Kobe Steel has announced plans to invest approximately JPY 3 billion to expand its plant at Kobelco Industrial Machinery India (KIMI). The project is scheduled for completion in fiscal year 2027 and is intended to increase production capacity to meet rising demand for tyre and rubber machinery in India.
The expansion includes the installation of new facilities to manufacture non-standard compressors, which are currently produced in Japan, the United States, China, and South Korea. By adding India to its manufacturing base, Kobe Steel seeks to diversify operations, improve cost competitiveness, and target market opportunities in India, the Middle East, and Africa. The move also aims to mitigate risks associated with dependence on specific countries.
In January 2025, the company established the Kobelco Machinery Global Capability Center (KMGC) in Chennai. Operating as a branch of KIMI, the center focuses on the design and development of tyre and rubber machinery and non-standard compressors.
Kobelco Industrial Machinery India was founded in 2010 as L&T Kobelco Machinery Private Limited, a joint venture between Kobe Steel and Larsen & Toubro. Kobe Steel acquired full ownership in 2019 and renamed the company KIMI. The facility currently manufactures and sells rubber mixers and rubber extruders used in the tyre and rubber industry.
Kobe Steel Group, also known as the Kobelco Group, operates across materials, machinery, and electric power sectors. The expansion project forms part of the company’s Medium-Term Management Plan for fiscal years 2024 to 2026, which includes strategic growth and transformation initiatives.
