Mammoet Establishes Japanese Subsidiary to Expand Local Operations
- Meagan Wood
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
30-Second Takeaway
International heavy lifting and transport specialist Mammoet has established Mammoet Japan K.K. as a locally incorporated operating company. Led by Representative Director Yusuke Kakinuma, the new business will provide a stronger local platform for delivering heavy lifting and engineered transport projects across Japan’s offshore wind, nuclear power, energy, industrial and infrastructure sectors.
Mammoet Establishes Locally Incorporated Japanese Business
Mammoet has expanded its presence in Japan through the formation of Mammoet Japan K.K., a locally incorporated operating company. The new subsidiary builds on more than 30 years of work with Japanese companies and Mammoet’s previous project activity within the country.
Establishing a Japanese corporate entity will provide a stronger structure for conducting business, developing local capacity and delivering projects in accordance with Japanese commercial, operational and regulatory requirements.
Customers will continue to have access to Mammoet’s international engineering resources and global equipment fleet, including super heavy lift ring cranes, specialized transport systems, hydraulic gantries, strand jacks, and jacking and skidding equipment.
Equipment will be mobilized from Mammoet’s international fleet based on the technical and operational requirements of each project.
Yusuke Kakinuma Appointed Representative Director
The new company will be led by Yusuke Kakinuma, who has been appointed representative director and managing director of Mammoet Japan. Kakinuma brings more than 20 years of experience across management, heavy lifting, engineering, project delivery and energy market development in Japan and other international markets.
He began his career with engineering and manufacturing group JGC in 2004. Kakinuma joined Mammoet in 2017 as a senior sales manager before moving to offshore wind developer Ørsted in 2021, where he worked in market development. He returned to Mammoet in 2024 and will now lead the development of the company’s locally incorporated Japanese operation.
“Our ambition is to build Mammoet Japan into a trusted local partner that contributes to the growth of Japan’s energy and industrial sectors,”
Kakinuma said.
“For customers, the new Japanese entity will allow us to build local capacity, respond more effectively to project needs and reduce execution risk, while delivering work safely and in accordance with Japanese requirements.”
Local Structure Supported by Global Resources
Mammoet Japan will focus on combining local project delivery and market knowledge with Mammoet’s international engineering and equipment resources.The structure will allow Japanese customers to work directly with a local business while drawing on Mammoet specialists and equipment positioned across its wider global network.
The company expects this model to improve early project engagement, communication, engineering coordination and execution planning.
Mammoet Japan’s capabilities will include:
Early stage engineering and constructability studies
Heavy lift planning and execution
Engineered heavy transport
Project management
Super heavy lift ring crane operations
Self-propelled modular transporter operations
Hydraulic jacking and skidding
Component load-in and load-out
Large module installation
Crane rental and specialized equipment mobilization
The company said the new structure will help customers address project risks earlier while developing solutions that account for Japanese site conditions, operational standards and regulatory requirements.
Japan Identified as a Long Term Market
Mammoet sees Japan as an important long term market for its heavy lifting and transport services. The country is advancing projects across offshore wind, nuclear power, energy, industrial development and infrastructure, all of which can require the movement and installation of exceptionally large or heavy components.
Jack van den Brink, managing director of Mammoet Projects AMEA, said the new company demonstrates Mammoet’s commitment to establishing a lasting presence in Japan and growing alongside these sectors.
Complex energy and infrastructure projects often require heavy lift and transport planning to begin before final engineering and construction. Early involvement can help project teams account for component dimensions, transportation routes, ground conditions, crane placement and installation sequences during the design stage.
Three Decades of Work With Japanese Companies
Mammoet has worked with Japanese companies for more than 30 years, supporting major plant and infrastructure projects both within Japan and internationally.
Its work has covered project planning, engineered transportation, heavy lifting and final installation.
One of the company’s earlier projects in Japan involved the expansion of the Showa Yokkaichi Oil Refinery in 1995. Mammoet developed a specialist gantry lifting solution to lift and position 1,100 tonne reactor vessels during the refinery expansion. The project demonstrated the use of engineered lifting systems for loads beyond the practical capabilities of conventional mobile cranes.
Supporting Japan’s Offshore Wind Development
More recently, Mammoet has supported the development of Japan’s offshore wind industry.
The company provided engineering studies for the Akita and Noshiro offshore wind farms, the country’s first large scale commercial offshore wind development.
