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Kawasaki's founder

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has come a long way since it was founded
in 1876 by Shozo Kawasaki. 
Born in Kagoshima to a kimono merchant, Shozo Kawasaki became a tradesman at the age of 17 in Nagasaki, the only place in Japan then open to the West. He started a shipping business in Osaka at 27, which failed when his cargo ship sank during a storm. 
In 1869, he joined a company handling sugar from Ryukyu (currently Okinawa Prefecture), established by a Kagoshima samurai, and in 1893, researched Ryukyu sugar and sea routes to Ryukyu at the request of the Ministry of Finance. 
 

Construction of the Dry Dock

Having experienced many sea accidents in his life, Kawasaki deepened his trust in Western ships because they were more spacious, stable and faster than typical Japanese ships. At the same time, he became very interested in the modern shipbuilding industry. 

In April 1876, supported by Masayoshi Matsukata,
the Vice Minister of Finance, who was from the
same province as Kawasaki, he established
Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard on borrowed land
from the government alongside the Sumidagawa River,
Tsukiji Minami-Iizaka-cho (currently Tsukiji 7-chome, Chuo-ku), Tokyo, a major step forward as a shipbuilder.
In 1894, he was appointed executive vice president
of Japan Mail Steam-Powered Shipping Company,
and succeeded in opening a sea route to Ryukyu
and transporting sugar to mainland Japan.

Cargo-Passenger Ship Iyomaru

In 1897, Kawasaki Dockyard completed a cargo-passenger ship,
Iyomaru (727 GT), its first ship after becoming a publicly traded company.
During the 10 years of private management between 1886 and 1896,
the Company built 80 new ships, including six steel ships such
as Tamamaru (about 570 GT).
Since the first steel ship was built in Japan in 1890,
ship material had rapidly modernized from iron to steel.
The beginning of Kawasaki Dockyard is thus the beginning of
Japan's modern shipbuilding industry.
 

Construction of the Dry dock

Shozo Kawasaki had fully realized that the Company's shipyard needed a drastic increase in capacity since Kawasaki Dockyard was established in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. He planned to construct a dry dock by reclaiming land next to the shipyard. In 1892, a land survey began, and in 1895, boring tests were carried out. After the incorporation of Kawasaki Dockyard, Kojiro Matsukata pursued the plan.
Construction work faced rough going due to the extremely weak foundations of the site on the Minatogawa River delta. After a couple of failures, a new technique was adopted to harden the underwater foundation by pouring concrete. Six years later in 1902, the dry dock was completed at last, costing three times as much and taking three times longer than the construction of a dock under normal conditions.

Size of the dry dock:
Length: 130 m, width: 15.7 m, depth: 5.5 m
Maximum size of ships that can be docked: 6,000 GT 
The dry dock (currently No. 1 Dock, Kobe Shipyard) was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Asset of Japan in 1998.
 

1902 - Mikawamaru of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) enters the dry dock, the first ship to be repaired in the dock.

Holland type submarines No. 6 and 7 under examination in dry dock

The Japanese Navy began to think about introducing submarines around 1901, and it decided to form a submarine corps soon after the start of the Russo-Japanese War. In 1904, five Holland type submarines, Submarines No. 1 to 5, were imported from the United States.

At the same time, the Navy decided to build submarines in Japan. In 1904, it awarded an order for the first two to Kawasaki. Although the Navy provided plans made by J. P. Holland, the designer of Holland type submarines, the details were left to the Company. Kawasaki devoted all its energies to building submarines that would live up to the Navy's expectations and demonstrate its capabilities as a shipbuilder to the world. It invited engineers from the United States as well as continuing to research problems even after laying the keel.

In 1906, having conquered many difficulties, Kawasaki completed and delivered the first two submarines made in Japan, Submarines No. 6 and 7, to the Navy.
The newly opened Hyogo Works begins fabrication of locomotives, freight and passenger cars and bridge girders. This is also the year that Kawasaki begins production of marine steam turbines at its dockyard.

1918
The Aircraft Department is established at Hyogo Works, a short 15 years after the Wright brothers' historic flight when airplanes were still made from wood and cloth and could only travel short distances. In 1922, the Company begins manufacturing aircraft and establishes a new aircraft plant.
Kawasaki went on to build Japan's first metal aircraft, which laid the groundwork for the technological innovations of today.
 

