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Japanese industrial machinery company

Komatsu Ltd. (株式会社小松製作所) or Komatsu (コマツ) is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures construction, mining, forestry and military equipment, as well as diesel engines and industrial equipment like press machines, lasers and thermoelectric generators. Its headquarters are in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The corporation was named after the city of Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, where the company was founded in 1921. Worldwide, the Komatsu Group consists of Komatsu Ltd. and 258 other companies (215 consolidated subsidiaries and 42 companies accounted for by the equity method). Komatsu is the world's second largest manufacturer of construction equipment and mining equipment after Caterpillar. However, in some areas (Japan, China), Komatsu has a larger share than Caterpillar. It has manufacturing operations in Japan, Asia, Americas and Europe. The word ko matsu means "small pine tree" in Japanese.

Komatsu Iron Works was started by Takeuchi Mining Industry as a subsidiary to make industrial tools for the parent company. Komatsu eventually became large enough to sell to the public, and was spun off on May 13, 1921, as Komatsu Ltd and founded by Meitaro Takeuchi. Komatsu produced its first agricultural tractor prototype in 1931. Through the 1930s, Komatsu also produced tractors for the Japanese military, as well as bulldozers, tanks and howitzers. After World War II, under its new president Yoshinari Kawai, Komatsu added non military bulldozers and forklifts to its line of equipment. In 1949 it began production of its first diesel engine. Its growth as a company was aided by the strong demand for its bulldozers during Japan's post war reconstruction in the 1950s. the largest bulldozer maker, in its home market. This was done under the company slogan of "Maru C", translating into English as "encircle Caterpillar" (from the game of Go (board game), where encircling an opponent results in capture of his territory). Expansion overseas was a major focus in the 1970s, with Komatsu America Corporation being established in February 1970 in the United States. A year later, in January 1971, Komatsu Singapore Pte. Ltd. was established in Singapore. September 1974 saw the founding of Dina Komatsu Nacional S. A. de C. V., a joint venture with truck maker DINA S. A. in Mexico. April 1975 was the founding Komatsu do Brasil Ltda. in Brazil. This company produced the Komatsu D50A bulldozer, marking Komatsu's first offshore production of construction equipment. Komatsu Australia Pty., Ltd. in Australia was established in Feb. 1979. In the 1980s, Komatsu and International Harvester of the United States had a joint venture to produce compact tractors called KIMCO. In 1982, PT Komatsu Indonesia was founded and production began in 1983 in Indonesia. In 1985, two manufacturing divisions were established in the United States, including the company's first U. S. plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Komatsu America Manufacturing Corp. and Komatsu America Industries LLC. Komatsu Industries Europe GmbH was set up in 1986 in then West Germany. This 50 50 ownership lasted from September 1988 to August 1994, when Komatsu bought out Dresser's share. In 1989, Komatsu bought a share of Hanomag AG and since 2002 Komatsu Hanomag GmbH has been a 100% subsidiary of the global company. During the 1990s Komatsu had a joint venture in Europe with Moxy were Komatsu designed Articulated Dump Truck were built under license for the European market by Moxy. (In 2008 Moxy was taken over by Doosan of Korea.) FAI of Italy was invested in during 1991. As Komatsu's equity increased, the company was renamed in 1985 to FKI Fai Komatsu Industries S. p. A., which was then renamed in 2000 to Komatsu Utility Europe S. p. A. when Komatsu assumed 100% ownership. In 2016, Komatsu agreed to acquire Joy Global for 3.7 B(US$). Joy Global was the reorganized and recapitalized entity of Harnischfeger Industries of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. Harnischfeger Industries was a holding company that consisted of Joy Manufacturing Co., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a maker of underground coal mining equipment; P&H Mining Equipment, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a maker of large open pit mining equipment which includes electric rope shovels, blast hole drills and draglines, P&H MinePro Services, a product support entity that provides parts and service support for all types and makes of open pit and underground mining equipment, LeTourneau Manufacturing of Longview, Texas, a maker of large rubber tired wheel loaders. The acquisition was completed in April 2017, operating as separate subsidiary with the US headquarters located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US and renamed Komatsu Mining Corp. In 2019, Komatsu withdrew from the defense sector. They cited the shrinking Japanese defense budget, poor performance, restrictions on exporting Komatsu made military vehicles, heavy competition with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and lack of synergy with its other businesses. As of 2014, Komatsu is manufacturing the NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle for the JGSDF. In December 2022, it was announced Komatsu had acquired the Gelsenkirchen headquartered manufacturer of underground mining, tunnelling and special civil engineering equipment, GHH Group GmbH. In November 2023, Komatsu announced the acquisition of American Battery Solutions to accelerate equipment electrification.

On 5 February 2024 Williams Racing announced a "multi year partnership" with the team, reigniting their previous partnership, which, among other things, saw Komatsu provide gearbox parts for the championship winning cars, the FW18 and FW19. Komatsu branding is featured heavily on the team's 2024 car, the FW46, driver suits and team kit during the 2024 season.