Located off the ports of Akita and Noshiro, the project includes 33 wind turbines across the two offshore sites.
Mammoet also supported monopile handling operations during the project’s construction. The work involved using self-propelled modular transporters to assist with upending 33 monopiles on the deck of an offshore installation vessel.
The operation required the trailers to coordinate with the crane while each monopile was raised from a horizontal position. Mammoet’s engineering team developed the operating sequence and monitored tolerances to control torsional loads during the maneuver.
PTC 35 Deployed for Fukushima Wind Demonstration
Mammoet’s PTC 35 super heavy lift ring crane was also deployed in Japan for a floating offshore wind demonstration project in Fukushima. Ring cranes are designed for projects requiring high lifting capacities at extended radii. Their circular track allows the crane superstructure to rotate around a central lifting position while distributing operational loads across a broad foundation area.
The use of the PTC 35 in Fukushima provided Mammoet with direct experience supporting Japan’s developing floating offshore wind sector. Future floating wind developments could require specialized solutions for assembling and moving large turbine components, floating foundations and complete offshore structures. Mammoet Japan will be positioned to support this work through local project development backed by the company’s international offshore wind experience.
Opportunities Across Energy and Infrastructure
In addition to offshore wind, Mammoet Japan will target projects across conventional energy, nuclear power, industrial construction and public infrastructure.
Potential applications for the company’s services include:
Power generation equipment installation
Nuclear construction and decommissioning
Refinery and petrochemical projects
Industrial plant construction and expansion
Offshore wind component handling
Bridge and infrastructure installation
Transformer and generator transport
Port and shipyard projects
Factory equipment relocation
Large module movement and installation
Japan’s constrained construction sites, mountainous terrain, established urban areas and strict operational requirements can create complex conditions for moving and installing heavy components. Mammoet’s engineered approach combines transport studies, lifting analysis, equipment selection and execution planning to develop project specific solutions.
About Mammoet Japan K.K.
Mammoet Japan K.K. is the locally incorporated Japanese operating company of international heavy lifting and transport specialist Mammoet.
The company provides a local platform for engineered heavy lifting, specialized transport and project execution services across Japan.
Led by Representative Director and Managing Director Yusuke Kakinuma, Mammoet Japan will support customers in the offshore wind, nuclear power, energy, industrial and infrastructure sectors.
The Japanese operation can access Mammoet’s global engineering organization and international equipment fleet based on the requirements of each project.
Company website: www.mammoet.com
About Mammoet
Mammoet is a Dutch international specialist in the lifting, transportation, installation and decommissioning of large and heavy objects.
The company’s history extends for more than 200 years, with its operations evolving from regional transport into an international heavy lifting and engineered transport network.
Mammoet employs approximately 7,000 professionals and supports projects across energy, offshore wind, oil and gas, nuclear power, civil infrastructure, ports, shipyards, mining and industrial construction.
Its equipment fleet includes heavy lift cranes, super heavy lift ring cranes, crawler cranes, mobile cranes, self-propelled modular transporters, hydraulic trailers, gantries, strand jacks, skidding systems and other specialized equipment.
Mammoet provides services across the full project lifecycle, including feasibility studies, transport route analysis, constructability reviews, lift engineering, equipment mobilization, site execution and decommissioning.
Company website: www.mammoet.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mammoet Japan K.K.?
Mammoet Japan K.K. is a locally incorporated Japanese operating company established by Mammoet to deliver heavy lifting and engineered transport services within Japan.
Who will lead Mammoet Japan?
The company will be led by Yusuke Kakinuma, who has been appointed representative director and managing director.
What industries will Mammoet Japan support?
The company will support projects across offshore wind, nuclear power, conventional energy, industrial development and infrastructure.
Will Mammoet Japan have access to Mammoet’s global equipment?
Yes. Equipment and specialist resources can be mobilized from Mammoet’s international fleet according to the requirements of each project.
How long has Mammoet worked with Japanese companies?
Mammoet has worked with Japanese companies on projects in Japan and internationally for more than 30 years.
What previous projects has Mammoet completed in Japan?
Previous work includes lifting and positioning 1,100 tonne reactor vessels at the Showa Yokkaichi Oil Refinery, engineering support for the Akita and Noshiro offshore wind farms, monopile handling operations and deployment of the PTC 35 ring crane for a floating offshore wind demonstration project in Fukushima.
