Komatsu announced it will build a $30 million manufacturing plant in Newberry, S.C., bringing to three the number of U.S. plants operated by the Japanese company. Construction is scheduled to start in December and initially will employ about 100 workers.
Komatsu said it expects to manufacture an estimated 2,000 backhoe loaders at the plant in 2002 - the first full year of production. By 2005, production is expected to be 4,000 to 5,000 units.
The company's other U.S. plants are in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Peoria, Ill.
