Komatsu actively promotes research and development activities for new technologies and products consistent with its commitment to provide "Quality and Reliability".
Positioned as the central R&D base for the entire Komatsu group of companies, the Research Division conducts R&D activities for the corporate group by working closely with individual research and development departments of its business divisions such as construction, mining and utility equipment, industrial machinery general headquarters, and technology departments of Komatsu's subsidiaries and affiliates.

Note: Starting in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, Komatsu changed its business segments, and thus some figures for the fiscal years, ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, are presented after reclassifying according to the new segmentation.

(1) Construction and Mining Equipment
Komatsu has been engaged in the research and development of information technologies, including the sophisticated measurement method, remote control of machine location and operation data, tool and equipment control and artificial intelligence.
Komatsu has made advances in research and development relating to energy conservation, component recycling and reuse, the evaluation of environmental load through life cycle assessment ("LCA") techniques and preparations for emission standards at the next stage based on the belief that it can reduce environmental burdens while achieving economic efficiency.
Komatsu has worked on working safety, reduction of noise and vibration of machines and higher comfortability of machine operators, which led to the development of new products.

(2) Industrial Machinery and Others
In the field of industrial machinery, Komatsu has focused on functional enhancements and increasing automation of peripheral equipment in order to respond to the growing customer need to raise the productivity and flexibility of large presses, sheet-metal forging equipment and machine tools.
In addition, Komatsu engages in the research and development of high-performance temperature control equipment, high-performance thermoelectric module heat-exchange units and micro thermo-modules for use in optical communications.
Award
The "low total operating cost" and "increase productivity" and "safety & comfort" hybrid electric forklift truck was granted "ZMF Award for Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" by JMF(The Japan Machinery Federation).