Yanmar and Kobelco to extend mini excavator supply deal

Yanmar and Kobelco have extended an OEM supply agreement for compact excavators. This will see Yanmar’s micro and mini excavators become available internationally under the Kobelco brand from 2015, while Kobelco will supply Yanmar with 2 to 5 tonne ultra tight turning mini excavators for sale in Japan from the second half of next year.

Yanmar already supplies Kobelco with 500 kg and 800 kg micro excavator models through an OEM supply agreement for sale in Japan. Under the extended agreement the models supplied to Kobelco will be increased to include 1.0, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.5 tonne true zero tail swing models and 1.6, 1.8, 2.2 and 2.6 tonne standard mini excavators, for a total of ten models.

The tentative plan is for these to be launched under the Kobelco brand in North America, South Korea and Oceania from January next year, with Europe and Japan following in April. The models being marketed by Kobelco will vary according to the region. The two companies added that sales to other areas were also under consideration.

A further extension of the agreement will see Kobelco supply Yanmar with its 2.0, 3.0, 3.8 and 5.0 tonne Ultra-Tight Turning mini excavators for sale in Japan. The tentative start for sales under the Yanmar brand is summer 2015. Yanmar said sales of this type of machine were rising in Japan, but not elsewhere, which is why the agreement has been limited to the domestic market.

A statement from Yanmar said, “By dividing development and production operations between the two companies, both can better focus on their respective areas of expertise to ensure greater profitability.”

Kobelco’s statement on the deal added, “In the European market, the largest market for mini excavators, Kobelco faces a pressing need to strengthen its line-up of conventional machines of under 2.8 tons, which it doesn’t have on its product menu. With expanded OEM supply from Yanmar, Kobelco will be able to offer worldwide a complete line-up of mini excavators.”