KOBELCO Construction Machinery USA continues to provide customers with quality products from its North American manufacturing facility in Moore, SC. KOBELCO recently produced its 1,000th excavator at the USA facility and celebrated the milestone by hosting a ceremony on March 27, 2019.
The 1,000th KOBELCO machine produced is the SK210LC-10 model. KOBELCO dealer, Southeastern Equipment, sold the unit to A Crano Excavating, a family-owned residential and commercial developer based in Akron, OH. The SK210LC-10 was given to A Crano Excavating at the celebration event.
“This achievement further solidifies KOBELCO’s commitment to producing industry-leading machinery with exclusive features and cutting-edge technologies, as well as providing superior service and sales support to our dealers and customers,” says Jack Fendrick, COO and Vice President, KOBELCO USA.
Fourteen models are currently being produced at the facility, including standard KOBELCO excavators in the 17- to 50-ton range as well as Long Reach, High & Wide, and removable counterweight system models. KOBELCO’s production schedule has the company on track to achieve its 2019 goal of 737 units per year, which is a 15% increase since 2018.
"The KOBELCO manufacturing facility has experienced incredible growth since opening three years ago,” says Ralph Wabnitz, General Manager of the facility. “And we’re still growing by adding other excavator models to the production schedule. The SK260LC-10 is the latest model that was added in February.”
Manufacturing capacity will continue to increase in accordance with market development. And as production capacity continues to grow, so will the KOBELCO USA manufacturing team.
“Expanding our team of experts is the first step in continuing to aggressively increase overall production,” says Wabnitz. “Our USA production workforce increased over 60 percent in 2018 alone. This year, we plan to add over 10 percent more employees in all operational areas.”
The KOBELCO North American manufacturing facility also allows the company to proudly support the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). As a Gold Sponsor of the AEM I Make America campaign, KOBELCO demonstrates what the campaign is all about: growing the equipment manufacturing industry and supporting good-paying jobs across the United States.
“2019 will be another year of great opportunity for KOBELCO USA and all of our associates. We are excited to continue working with dealers and customers to build upon our strong foundation in the North American market and exemplify how KOBELCO helps ‘make America’ every day,” says Fendrick.
