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Global Warming Countermeasures: Aiming to Keep One Step Ahead Through New Technology Development
The Kobelco Construction Machinery Group strives to reduce CO2 emissions by creating construction machines of various kinds that have enabled drastic reductions in fuel consumption, curbing of exhaust gas, and other improvements. We continually take on the challenge of developing environment-conscious construction machinery, having brought out the ACERA GEOSPEC – the first construction machine in the domestic industry to comply with the Act on Regulation, Etc. of Emissions From Non-road Special Motor Vehicles along with hybrid excavators and equipment incorporating automated idling stop functions. |
Next-generation Electronically
Controlled Engine
Development of this engine was divided among four departments,with five component development groups |
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– for power system, hydraulic control, structure, electric control and equipment – working on the R&D. The result was an engine that realizes an overall reduction of 20% in fuel consumption. A "bench apparatus" was brought in that simulated the entire system via computers, enabling specific instructions for fuel consumption improvement and trial production. Also, the development was conducted jointly with the engine manufacturer, strengthening our ties and constituting a major step toward the next phase of R&D.
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Tamiya Prize
The Tamiya Prize is an award system that commemorates the legacy of the late Kaemon Tamiya, the fifth President of Kobe Steel, Ltd. Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. won the 49th Gold Prize for the "development and commercialization of an energy-conserving hydraulic excavator" that it carried out jointly with the Technical Development Group of Kobe Steel, Ltd. Cited with high praise were the facts that this work had developed a product with fuel consumption performance that overwhelmed its rivals in the hydraulic excavator market, thereby raising our brand value, and that it had led to an expansion of our sales share as well as contributing to global environmental preservation through its CO2 reduction effects. We will strive in the future as before to make better and better products.
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The Kobelco Construction Machinery Group is taking part in the Team Minus 6% project. |
The 6% reduction target for CO2 emissions that was stipulated by the Kyoto Protocol in 2006 constitutes a task for the whole Earth. It is naturally viewed as a task of major importance by the Kobelco Construction Machinery Group as a manufacturer of construction machinery. Besides participating in the Team Minus 6% project, the Group is contributing toward achievement of the target via various other activities of its own devising, among which is a switch to the use of hybrid cars for its business vehicles.
Raising Energy Conservation Awareness
In order to reduce CO2 we are of course selecting power-saving type fluorescent lights, computers, printers and so forth for our offices. Furthermore we encourage turning power off diligently whenever it is not needed, and set standards that include additional provisions for compliance with the target. Individual employees strive to reduce overall garbage generation in such ways as rigorously using backing paper within limits prescribed by such standards. Another measure is to attach Team Minus 6% stickers to our excavators, as an appeal to users to practice energy-conserving operation.
COOL BIZ／WARM BIZ
As one of its activities under the Team Minus 6% project, the Kobelco Construction Machinery Group implements on an ongoing basis the "COOL BIZ and WARM BIZ" practices recommended by the Ministry of the Environment. Specifically, these consist of keeping room temperatures at no lower than 28°C in the summertime and no higher than 20°C in the wintertime. Posters distributed to the headquarters and each factory urge employees to contribute to CO2 emission reduction by adhering to these levels and thereby keeping down the energy consumption of air-conditioning and heating equipment.
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