment of Wipro Kawasaki Precision Machinery Private Ltd. (India/Joint venture)

  

  Wipro KPM

• 2018/ Heisei 30

  Our high-pressure hydrogen regulator for fuel cell vehicles is awarded a Mobility Related Component Award in the ‘CHO’ MONODZUKURI Innovative Parts and Components Awards sponsored by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

  

  Regulator for fuel cell vehicles

• 2019/ Heisei 31

  Our M7V series swash plate type high-speed hydraulic motors wins the Japan Fluid Power System Society’s Technology Development Award

  

  High-speed swash plate motor M7V160