Komatsu has moved the manufacturing of its HM400-5 ADT back to Chattanooga

Komatsu brought the production of its HM400-5 articulated transport truck back to its factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. These trucks were produced in Chattanooga in the mid-2000s, but their production was moved to Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in 2009 and has remained so until now.

Komatsu has moved the manufacturing of its HM400-5 ADT back to Chattanooga

The 473-horsepower HM400-5 is mainly used in construction, quarries and mining applications, designed to handle materials on challenging terrains while providing efficient and consistent performance for operators of all experience levels. To celebrate the new production line, Komatsu and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) invited US Representative Chuck Fleischmann and other local and state government officials to hold a press conference at the company's Chattanu processing plant today.

"For many years, Komatsu has been a proud member of our Chattanooga area community, providing hundreds of high-paying jobs and making a huge economic impact on Chattanooga and Tennessee," said Representative Fleischmann. The resumption of production of Komatsu HM400-5 trucks is another sign of our strong local workforce, demonstrating the confidence of business leaders in Chattanooga's economy and our values of hard work, low taxes and free business. I'm very glad that Komatsu is expanding their business in Chattanooga and investing in our community.

The production of trucks has driven up Komatsu's spending with local and regional suppliers. In addition, the new production line will offer more opportunities for students in the region to gain manufacturing experience. Komatsu's Chattanooga factory currently has a pre-apprenticeship training program that employs part-time high school students to enable them to obtain a full apprenticeship certification through Chattanooga State Community College

"We have witnessed a significant increase in demand for our HM400-5 trucks in the United States and Canada, which is why we have started manufacturing trucks in the United States," said Rod Schrader, Chairman and CEO of Komatsu North America. This popular truck is produced domestically to support Komatsu's commitment to American employment and manufacturing, and also enables us to make a greater contribution to the local Chattanooga economy.

"Today's event is an important reminder that the equipment manufacturing industry in the United States is thriving and is bound to create more family-sustaining jobs in the country in the future," said Kip Eideberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations at AEM. “As our industry continues to face supply chain disruptions and worker shortages,  we need our elected officials to support policies that will help strengthen equipment manufacturing in America.  We are grateful to Congressman Fleischmann for his leadership in Congress and his support for policies that help equipment manufacturers invest in communities, grow businesses and hire more Americans."

In addition to the HM400-5 truck, the factory also produces medium-sized hydraulic excavators and intelligent excavators, as well as some machines for the forestry market. There are approximately 525 employed people at the Chattanooga campus. Among these employees, 425 are engaged in manufacturing operations, and 100 work in other departments of Komatsu.