Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. engages in aerospace systems, energy solution and marine engineering, precision machinery and robot, rolling stock, and motorcycle and engine businesses in Japan and internationally. It manufactures aircraft for the Japan ministry of defense; helicopters; and helicopter engines and jet engines for commercial aircrafts. The company also manufactures railway cars; a range of rolling stocks, including Shinkansen, electric cars, passenger coaches, freight cars, locomotives, diesel locomotives, transit systems, and snow plows. In addition, it engages in the production and sale of energy-related machinery and systems, marine machinery and systems, industrial equipment, environmental equipment, ultralow temperature tanks, hydrogen-related structures, crushers, ships, other vessels, etc. Further, the company manufactures and supplies motorcycles, off-road four wheelers, watercrafts, general-purpose gasoline engines, etc. Additionally, it manufactures and sells hydraulic machinery used in construction and agricultural machinery, industrial machinery, and ships; pumps, motors, valves, and various hydraulic machinery, as well as assembles hydraulic systems; and industrial robots for use in welding, assembly, handling, painting, and palletization for various industries, including automotive and electronics industries. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

History

Sh?z? Kawasaki, born in 1836, was involved with the marine industry from a young age. He was involved with two offshore disasters but accredited his survival to the modernization of the ships. This led to the decision to create technological innovations for the Japanese shipping industry. In 1878, after struggling to find business, his first order was placed. This is marked as the company's start in the industry.

In 1886, Kawasaki moved the business from Tokyo to Hyogo. This allowed space for the rise of orders placed to his company and the renaming to Kawasaki Dockyard. The new and improved company went public as Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd when the demand for ships rose during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894. Kojiro Matsukata was announced as the company's first president.

After opening a new factory in 1906, Kawasaki began diversifying its products. They began to produce parts for the railroad, automotive, and airplane industry by the end of World War 1. After the war, along with the Allied arms-limitation agreement in 1912, Kawasaki faced a huge decline in shipbuilding. In 1929, the Depression caused a large amount of financial problems with the company.

During World War 2, Kawasaki was a major builder of combat aircraft like the Ki-61, which killed many US aircrew. Just afterwards, they adapted air intakes from combat aircraft to high speed motorcycles. In 1947, the government introduced a new shipbuilding agenda and gave Kawasaki a rise in profits and helped restore the company. The company was able to resume all operations and by the 1950s, Japan was leading as the world's largest shipbuilder.

By the late 1960s into the 1970s Kawasaki had begun to withdraw from the shipbuilding industry and diversified its company, producing motorcycles, jet skis, bridges, tunnel-boring machines, and aircraft. They also supplied technologically advanced railroad cars to the New York subway system.

In 1995, Kawasaki Heavy Industries came to an agreement with China to produce the largest containerships known to man. This led to the company announcing higher than expected profits in 1996. However, shortly after the profits, the company saw a long decline in business forcing them to find a solution.

With the company seeing continuous losses into the 21st century, it formed a joint venture with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. However, by the end of 2001, the agreement was terminated. In the following years, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co. have seen a fluctuation of profits and losses.

Mission

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is committed to the realization of our customers' needs by creating and providing products and services that bring about satisfaction and joy”.

Vision

Kawasaki Heavy Industries strives to become one of the world’s premier corporations respected by society.”

Key Team

Takashi Torii (Exec. Officer & Group Mang. of Corp. Communication)

Mr. Tatsuya Watanabe (Sr. Managing Exec. Officer and Pres of Energy Solution & Marine Eng. Company)

Eiichi Harada (Managing Exec. Officer & GM of Hydrogen Strategy Division)

Mr. Katsuya Yamamoto (VP, Sr. Exec. Officer, Assistant to the Pres & Representative Director)

Mr. Hiroshi Nakatani (VP, Sr. Exec. Officer, Assistant to the Pres & Representative Director)

Mitsumasa Sato (Managing Exec. Officer, VP of Aerospace Systems Company & GM of Aerospace Bus. Division)

Mr. Hiroyoshi Shimokawa (Sr. Managing Exec. Officer & Pres of Aerospace Systems Co.)

Recognition and Awards

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has received several awards for its work, including the Eurobike Industry Leader 2015 Award, the Japan Small & Medium Business Innovation Award, and the Hanyang University Corporate Commendation.