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Kawasaki Heavy Industries

technology Maturity 9-11 Next article →

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a huge company from Japan.

KAWASAKI Shozo
KAWASAKI Shozo

It makes many different things for people to use. You might see their motorcycles on the street.

Kawasaki Ninja H2R Seattle motorcycle show
Kawasaki Ninja H2R Seattle motorcycle show

They also build giant ships and fast airplanes. This company helps people move things across the world. They even make machines that help us explore space. It is one of the three biggest heavy makers in Japan.

There are many ways this company works. They build engines that power big planes and motorcycles.

They make robots that can weld or paint in factories.

KawasakiFS03N
KawasakiFS03N

Some of their machines can even dig huge tunnels underground. These machines are called tunnel-boring machines. They help build paths under the sea or through mountains. The company also makes parts for space rockets. These parts help carry things up into the sky.

A man named Shōzō Kawasaki started it all. He was born in 1836. He worked with ships when he was young.

KAWASAKI Shozo
KAWASAKI Shozo

He saw how new technology could make ships safer. His first big order came in 1878. In 1886, he moved his business to Hyogo. This gave him more space to grow. The company was called Kawasaki Dockyard back then.

Haruna in 1913(1) (cropped)
Haruna in 1913(1) (cropped)

It became a public company during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894.

The company has a very long history. They started making railroad parts in 1906.

JR East Shinkansen lineup at Niigata Depot 200910
JR East Shinkansen lineup at Niigata Depot 200910

During World War 2, they built combat aircraft. After the war, they made high-speed motorcycles. In 1947, a new government plan helped them grow again. By the 1950s, Japan was the top shipbuilder in the world.

In 1995, they made huge ships with China. They even supplied subway cars to New York City.

Singapore MRT
Singapore MRT

You can find Kawasaki products in many places. They build the Shinkansen, which are fast trains in Japan.

JR East Shinkansen lineup at Niigata Depot 200910
JR East Shinkansen lineup at Niigata Depot 200910

They also help build the International Space Station.

Kibo PM and ELM-PS
Kibo PM and ELM-PS

You might ride a Jet Ski on a lake.

Kawasaki Ninja H2R Seattle motorcycle show
Kawasaki Ninja H2R Seattle motorcycle show

Their engines help large passenger jets fly through the air. They even make machines that turn old tires into roads. This shows how they work on many different things at once.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:KAWASAKI Shozo.jpg
KAWASAKI Shozo.jpg
File:Kibo PM and ELM-PS.jpg
Kibo PM and ELM-PS.jpg
File:C-2 (08-1201,68-1203).jpg
C-2 (08-1201,68-1203).jpg
File:JR East Shinkansen lineup at Niigata Depot 200910.jpg
JR East Shinkansen lineup at Niigata...
File:MARCtrainBWIAirport.JPG
MARCtrainBWIAirport.JPG
File:Haruna in 1913(1) (cropped).jpg
Haruna in 1913(1) (cropped).jpg
File:Kobe Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co02ds3200.jpg
Kobe Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co02ds3200.jpg
File:KawasakiFS03N.jpg
KawasakiFS03N.jpg
File:Kawasaki Ninja H2R Seattle motorcycle show.jpg
Kawasaki Ninja H2R Seattle motorcycle show.jpg
File:Randy de Puniet 2006 Sep.jpg
Randy de Puniet 2006 Sep.jpg
File:Kawasaki XI750R Lago Azul Cordoba ARG 1994 Fernando Bigi.jpg
Kawasaki XI750R Lago Azul Cordoba ARG...
File:Kawasaki Mule 006.JPG
Kawasaki Mule 006.JPG

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