Komatsu CEO Tetsuji Ohashi to Give Keynote Speech at CEATEC JAPAN 2018

August 3, 2018

The CEATEC JAPAN Executive Board – consisting of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan, and the Computer Software Association of Japan – has announced that CEATEC JAPAN 2018 will feature a keynote speech given by Komatsu CEO Tetsuji Ohashi on October 16. The topic will be “Smart Construction – Achieving High Productivity and Worksite Safety with Our Customers”. CEATEC JAPAN 2018 is a comprehensive exhibition bringing together innovative CPS/IoT technologies from a wide range of businesses and industries. It will be held from October 16 (Tuesday) to 19 (Friday) at Makuhari Messe in Mihama-ku, Chiba-city.

As CEATEC JAPAN continues to evolve from a consumer electronics trade fair to a comprehensive CPS/IoT exhibition, 2018 will see sweeping improvements to the conference sessions that symbolize how this event brings together numerous industries. When Mr. Ohashi takes the podium, it will be the first time in the exhibition’s history for CEATEC JAPAN to feature a keynote speech from a business leader in the construction machine industry.

Regarding his keynote speech, Mr. Ohashi has said “Our customers face a serious labor shortage. As a construction equipment manufacturer, we want to help the construction industry become a cutting-edge industry capable of solving these problems. We started our “smart construction” initiative in 2015 to work with our customers to create safe, highly productive worksites. So far we have implemented this at more than 5,500 worksites, and we believe we can achieve even safer, even more productive and even smarter worksites in the future by learning from the experience we are now gaining. In my speech, I will introduce Komatsu’s plans for the future”.

Mr. Ohashi joined Komatsu in 1977. His career includes two years at Stanford University Graduate School from 1982, a posting at Komatsu UK, manager of the Awazu Plant, manager of the Moka Plant, President of Komatsu America, and Director of Production HQ. In 2009 he joined the Board, and he was appointed President and CEO in April 2013. Komatsu has now entered the smart construction market and purchased the US firm Joy Global. Under Mr. Ohashi’s leadership, Komatsu aims to accelerate growth using its strengths in IoT, while sowing the seeds for future growth based on (1) growth strategies based on innovation, (2) growth strategies of existing businesses, and (3) structural reforms designed to reinforce the business foundation.

His keynote speech will be part of the “CEATEC Keynote Special” series in which business leaders from various industries take the podium. His address will start at 11:00am on October 16 (Tuesday) in the Makuhari Messe International Conference Hall. From August 10 (Friday) it will be possible to make reservations online for most of the conferences, including the keynote speeches, held during the exhibition period using the CEATEC JAPAN official website (http://www.ceatec.com/).