Komatsu

In 1917 Takeuchi Mining Industry set up the Komatsu Iron Works to produce its own mining equipment, and in 1921 it became Komatsu Ltd. In 1931 Komastsu built its first crawler tractor, adding bulldozers in 1943, with the D50 launched in 1947. Diesel engine production began in 1948. Forklift trucks, graders and dumptrucks were made from 1953. Shovel loaders were added to the range in 1956, wheel loaders in 1965 and Haydraulic axcavators in 1968. Expansion included opening divisions in many countries, acquiring competitor firms and making manufacturing agreements with others. In 1999 the WA1200 was the biggest mechanical-drive wheel loader in the world. In 2004 the PC3000 super-size excavator began production at the Rokko plant, and in 2008 the first hybrid hydraulic excavator in the world was launched. In 2013 the world's first intelligent Machine Control hydraulic excavators appeared.