Komatsu investing in Sparwood

Komatsu Mining has announced plans for the construction of a new facility to support the growth of its mining business in the East Kootenays, a region known for its significant metallurgical coal operations.

The company plans to invest approximately $40 million to construct a 85,000 sq.ft (7,897 sq.m) sales and service facility in downtown Sparwood, where the company has been operating for more than 30 years, it said.

Komatsu plans to break ground at the new site in early August, with construction to conclude by the end of 2020.

Steven Droste, Komatsu’s Regional Manager – Western Canada, said: “This facility will be a great new place of work for our employees while enhancing our capabilities, so we can continue to provide our customers unrivalled service delivery.”

Komatsu will continue to operate out of its leased facility in Sparwood until the new building is complete. The company purchased the 15 acre (6 ha) parcel for its new facility from the District of Sparwood and is working to prepare the land for development, it said.

“We’re excited to be investing in our community and our future,” said Steven Droste, Komatsu’s Regional Manager – Western Canada. “This facility will be a great new place of work for our employees while enhancing our capabilities, so we can continue to provide our customers unrivalled service delivery.”

“Council and staff have put in a lot of time working with Komatsu to bring this project to fruition,” said District of Sparwood Mayor David Wilks. “And I can say for everyone involved that we are proud to have Komatsu put down roots and call Sparwood home.” “We’re looking forward to stability with Komatsu being in the region, in our new subdivision of Middletown Place,” Wilks said. “Hopefully that will spur others to start building there and we look forward to all of the additional opportunities that Komatsu brings over the years.”

Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, British Columbia, added: “Komatsu has been a great corporate citizen in the East Kootenay since the 1980s and we are thrilled that the company is investing in the future of Sparwood with a new, leading-edge facility. This decision by Komatsu is a vote of confidence in the region’s skilled and talented workforce and a reflection on the strength of the province’s economic future.”

About Komatsu
Komatsu Mining Corp. is a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., an industry-leading manufacturer and supplier of equipment, technologies and services for the construction, forklift, mining, industrial and forestry markets. For nearly a century, Komatsu equipment and services have been used by companies worldwide to develop modern infrastructure, extract fundamental minerals, maintain forests and create technology and consumer products. The company’s global service and distributor networks support customer operations, tapping into the power of data and technology to enhance safety and productivity while optimizing performance.

To learn more about Komatsu’s mining offerings, visit mining.komatsu.