From the left, Korekiyo (Kody) Yanagisawa, COO Komatsu Mining; John Koetz, president, surface mining, Komatsu; Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; and Jeff Dawes, CEO of Komatsu Mining.
Building on its 135-year-history with Milwaukee, Komatsu Mining Corp. broke ground on its new headquarters and manufacturing campus in Milwaukee’s Harbor District on east Greenfield Avenue on September 9. Partnering with the state of Wisconsin and city of Milwaukee, Komatsu is investing approximately $285 million in its South Harbor Campus, which spans 57 acres and includes purpose-built, modern manufacturing facilities; advanced technology, robotics, engineering and research and development labs; a large office complex; training facilities; data solutions center; and an experience center.
“Building this state-of-the-art facility with a focus on prioritizing technology, supports our commitment to developing and delivering innovative solutions for our global customers,” Komatsu Mining President and CEO Jeff Dawes said. “Our goal is to create a remarkable workplace for our employees that provides space to grow, will serve as a global center of excellence for Komatsu and demonstrates a sincere commitment to sustainability and our community.”
Pre-construction work has been under way since the end of 2019 to prepare the site for redevelopment. The company plans to occupy the new campus in 2022. “We commend We Energies for their leadership in taking on the remediation of this former superfund site,” Surface Mining President John Koetz said. “We are excited to see this harbor site transform from an abandoned brownfield to a vibrant, sustainable workplace that provides the community opportunity for family-sustaining jobs for the future.”
Full construction is under way, led by Hunzinger Construction Co., EUA, and GRAEF. Contractors Hunzinger, A.W. Oakes & Son Inc. and Cornerstone One are all leveraging Komatsu’s new Smart Construction technologies to remotely optimize their processes and control construction planning, management, scheduling, and costs — all in near real time.
