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Tadano Electrifies World’s Largest Cranes
JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Tadano, a major manufacturer of cranes, has converted one of its crawler cranes, which can lift up to 1600 tons, to electric power. By changing the power source from a diesel engine to an electric motor, the company has been able to maintain the performance of the existing product while reducing CO2 emissions to zero. The company converted its CC 88.1600-1 lattice boom crawler crane to electric power. This is a large crane equipped with crawlers instead of tires, and is used in plant and bridge construction, as well as wind power installation.
The electrified crane is connected by cable to the main unit and power supply equipment, and two 390-kilowatt electric motors drive the hydraulic pump. There are no CO2 emissions during operation. Compared to existing products powered by diesel engines, this crane will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 55 tons per year. The crane itself will be manufactured in Germany, while the electrification equipment will be produced in Japan. The crane is expected to go on sale in the summer of 2025 as part of the company’s EVOLT line of electrified products.
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Kubota To Build Excavator Plant in Germany
JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Kubota says it plans to build a factory in Germany to manufacture small excavators. Production will begin in 2026, and the new factory will increase the local subsidiary's production capacity by 40%. Kubota will acquire a factory site near the current factory of Kubota Baumaschinen, which manufactures and sells construction equipment in Germany. In the fiscal year ending December 2022, sales of construction equipment in Europe accounted for 20% of the company's total sales…
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Greenhouse Gases from Mining Are Targeted
Akihiro Komuro Reducing greenhouse gas emissions at mining sites is a pressing issue. The number of emissions from mines around the world is about 1.9 to 5.1 billion tons per year, which is more than Japan’s annual emissions of about 1.1 billion tons. In addition to methane gas emissions from coal mining, heavy equipment powered by diesel engines is also a source of emissions, and there is a trend toward electrification of mining equipment.
In August, Komatsu announced the development of a diesel-ethanol blended fuel engine. The engine is for large dump trucks, and Komatsu will work with Brazilian mining giant Vale and U.S. engine giant Cummins. Brazil has a high global share of bioethanol production from plant materials. The use of bioethanol is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70%. The company wants to put it into practice at Vale’s mining sites. In 2023, it signed an agreement with General Motors of the United States to jointly develop hydrogen fuel cell modules. The goal is to install the batteries in large dump trucks with a load capacity of about 290 tons and to start testing them in the second half of the 2020s.
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AEC Discusses New Goals as Markets Integrate
SOUTHEAST ASIA REPORT
Akihiro Komuro The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has outlined the framework for a new implementation plan for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is attempting to integrate the regional market. The plan will focus on digitalization and decarbonization of the economy as key objectives to be achieved by 2026-30. It will accelerate the integration of the market of 700 million people.
According to the draft plan, it will be structured around six goals, including creating an environment that encourages technological innovation, attracting investment in the green economy and building a food security system. It will include more than 200 specific implementation plans. The plan will be discussed at the ASEAN summit, which began in Laos on Oct. 9, 2024.
The plan includes creating a renewable energy supply network that spans member countries, making it easier for companies to provide financial services, such as fintech, across multiple countries in the region. In addition to digitizing trade transactions to facilitate trade, discussions are underway to include cooperation in the development of EV supply networks and infrastructure.
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Malaysia H1 2024 Car Sales Gain Ground
MALAYSIA REPORT
Akihiro Komuro New vehicle sales in the six major Southeast Asian countries in the first six months of 2024 fell 9% year-on-year to about 1.49 million units, the lowest level since 2021, when they were battered by COVID-19. Malaysia, which has benefited from strong domestic demand, is closing in on Indonesia, the largest market in the region.
Malaysia grew by 7% to 390,296 units. Sales growth was driven by strong domestic demand linked to economic growth. Sales of domestically produced small cars such as the Proton and Produa were particularly strong. In contrast, sales in Indonesia, the region’s largest market, fell 19% to 408,012 units due to a decline in the use of car loans and other factors caused by high policy interest rates. Thailand was down 24% to 308,027 units; Vietnam was down 2% to 134,884 units and the Philippines was up 10% to 227,225 units.
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