Kobe Steel establishes company in Brazil

Kobe Steel Ltd (also known as Kobelco) has announced that its subsidiary company, Kobelco Machinery do Brasil Servicos Empresariais Ltda, has begun full-scale marketing of non-standard compressors.

Kobelco Machinery do Brasil (KMB), based in Sao Paulo, is Kobe Steel’s first location established in Brazil.

Brazil has been actively pursuing marine resource development in recent years. High demand for gasoline, diesel, and other fuels has led to the active construction of oil refining and petrochemical plants. As a result, demand for non-standard compressors, which are used to compress and transport gases in oil and gas processing facilities, has been increasing.

Kobe Steel is one of the few comprehensive compressor manufacturers in the world that can supply centrifugal, reciprocating, and screw compressors. Kobe Steel has a 50% share of the world market for non-standard screw compressors and has supplied non-standard compressors throughout the world for use in oil refining, petrochemical, natural gas, and other large-scale facilities.

Kobe Steel’s Machinery Business also supplies a wide range of products such as small and medium-size standard compressors for plant utilities and will consider adding these and other machinery products to the portfolio of the new marketing company in the future.

In Brazil, Kobe Steel has a high supply record for screw compressors used on Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. FPSOs process oil and gas and store them onboard, after which they are transferred to tankers. Kobe Steel has also supplied numerous centrifugal and reciprocating compressors in South America, increasing the need for after-sales services in the region.

Established in November 2013, KMB recently commenced strengthening its marketing, sales, and after-sales services with aims to expanding Kobe Steel’s compressor business in South America and further improving customer satisfaction. Kobe Steel has previously set up locations in China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. With the start of full-scale marketing in South America, Kobe Steel is able to cover the world’s major markets. Enhancing the capabilities of each location enables Kobe Steel to improve the global competitiveness of its non-standard compressors.

Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquefaction/08072014/kobe_steel_establishes_company_in_brazil_927/