Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders Celebrates U.S. Grand Opening
Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. recently celebrated the grand opening of its new U.S. corporate headquarters in Newnan, Ga., with employees, local dignitaries, business partners and members of the media.
The celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a traditional Japanese Sakura ceremony, a Kagami-biraki ceremony, presentations from visiting guests from Hitachi Construction Machinery, factory and headquarters tours, and a traditional southern BBQ lunch.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by Kotaro Hirano, president, HCM Japan; Masaaki Hirose, president, HCMA; and Al Smith, Coweta County Commission Chairman also included two of the longest serving employees, Claude Smith (Newnan facility) and Ray Guerra (Kennesaw headquarters).
The new facility represents a $4 million investment by HCM to HCMA. The initial phase consists of the 12,291-square-foot new headquarters facility; a new 3,600-square-foot training facility, a 5,084-square-foot training facility with offices and administration; and a 21,421-square-foot future storage building. This investment represents the foundation to support the anticipated market expansion of Hitachi Wheel Loaders in the North American market. The investment also represents the confidence HCM has in the HCMA organization and the distribution network. Anticipating future growth, HCMA anticipates tripling its market share in the next five years.
The Sakura Ceremony, the planting of the cherry tree, representing a living legacy and testament to the new business, in anticipation of growth and strength, is particularly appropriate as it has only been since January 1, 2018 that HCMA commenced business following a three-year transition from KCMA Corporation. The Sakura Ceremony was conducted by Kotaro Hirano, president, HCM Japan; John Michalewicz, senior manager – manufacturing, HCMA and Smith.
The Kagami-biraki Ceremony, concluded the ceremonies with Hirano, and Michalewicz breaking open the sake barrel, and two of the longest serving employees, Jami Wall (Newnan facility) and Sue Smith (Kennesaw, Ga., headquarters) serving the sake. Hirano toasted the attendees earning a standing ovation from all 140 employees, and local dignitaries. Following a traditional southern BBQ lunch, Hirose made the closing remarks reiterating HCMA’s appreciation of the support from HCM, and the bright future ahead of Hitachi Wheel Loaders in North America.
“A new beginning of a long tradition of value, service and dedication,” said David Agan, vice president, corporate. “The introduction of the Hitachi branded loaders and the new HCMA Headquarters exhibits the Hitachi commitment to the foundation of our business, our customers, our dealers, and our employees.”
The commitment of Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. to the North American market is significant. With manufacturing facilities in Banshu and Ryugasaki, Japan, and Newnan, Ga., HCMA offers parts availability, a factory component exchange program, customer and dealer training programs, and a wide range of services and programs, providing support for Hitachi wheel loaders. The HCMA team is focused on wheel loaders.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.