Kobe Steel opens 40 MW compressor test facility

Kobe Steel Ltd.’s Machinery Business has opened a 40 MW test facility for large-capacity nonstandard compressors at its Takasago Works in western Japan.

Kobe Steel had completed product development of large-capacity compressors in the 40 MW class, but lacked a test facility to conduct performance tests at the final stage. To meet this need, Kobe Steel constructed the new test facility with twice the capacity of its current 20 MW test facility. The new test facility is capable of handling nonstandard compressors with variable-speed motors of 40 MW.

According to the company, the new facility enables Kobe Steel to enter the large-capacity compressor market. In addition, customers have been seeking to source large-capacity compressors from the Japanese and Asian markets, the company said.