Denzai buys into Kouno Truck

For more than 50 years Kouno has built its reputation on transporting ultra-heavy and specialized cargo. Photo: Denzai

Heavy lifting and specialized transport contracting group Denzai has acquired 70 per cent of fellow Japanese company Kuono Truck Corporation shares.

Described as a capital alliance, the deal will make the heavy cargo transport company Kouno part of the Denzai Group.

“This partnership strengthens our collective capabilities in heavy transportation and logistics, and represents an important step toward expanding our group’s expertise and service network,” Denzai said.

Commenting on the latest of many recent acquisitions Kohki Uemura, Denzai KK president and CEO, said, “Through the capital alliance with Kouno Truck, a leading heavy cargo transport company in Hyogo Prefecture, the Denzai Group’s heavy transport capacity in the western Japan region will be dramatically enhanced. In the construction of onshore and offshore wind projects already awarded to the Denzai Group, we also intend to leverage the company’s experienced personnel and extensive equipment lineup to generate mutual synergies.”

Core businesss

For his part Osamu Kouno, Kouno Truck Corporation president and CEO, said, “Since our founding in 1954, our company has developed a transportation business rooted in the Hyogo-Himeji area. Among our operations, the field of specialized and heavy cargo transport has been at the very core of our business. We take great pride in having contributed to the growth of local industries by placing the highest priority on safety and reliability.

“Through this capital alliance with the Denzai Group, we are confident that leveraging the Group’s network, equipment resources, and technical expertise will enable us to deliver services of even higher quality and greater scale. In particular, we anticipate strong synergies in strengthening the Group’s overall capabilities for ultra-heavy transport and optimising wide-area transport through closer collaboration among Group companies.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to take on new challenges beyond our regional base, working to support industrial infrastructure not only across western Japan, but throughout the entire country.”

Kouno was established in 1954 and has been headquartered in Shirahama-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, since 1968. It specializes in transporting ultra-heavy and specialized cargo. A core area of business is the local shipbuilding industry and its collaboration with Denzai will see it enter new fields, including onshore wind power and offshore wind port handling.