Shipping division is spun off and incorporated as Kawasaki Kisen Kaisya Ltd. (K-line).

Kawasaki completed its first airplane at its new aircraft
factory located in Sohara Village (currently Kakamigahara City),
Gifu Prefecture. The Japanese Army admitted its excellence
based on the test flights, and adopted it for the first military plane,
the Type Otsu 1 surveillance plane.
Kawasaki manufactured about 300 planes of this type until 1927.

In 1923 the Great Kanto Earthquake hit Tokyo and bridges across the Sumidagawa River collapsed. Kawasaki constructed replacement bridges such as the Kiyosubashi Bridge, Shirahigebashi Bridge and Eitaibashi Bridge, which became well known for their elaborate designs. Kawasaki utilized state-of-the-art technology for these bridges. For example, it adopted high-tensile steel (Ducol steel), made at the Company's Hyogo Works, for the first time in Japan for the upper cables of the Kiyosubashi, an elegant suspension bridge, and for the lower connections of the Eitaibashi, a massive steel arch bridge. In that era, Kawasaki received orders from the Earthquake Reconstruction Bureau and other organizations in Japan for 25 bridges in total, including the bridges mentioned above, requiring 16,000 tons of steel.

Kiyosubashi Bridge built in 1928

Sirahigebashi Bridge today (built in 1929)

Kachidokibashi Bridge built in 1937

Kawasaki also constructed the Kachidokibashi Bridge across
Sumidagawa River. The leaf-lift (trunnion bascule) bridge is built
on a model of the same type of drawbridge in Chicago.
The bascules, which hold the bridge center of 44 meters,
can raise to a maximum of 70 degrees, making large ship traffic
 possible. However, the bridge no longer opens today, due to
new regulations to ease road traffic jams.

1928
Hyogo Works is spun off and incorporated as Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

1934

1937
Aircraft division is spun off and incorporated as Kawasaki Aircraft Co., Ltd.

1941
During World War II, the Company (Kawasaki Aircraft) manufactured the type 3-1 fighter Hien, the only air-cooled fighter developed in Japan during the war. Hien was known for its world-class performance, with a maximum speed of 610 km/h and the capability to fly in formation even at an altitude of 10,000 m.

1950
Steelmaking division is spun off and Kawasaki Steel Corporation is incorporated. As the Company expands, its rolling stock, aircraft and steelmaking divisions are divested to pave the way for steady growth in each of these fields. The shipbuilding, rolling stock, aircraft, industrial and construction machinery and steel structure businesses each play an important role during the period of postwar restoration and economic expansion. The Company achieves remarkable growth as Japan sets its sights on becoming a world leader of industry.

1969
Kawasaki Dockyard, Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing and Kawasaki Aircraft merge to become Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. With the capacity to handle projects on land, at sea and in the air, Kawasaki strengthens its foundation as a comprehensive systems engineering company.
 

The First Industrial Robot Made in Japan
Kawasaki regarded the development and production of labor-saving machines and systems as an important mission, and became Japan's pioneer in the industrial robot field. In 1968, the Company (Kawasaki Aircraft) entered into a technical agreement with Unimation Inc., a U.S. company specializing in industrial robots, and began development work. In 1969, the Company succeeded in developing the Kawasaki-Unimate 2000, the first industrial robot ever produced in Japan.

1966
Merges with Yokoyama Kogyo Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of boilers, grinders and conveyors.

1972
Unveils Z1 Motorcycle

In 1972, the Company unveiled Japan's largest motorcycle of the day, the Kawasaki Z1, featuring an air-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 903 cm³, DOHC engine, which was Kawasaki's first 4-stroke engine with a state-of-the-art, unique mechanism. Code-named "New York Steak" as early as in the development stage, the Z1 became a "mouth-watering motorcycle," winning overwhelming popularity immediately after its introduction, and becoming a long-term bestseller. The Z1, a pioneer of Supersport models, not only solidified Kawasaki's reputation in large motorcycles, but remains deeply engraved in the public conscience as one of the most superlative models to date.

1975
Starts production of motorcycles in the U.S. ahead of all other Japanese motor vehicle producers. The Company expands U.S. production to rolling stock in 1986 and construction machinery in 1988.
 

