Komatsu Australia has begun building a new ‘super-site’ for dump truck assembly.

The site, located at Wacol southwest of Brisbane, will construct up to 70 “ultraclass’ dump trucks per year from January 2012.

On top of this, the facility will also house the company’s national Mining Division head office.

Stage one will involve the construction of more than 14 000 m2 of workshop and assembly facitlities on the site.

More than 400 jobs will be created during this early construction phase, with the site employ over 200 people once in full operation.

Komatsu Australia president Bill Pike said this marks the start of a strategic nationwide expansion program for the company.

"Early next year Komatsu will be launching the world's first Diesel Electric Hybrid excavator on the Australian market, complementing the world-first Komatsu Hybrid forklift already in service," Pike said.

It is also looking to expand its Mackay facility, with Komatsu saying the 960E, with a payload rating in excess of 360 tonnes, is in strong demand in the Bowen Basin region of Queensland.

Construction of the Wacol facility will span a 12-month period, with final fit-out to take place late in 2011. The site is due to commence operation January 1, 2012.