The South Carolina factory marked the milestone with a special anniversary edition of the WA485-11 wheel loader
When Komatsu opened its Newberry Manufacturing Operation (NMO) in South Carolina in 2001, the plant had 22 employees and built backhoe loaders. Twenty-five years later, it employs around 250 people, covers more than 300,000 square feet and has produced more than 53,000 machines.
The anniversary was celebrated on October 2 with employees, dealer partners, elected officials and members of the local community. To mark the occasion, Komatsu unveiled a special 25th anniversary model of the WA485-11, a flagship wheel loader and one of the newest models built at the plant.
A plant that followed the market
Newberry was Komatsu’s fifth major manufacturing facility in North America, set up to bring production closer to the region’s construction, utility and rental customers. Its product mix has shifted with demand: after starting with backhoe loaders, the plant expanded into wheel loaders and forklifts.
That evolution is reflected in the footprint. The facility has grown from about 200,000 to more than 300,000 square feet, while headcount has risen more than tenfold.
For North American dealers and fleet owners, local production of a machine like the WA485-11 means shorter supply chains for one of the workhorses of quarries, aggregates yards and large earthmoving jobs.
People first, according to Komatsu
“Reaching 25 years is a significant milestone for Newberry Manufacturing Operation and a testament to the dedication, skill and commitment of our employees,” said Rod Bull, CEO of Komatsu North America.
“From the facility’s beginnings with a small team producing backhoe loaders to the diverse manufacturing operation it is today, Newberry’s success has been built by the people who come to work each day focused on delivering quality products and continuously improving what we do.”
During the celebration, the plant also demonstrated machines built on site. Komatsu says NMO has remained an active community partner in the Newberry area, and plans to continue both its manufacturing role and its local involvement in the years ahead.
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