A new, state-of-the-art, Komatsu service and rebuild centre is under construction in the Pilbara, with the ground breaking ceremony taking place late last month.
The new facility is scheduled to open up late this year.
The new 1300 square metre facility will replace the current Port Hedland branch, and will become Komatsu’s West Pilbara rebuild centre and parts warehouse.
The new centre has been designed to handle rebuilds of ultra-class mining equipment, including up to 290 tonne capacity 930E electric drive dump trucks and WA1200 wheel loaders.
The new service branch will include two high bay workshops, washbay, 7000 square metre yard, 25 tonne gantry crane, parts warehouse, and a customer support office.
Komatsu’s Pilbara operations are a significant part of the company’s global operations, with more than 900 Komatsu machines operating in the Pilbara.
Rio Tinto will also be deploying the first major fleet of Komatsu’s breakthrough Autonomous Haulage System of driverless trucks.
Komatsu Australia managing director Sean Taylor said the Pilbara, a world class mining precinct, represents a significant portion of Komatsu Australia’s business.
“It’s home to our autonomous haulage fleet, and has one of the largest population of electric drive mining dump trucks anywhere in the world,” he said.
“It makes sense that we continue to invest in our capacity and capability in the Pilbara, to ensure we continue to provide the support our customers are asking for.
“Our investment goes beyond just bricks and mortar – we are also investing heavily in technical training so that our customers are assured that they are dealing with the experts when it comes to maintaining their machines.”
This latest ground-breaking ceremony is one element of Komatsu’s largest ever expansion in Australia, a program which started with the opening of its flagship facility in Wacol, Brisbane in 2012.