Covington, GA – Komatsu Forklift U.S.A., Covington, Georgia, and Komatsu America Corporation, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, announced today a restructuring and consolidation of manufacturing facilities within North America.

As part of this restructuring, Komatsu’s forklift production operation will be moved from Covington, Georgia to Komatsu’s Newberry Manufacturing Operation in Newberry, South Carolina. This move will allow Komatsu to take advantage of available synergies, reduce overall operational expenses, and more effectively utilize assets. Komatsu America Corporation and their production teams have many years of experience in running a number of world class manufacturing operations, and will be able to use their expertise to improve manufacturing efficiencies and improve Komatsu Forklift’s cost competitiveness in the marketplace.

“This move will allow Komatsu Forklift to focus on our sales, marketing, and dealer support efforts in North, South and Central America,” noted Komatsu Forklift President, Akira Yamakawa. “In these difficult economic times, we see this as a necessary move to reduce our operational costs and better meet the needs of our dealers and customers.”

The transition of production from Covington to Newberry will take place over the next 7 to 8 months, with forklift production beginning in Newberry in October 2009. Komatsu Forklift’s parts distribution will be consolidated into Komatsu’s Ripley, Tennessee distribution facility at a time to be determined, and sales, marketing and product support related functions will also be relocated at a later date.

Additional restructuring moves announced by Komatsu America today included the move of production from Candiac, Quebec Canada to the Newberry plant, and the closing of the re-manufacturing operation in Lexington, Kentucky. Komatsu Ltd. will continue remanufacturing operations in other existing locations.

About Komatsu

Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. offers a wide range of internal combustion engine and electric model forklifts with capacities from 3,000 to 35,000 pounds. Komatsu stands behind their products with superior service, genuine OEM parts, and a comprehensive warranty program administered through a dependable dealer network with over 195 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central & South America. Since 1921 Komatsu has been a global leader in the construction and mining equipment industry. And since 1945, Komatsu Forklift has built upon that heritage by producing innovative, high-quality, durable and reliable forklifts to meet and exceed the needs of their customers.