Big in Japan

Noriko Sano, general manager of overseas business logistics at Kobelco, the logistics arm of Japanese steel manufacturer Kobe Steel and a member of The Heavy Lift Group (THLG), takes us inside a high-stakes multimodal delivery to a semiconductor plant on the island of Kyushu and offers a window into the mounting pressures and emerging opportunities shaping the country’s logistics sector.

From Issue 2, 2026 of Breakbulk Magazine.

1. Can you walk us through the scope of the project?

NS: We were tasked with transporting 17 items of heavyduty, critical plant equipment to a factory owned by one of Japan’s leading gas supply companies. At the time, the facility was under construction by an EPC contractor and is intended to supply products to a new semiconductor plant on the island of Kyushu.

The equipment was sourced from four locations: Four cold boxes were imported from China, while the remaining units were manufactured domestically at sites across Japan. The contract required all equipment to be delivered within a tight nine-month window using a combination of trailer and vessel transport. Even for Kobelco, which has access to an extensive network of subcontractors and logistics partners, this represented a high-pressure commitment. Strict schedule control and fortnightly project meetings were essential to ensure the operation kept on track.

2. What were the main challenges during the Kyushu project, and how were they managed?

NS: This was a typical heavy-lift and project logistics operation in which transport methods were dictated primarily by technical and physical constraints rather than by cost or modal preference.

On land, the key challenges involved narrow roads, overhead structures and bridge capacities. Some of the cargo weighed up to 90 tons, requiring clearance from local authorities for bridge crossings. We collected data for all relevant bridges and carried out detailed loadbearing assessments on 30 of them. This analysis alone took seven months. In addition, the contract required the use of a special type of trailer to accommodate the length and weight of several cold boxes. Such trailers are limited in number in Japan and are typically in high demand, requiring careful advance planning.

On the maritime side, weather risk was a constant concern. The project ran through typhoon season, raising the possibility of vessel delays or cancellations. Even seemingly minor dependencies had the potential to disrupt the schedule. For example, a crane at the semiconductor plant was not under our direct control, and its availability depended on the EPC contractor’s construction timeline. The largest physical obstacle arose at the entrance to the Kyushu facility itself, which was too narrow for the trailers to pass. After evaluating alternatives, we determined that widening the access road was the only feasible solution. Detailed CAD (computer-aided design) simulations were conducted to define workable dimensions before the modification was carried out.

3. What stood out most from the Kyushu operation?

NS: The project underscored just how precise and unforgiving heavy-lift logistics can be. In one instance, the clearance between a pedestrian bridge and cargo loaded on a trailer was only 150 millimeters. The driver hesitated, expressing concern about attempting the maneuver. However, height measurements were taken immediately beforehand, and we were fully confident that safe passage was possible, which ultimately proved to be the case.

Such moments reinforced the importance of preparation, precise measurement and trust between planners and operators, all of which are critical in heavy-lift and project cargo operations.

4. How does this project relate to Kobelco’s “Modal Shift” strategy and broader transport capability?

NS: For this project, transport modes were dictated by the cargo’s size and technical constraints, and demanded complex, tightly coordinated multimodal execution across sea and road. The experience has strengthened Kobelco’s logistics capabilities in managing high-risk, time-critical operations.

Separately, the company is advancing a broader “Modal Shift” initiative in response to CO2 emissions reduction requirements, as well as to driver shortages and rising logistics costs in Japan, which are expected to reduce transport capacity by up to 34% by 2030. By shifting a greater portion of Kobelco construction machinery transport from road to sea, a core business of the division, and by leveraging its coastal fleet and port operation expertise, Kobelco is building a more resilient, efficient and lower-carbon logistics model.

THLG will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Europe 2026. Meet its members at stands 2E50-F51.