Building on its 135-year-legacy in Milwaukee, USA, Komatsu Mining Corp has officially broken ground on its new state-of-the-art headquarters and manufacturing campus in Milwaukee’s Harbor District on east Greenfield Avenue.

The company recently finalised the acquisition of two parcels of land totalling nearly 57 acres (23 ha) for the project.

Partnering with the State of Wisconsin and City of Milwaukee, Komatsu is investing around $285 million in its South Harbor Campus, which will include purpose-built, modern manufacturing facilities; advanced technology, robotics, engineering and R&D labs; and a large office complex, training facilities, data solutions centre and experience centre.

“Building this state-of-the-art facility with a focus on prioritising technology, supports our commitment to developing and delivering innovative solutions for our global customers,” Komatsu Mining Corp 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 centre of excellence for Komatsu and demonstrates a sincere commitment to sustainability and our community.”

Pre-construction work has been underway since the end of 2019 to prepare the site for redevelopment. The company plans to occupy the new campus in 2022, it said.

“We commend We Energies for their leadership in taking on the remediation of this former superfund site,” John Koetz, President, Surface Mining at Komatsu, said. “We are excited to see this harbour site transform from an abandoned brownfield to a vibrant, sustainable workplace that provides the community opportunity for family-sustaining jobs for the future.”

With the leadership of project partners, Hunzinger Construction Co, EUA, & GRAEF, full construction is now underway. Contractors Hunzinger, AW Oakes & Son Inc and Cornerstone One are all leveraging Komatsu’s new Smart Construction technologies to remotely optimise their processes and control construction planning, management, scheduling, and costs – all in near real time, the company said.