Kobelco

What Kobelco does

Kobelco is the energy and chemical machinery brand of Kobe Steel, Ltd., a publicly traded Japanese corporation (Tokyo Stock Exchange ticker 5406.T) with origins dating to 1905. The brand designs and manufactures three major families of gas compressors — screw (oil-free and oil-injected), centrifugal (single shaft and integral geared), and reciprocating (horizontal and vertical) — and claims to be the only company in the world offering all three types in-house. It also produces radial turbines, heat exchangers (ALEX, DCHE), LNG vaporizers (ORV, IFV, CWV, HWV), screw expanders for waste heat recovery, plastics processing equipment under the KTX lineup, and construction excavators including the SK80 Little Master.

The business sells customized industrial equipment on a quote basis to enterprise customers through dedicated regional offices in the Americas (Kobelco Compressores America, Inc., Houston), Japan, Asia, Europe, India, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of compressors and heat exchangers, supplemented by a comprehensive aftermarket stream covering installation, commissioning, field service, overhaul and repair, spare parts, upgrades, life extension, monitoring systems, training, and multi-year service agreements. Over its 100-plus-year history the business has delivered more than 10,000 compressor units worldwide.

Kobelco's primary customer segments are energy and process industries — oil & gas, petrochemical, refining, LNG terminals and carriers, power generation, air separation, steel manufacturing, and offshore facilities — with growing exposure to carbon-capture-and-storage and sustainability use cases. Strategic emphasis is on lifecycle value, aftermarket monetization, and energy-efficiency positioning rather than price competition, supported by recent moves such as the February 2025 expansion of the Houston service plant and the launch of screw expander technology for waste heat recovery.

Name

Kobelco

Legal name

Kobe Steel, Ltd.

Website

https://kobelcocompressors.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Kobelco is the energy and chemical machinery brand of Kobe Steel, Ltd., the only manufacturer worldwide designing all three major gas compressor types — screw, centrifugal, and reciprocating — in-house, serving global oil & gas, petrochemical, LNG, power, and refining customers with equipment and aftermarket services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Gas Compressors

NAICS

Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing (333912), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Air & Gas Compressors (General Purpose) (IMAHANAE)

Keywords

• Industrial gas compressors
• Centrifugal compressors
• Reciprocating compressors
• Heat exchangers
• LNG vaporizers

Headquarters

HQ city

Higashi-shinagawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Compressor Sales: Sale of industrial gas compressors including screw, centrifugal, and reciprocating types to energy, oil & gas, and process industry customers.
2. Heat Exchanger and Vaporizer Sales: Sale of heat exchangers and vaporizers for LNG terminals, power plants, and industrial facilities.
3. After-Sales Service and Support: Comprehensive customer support including installation, commissioning, operation support, field services, overhaul and repair, spare parts, upgrades, monitoring systems, training, and service agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kobelco designs and manufactures three major types of industrial gas compressors (screw, centrifugal, and reciprocating), heat exchangers, and LNG vaporizers for energy, oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, and LNG applications. The company also produces plastics processing machines under the KTX lineup and compact construction excavators. Kobelco is the only company in the world that designs and manufactures all three major gas compressor types within the same manufacturing organization and has supplied over 10,000 compressor units globally.

Product overview

Kobelco (Kobe Steel, Ltd.) is a comprehensive industrial machinery manufacturer that designs and manufactures three major types of gas compressors (screw, centrifugal, and reciprocating) as the only company in the world offering all three types under one roof. The company operates across three primary segments: (1) Compressor segment covering oil-free screw compressors, oil-injected screw compressors, refrigeration compressors, single shaft and integral geared centrifugal compressors, radial turbines, and horizontal/vertical reciprocating compressors for applications in carbon neutrality/CCS, air separation, steel manufacturing, petrochemical, oil refining, gas processing, power plants, LNG terminals, LNG carriers, and offshore facilities; (2) Heat exchanger segment including ALEX and DCHE heat exchangers plus ORV, IFV, CWV, and HWV vaporizers for LNG terminals; and (3) Plastics processing machine segment (KTX lineup) featuring LCM liquid colorant mixing systems, long fiber manufacturing systems, and batch type mixers. The company has delivered over 10,000 compressor units worldwide and provides comprehensive customer support including installation, commissioning, overhaul, spare parts, and monitoring systems. Kobelco also manufactures construction equipment including the SK80 Little Master excavator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KOBELCO: Brand name for Kobe Steel's compressor, energy, and chemical machinery products including oil-free screw compressors, oil-injected screw compressors, centrifugal compressors, reciprocating compressors, heat exchangers, and vaporizers.

