KATO HISTORY
Founded as a private enterprise, KATO Iron Works.
1923
Began manufacturing internal combustion
locomotives and motor cars for rail use.
Became designated factory of the Ministry of Railway.
1935
Reorganized and established as KATO WORKS CO., LTD.
1938
Began manufacture of engines, tractors, road rollers,
cranes, etc.
1959
Began manufacture of fully hydraulic truck cranes and
earth boring rigs.
1952
Established as Ishikawajima Koehring CO. (joint venture of Ishikawajima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and Koehring Company).
1953
Developed model 205 mechanical power excavators.
1963
Began operation of Ibaraki plant.
Began manufacture of street sweepers and paper drain machines.
1967
Began manufacture of hydraulic excavators.
1969
Launched Nk-750 jumbo, the world's largest fully hydraulic
truck crane.
1972
Developed 4.8t lifting capacity R5 model hydraulic wheel cranes.
1970
Stock listed in 1st section of Tokyo Stock exchange.
1980
Began operation of Gunma Plant.
Began manufacture of rough terrain cranes.
1985
Completed New Headquarters building and celebrated 50th
anniversary of the establishment.
1987
Launched KA-800 all terrain crane.
1995
100th Anniversary of KATO founding.
Launched NK-5000 (500 ton) fully hydraulic truck crane.
1998
Obtained ISO 9001 certification.
Launched KA-900 all terrain crane.
1975
Dissolved a capital tie-up with Koehring Company.
1975
Developed IS-010 mini excavator. Entered into mini excavator market.
1977
Changed the name of Ishikawajima Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
1988
IS-30G mini excavators awarded Good Design Award.
1989
Developed CCH500T the largest telescopic crawler
cranes.
1992
Developed new designed J series and UJ series with new concept. Easy to operate and robust structure. Start electro-deposition coating for all mini excavator cover.
1993
Developed IC30 crawler carriers.
2004
Kimiyasu Kato inaugurated as President
2002
Established the joint venture IHIMER S.p.A. (currently KATO IMER S.p.A.) Began manufacture of mini-excavators to Europe.
2006
Began operation of KATO WORKS (CHINA) LTD.
2004
Established the joint venture SCE (Xiamen) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
2008
Launched REGZAM series hydraulic excavators.
2008
Changed the name to IHI Construction Machinery
Co., Ltd.
2010
Developed CCH2000-6 crawler cranes. Developed F801 forwarders.
2010
'Developed the "E-jib"
2014
Developed V4 series mini-excavators.
2015
Developed IC75-2 electronic control crawler carriers.
Began operation of KATO WORKS (THAILAND) CO., LTD.
Acquired IHI Construction Machinery Limited (Current KATO HEAVY INDUSTRIES CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.)
Changed company name from IHIIMER S.p.A. to KATO IMER S.p.A.
Absorption-type merger of our subsidiary, KATO HEAVY INDUSTRIES CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD
(KATO HICOM CO., LTD.)
Established KATO EUROPE B.V.
Opened the KATO TRAINING CENTRE