1976
Expanding into the Industrial Gas Turbine Business
 

1978
Cement plant Algeria

Kawasaki Plant Systems, Ltd. has supplied a lot of cement manufacturing equipment
worldwide since its first delivery of a rotary kiln in 1932.
The cement plant we designed and constructed has attracted the attention of the world's
cement manufacturers and specialists due to its advanced performance.
Kawasaki has so far supplied as many as 58 large-scale, energy-saving and high-performance cement plants around the world.
Their strength lies in their comprehensive technologies including the feasibility study,
designing, manufacturing, procurement, construction, test-running, running, maintenance
of a cement plant as well as manufacturing machinery for the plant.
They have also applied these technologies to the nonferrous metals processing plant,
limestone calcining system, fluidized bed drying system.
Each system has achieved results in energy saving and high efficiency.

 

1979
First flight of BK117 Helicopter

In 1977, Kawasaki started developing the BK117, a multipurpose twin-engine helicopter, with MBB (currently Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH) of Germany, and production began in 1982. The BK117, the first helicopter ever developed in Japan, offers a high standard of safety featuring twin engines, and easier operation using a jointless rotor system. Advanced technology also enables instrument flights even in inclement weather.

1981
Delivers the first LNG carrier built in Japan

LNG Carrier Golar Spirit

Kawasaki not only aggressively pursued orders for VLCCs
(very large crude-oil carriers) and other oil tankers, but also
conducted R&D activities to develop high-value-added ships.
One example is its LNG (liquefied natural gas) carriers.
In 1971, Kawasaki entered into a technical agreement with
Moss Rosenberg Verft A.S. of Norway and accelerated
the development of LNG carriers. In 1981, at the Sakaide Works,
the Company delivered the Golar Spirit
(129,000m3, 93,815 GT), the first LNG carrier ever built in Japan

1991
Tunnel boring machines successfully complete work on the Eurotunnel

In July 1987, Kawasaki received an order for two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) with diameters of 8.17 meters for the underwater railroad for the Channel Tunnel linking Great Britain and the European continent. These machines were to excavate part of the two underwater tunnels from the coast of Sangatte in Northern France to the British coast. Due to the chalk strata on the French coast partly leaking with some faults, a sudden inflow of high-pressure water was expected during construction. In addition to these complex strata 40 meters under the sea and a high water pressure of a maximum 10 atmospheres, continual high-speed boring of 16 km at 500 m per month was also required. The difficulties become clearer when compared with the commonly accepted conditions for a TBM project: several km of boring at 200 - 300 m per month under a pressure of 1 - 2 atmospheres.
 

Kawasaki tunnel boring machine (T2) pierces the Eurotunnel on May 22, 1991

Furthermore, the leadtime from contract to design, manufacture and delivery was also set at only 13 months. However, because Kawasaki is a leading manufacturer of shield machines and TBMs, it aggressively surmounted these difficulties, supported by its expertise and track record for around 1,000 of these products. It was in June 1988 that the two machines were shipped from Kawasaki's Harima Works with more than 10,000 parts and underwent test runs.

TBM completed at Harima Works

Nicknamed "Europe" and "Catherine," the two machines achieved a maximum boring speed of 1,200 m per month, and excavated 600 to 700 m per month even in the rough strata. They worked continuously for 20 km, 4 km beyond the original plan of 16 km, and finished construction work eight months ahead of schedule. With these new records established in the tunnel construction history, they successfully completed the tunnels in May and June 1991, two and a half years after breaking ground.
 

Separated into sections, TBMs were transported by trailers from the Port of Calais to Sangatte, France.

Construction work on the Channel Tunnel railroad was finally completed on
May 6, 1994 and trains started to run under the Channel at last,
some 200 years and 26 failed attempts after Napoleon first planned it.

The Monument to celebrate the opening of the Eurotunnel at Central Square of the Coquelles Terminal, Calais, France. The monument uses real cutter bits from the Kawasaki TBMs that excavated the tunnel.

Entrance of the Eurotunnel on the French side

M = meeting points of the shield machines from the French side and the U.K. side The tunnels were pierced at these points.

1996
100th anniversary.

1998 Akashi Kaikyo Bridge opens
14.14m Diameter Shield Machines Excavate the Tokyo Bay Aqua-line

Shield machines being shipped from Harima Works
 

2001
Introduces an internal company system and an executive officer system.
 

North America’s Most Advanced Rolling Stock Factory Starts Up

In 2001, Kawasaki built a rolling stock factory in the U.S., which began full-scale operations the next year. Located within Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. in Lincoln, Nebraska, it was the first in North America designed to handle the entire production process, from car body manufacturing to final assembly.

Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A., Lincoln Plant

The facility, built on 1.36 million m2, has approx. 40,000 m2 of floor space, with a 480 m long body fabrication line and
a fitting-out line. All assembly work, from fabrication to testing, painting and fitting out has been arranged in a streamlined flow from the factory’s entrance to the exit.
The cars move from one work station to the next
on rubber-wheeled or air-cushioned trucks,
doing away with the necessity for rails on the floor.
This also allows easy reconfiguration of the
production flow based on the type of cars
to be manufactured next.
 

2002
Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation and
Kawasaki Precision Machinery Ltd. are established
as wholly owned subsidiaries.
 

2005
Kawasaki Plant Systems, Ltd. (K Plant) is established
as a wholly owned subsidiary.

2006
Kawasaki Environmental Engineering, Ltd. (KEE) is
established as a wholly owned subsidiray.
 

2007
On April 1, K Plant and KEE merge to form new K Plant.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI)

Today Kawasaki is a multi-national corporation with more than fifty holdings (manufacturing plants, distributions centers,
and marketing and sales headquarters) in most major cities around the world.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) is engaged in building transportation systems for the 21st century,
and in doing so, is utilizing the wealth of technological know-how it has accumulated over the past 100 years.
The ship building division has led the world in producing ever larger, ever faster, increasingly automated ships.
It is constantly striving to find ways to increase ship manufacturing and navigation efficiency
while conserving energy.
So far, the quest has resulted in the development of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) carriers,
high-speed ships and other future-oriented marine technologies.
 

By applying aviation principles, a Jetfoil that speeds above the water at an amazing 45 knots is
one project that has become reality. Kawasaki led Japan's shipbuilding consortium
formed to build the Techno-Superliner.
This exciting new vessel is planned to carry a payload of approximately 1,000 tons
and travel at a cruising speed of 50 knots.
 

Kawasaki is supplying rolling stock for the world-famous Shinkansen bullet train as well as other trains.
The company is now developing a next-generation Shinkansen that will travel at a top speed of 240 mph. Kawasaki's expertise extends well beyond simply the development and manufacture of rolling stock.
As a systems integrator, Kawasaki engineers total railway transportation systems,
from train operation control to rolling stock inspection and repair operations.
 

In the aircraft sector, Kawasaki is engaged in a broad range of activities as a
manufacturer of both aircraft bodies and engines.
At present, the company is manufacturing the Kawasaki-developed MBB K117 helicopter
and portions of the latest passenger aircraft, the Boeing 777.
Kawasaki is also an important player in the project to develop the Supersonic Transport (SST),
a plane that will travel at altitudes of 60,000 to 90,000 feet at a speed of Mach 2.5
and will carry from 200 to 300 passengers.
Kawasaki's high-speed transportation technologies also extend beyond
the atmosphere of earth in the new quest to utilize space and its resources.
 

Plus, Kawasaki is doing its utmost to fulfill its responsibilities to the planet by being environmentally conscious.
It is making every effort to develop environment-friendly plants, technologies to protect the earth,
new sources of energy that will help ensure a stable supply of resources and energy,
and energy-conserving and recycling technologies.
 

State-of-the-Art Waste Treatment Plant Delivered to Hirakata City

The Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP), for example, uses lowpolluting natural gas to turn
the turbines that generate power, while exhaust heat is used to generate additional electricity.
Kawasaki's resource recycling system uses heat from city refuse incinerators to power
coolers and heaters and to heat water; it also collects reusable resources from various types of refuse.
 

Other technologies, including water treatment, flue gas desulfurization and denitration plants,
are also proving highly effective in the protection of the environment and the conservation of energy.
Kawasaki is always monitoring future technologies and is well positioned
to enter the era of fusion energy that will follow.
 

The Kawasaki name represents a technological enterprise whose activities range from large-scale,
international projects to items used in daily life and for recreation.
And at every step, Kawasaki pays the utmost attention to humankind and the environment.
The past 100 years of innovation has enabled Kawasaki to establish a firm foundation as
a leading technological enterprise. Now, the company is fully prepared to welcome
the new century and looks forward to playing a leading role in
the advancement of humankind and to another century of innovation.