Kobelco Logo PNG
Kobelco: Brand overview
Kobelco, headquartered in Hyogo, Japan, is a well-known heavy equipment manufacturer that manufactures excavators and cranes. Founded in 1895, the company originally engaged in metal fabrication.
Over the years, Kobelco has become known for its innovative contributions to hydraulic excavator technology and its commitment to providing exceptional cab comfort. A dominant force in the industry, the company manufactures an extensive line of crawler excavators with lifting capacities ranging from 1 to 70 tons.
The company also manufactures various cranes, such as crawler, lattice boom, all-terrain, and rough-terrain cranes. Its range of products also includes mini and compact excavators and wheel loaders.
Kobelco has production facilities in Japan, the USA, India, China, and Thailand. Its extensive sales and distribution network covers more than 130 countries.
Although the Kobe Steel Group acquired Kobelco during World War II, it continues to operate as an independent subsidiary. With approximately 8,500 employees, the company’s annual sales exceed $4 billion.
Kobelco faces stiff competition in the heavy construction equipment sector, competing with industry giants such as Caterpillar, Hitachi, Komatsu, and Liebherr. Despite this, the company continues to hold its ground through its commitment to innovation and quality.
Meaning and History
What is Kobelco?
This company from Japan manufactures construction equipment, focusing on hydraulic excavators and wheeled and crawler cranes. The product range includes machines weighing up to 48 tons and cranes with a lifting capacity of up to 800 tons. It is part of a large diversified corporation that combines companies in the metallurgy and machinery sectors.
1980 – today
The KOBELCO logo represents the Japanese company, Kobe Stee, and reflects its identity as a unified brand across multiple divisions. The name combines “Kobe”—the city where the company’s history began—and “Steel Company,” signifying its industrial focus. Together, the name conveys reliability, stability, and high professionalism.
The logo is rendered in blue, which is associated with success and dependability in Japanese culture. This color choice fosters trust while giving the brand a modern, clean appearance. It also ensures strong visibility and recognition across various environments and visual contexts.
The company name is set in a distinctive typeface blends two contrasting letterform styles. The rounded, open shapes of the two “O” s stand out prominently, suggesting openness and space. In contrast, letters like “L” and “C” are much narrower, creating a sense of spatial efficiency and precision. This contrast in width introduces a visual rhythm and subtly reinforces the company’s commitment to practical, results-oriented solutions.
The design is stripped of decorative elements, focusing entirely on function and clarity. Straight lines and the absence of embellishment project an image of seriousness and industrial capability—traits aligned with KOBELCO’s involvement in steel production and heavy machinery.
The overall composition reflects the company’s ability to achieve success with focus and discipline. The large, open “O” s draw attention, while the compact forms of the remaining letters suggest rationality and restraint. The blue color completes the identity, reinforcing KOBELCO’s reputation for stability, integrity, and trust in industrial sectors worldwide.