Products and services

• Oil-Free Screw Compressors Oil-free screw compressors delivering contamination-free compressed air for sensitive industrial applications including pharmaceutical, food processing, electronics, and automotive industries.
• Oil-Injected Screw Compressors Oil-injected screw compressors for industrial applications requiring reliable compressed air delivery with efficient cooling and lubrication.
• Refrigeration Compressors Integral geared refrigeration compressors designed for air separation units and industrial refrigeration applications.
• Single Shaft Centrifugal Compressors Single shaft centrifugal compressors for industrial processes including petrochemical, oil refining, and power generation applications.
• Integral Geared Centrifugal Compressors Integral geared centrifugal compressors designed for high-capacity industrial applications requiring efficient compression.
• Radial Turbines Radial turbines for power generation, LNG terminals, and offshore facilities requiring expansion turbine technology.
• Horizontal Reciprocating Compressors Horizontal reciprocating compressors for petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemical industries requiring high-pressure gas compression.
• Vertical Reciprocating Compressors Vertical reciprocating compressors designed for space-efficient installations in gas processing and industrial facilities.
• ALEX Heat Exchangers Air-cooled heat exchangers for industrial process cooling and thermal management applications.
• DCHE Heat Exchangers Double counter-flow heat exchangers designed for efficient thermal energy recovery in industrial processes.
• ORV (Open Rack Vaporizers) Open rack vaporizers for LNG terminals providing efficient regasification of liquefied natural gas.
• IFV (Intermediate Fluid Vaporizers) Intermediate fluid vaporizers for LNG regasification with efficient heat transfer technology.
• CWV (Clean Water Vaporizers) Clean water vaporizers for LNG terminals requiring purity-conscious regasification processes.
• HWV (Hot Water Vaporizers) Hot water vaporizers utilizing water as heating medium for LNG regasification applications.
• Screw Expanders Screw expanders for waste heat recovery systems converting thermal energy into mechanical power.
• LCM (Liquid Colorant Mixing Systems) Liquid colorant mixing systems for plastics processing providing precise color dosing and mixing.
• Long Fiber Manufacturing Systems Long fiber manufacturing systems for producing reinforced thermoplastic composites with enhanced mechanical properties.
• Batch Type Mixers Batch type mixers for tire and rubber manufacturing providing efficient compounding of materials.
• SK80 Little Master Excavator Compact excavator designed for durability, minimal maintenance, and adaptability for various construction tasks including digging, lifting, and grading.
• After-Sales Service and Support Comprehensive customer support including installation, commissioning, operation support, on-site supervisors and field services, overhaul and repair, spare parts, upgrades and life extension, monitoring systems, training, and service agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 compressor units supplied to customers worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kobelco Compressores America, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 February 2025Regional subsidiary serving North, Central, and South American customers with sales, service, and support for Kobelco compressor products. Kobe Steel announced expansion of service plant at Kobelco Compressores America in February 2025.
• Kobe Steel, Ltd. (Compressor Section)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company segment serving Japanese, Asia, Europe, India, Middle East, Australia, and Africa markets. Manages development and manufacturing of Kobelco compressors and heat exchangers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Atlas Copco: Swedish multinational and the world's largest compressor manufacturer, offering screw, centrifugal, and reciprocating compressors across industrial and oil & gas applications. Directly comparable as a multi-technology gas compressor OEM serving petrochemical, refining, and process industries globally.
• Ingersoll Rand: US-based industrial machinery company with a major compressor and blower portfolio (oil-free screw, oil-injected screw, centrifugal) serving oil & gas, petrochemical, and industrial customers. Comparable product breadth and customer base to Kobelco's compressor segment.
• MAN Energy Solutions: German turbomachinery OEM producing centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, as well as turbines, for oil & gas, petrochemical, and LNG applications. Highly comparable product portfolio and customer base to Kobelco.
• Sulzer: Swiss industrial manufacturer with pumps and compressor divisions serving oil & gas, petrochemical, power, and LNG customers. Comparable in centrifugal and reciprocating compressor offerings and end-market exposure.
• Elliott Group: US-based manufacturer of centrifugal compressors, turbines, and power recovery equipment for oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and LNG facilities. Directly comparable on integral geared and single-shaft centrifugal compressor technology.
• Howden (Chart Industries): Combined Chart/Howden entity offering rotating equipment including screw and centrifugal compressors, plus cryogenic heat exchangers and vaporizers for LNG and industrial gas applications. Overlaps with Kobelco on both compressors and LNG vaporizers.
• Burckhardt Compression: Swiss specialist in reciprocating compressors for oil & gas, petrochemical, and industrial gas applications. Directly comparable product specialization on high-pressure reciprocating compressor technology.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Energy: Global energy technology OEM offering large industrial compressors, turbomachinery, and heat exchangers for oil & gas, LNG, and power generation. Overlaps with Kobelco on centrifugal compressors and LNG vaporizers as part of a much wider portfolio.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Japanese diversified industrial OEM with compressors, turbines, and heat exchangers serving oil & gas, petrochemical, power, and LNG. Comparable on centrifugal compressors and LNG terminal equipment; broader portfolio but similar Japanese industrial customer base.

Emerging players

• Cincinnati Fan & Ventilator (Tornado Group): Industrial fan and blower manufacturer serving process industries with rotating air-moving equipment. Partial overlap with Kobelco's process gas handling equipment, though focused on lower-pressure air movement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kobelco-compressors-america-inc-
• Facebookfacebook.com/KobelcoConstructionMachineryEuropeBv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kobelco