Equipment report

Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. opens US corporate headquarters

Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. (HCMA) celebrated the grand opening of its new U.S. corporate headquarters in Newnan, Georgia, with employees, local dignitaries, business partners and members of the media June 1. The new facility represents a $4 million investment in the company.

The celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, traditional Japanese Sakura ceremony, Kagami-biraki ceremony, presentations from visiting guests from Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM), factory and headquarters tours and a traditional southern BBQ lunch.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was conducted by Kotaro Hirano, president, HCM Japan; Masaaki Hirose, president, HCMA; and Al Smith, Coweta County Commission Chairman, also included two of HCMA’s longest-serving employees, Claude Smith (Newnan facility) and Ray Guerra (Kennesaw, Georgia, headquarters).

The initial phase consists of the new headquarters facility (12,291 square feet), a new training facility (3,600 square feet), training facility offices and administration building (5,084 square feet) and a future storage building (21,421 square feet). This investment represents the foundation to support the anticipated market expansion of Hitachi wheel loaders in the North American market and represents the confidence HCM has in the HCMA organization and its distribution network. HCMA says it anticipates tripling its market share in the next five years.

The Sakura ceremony, in which a cherry tree representing a living legacy and testament to the new business is planted in anticipation of growth and strength, is particularly appropriate as it was on Jan. 1 when HCMA started business following a three-year transition from KCMA Corp., the company says. Hirano; John Michalewicz, senior manager of manufacturing, HCMA; and Smith conducted the Sakura ceremony.

The Kagami-biraki ceremony involved breaking open a sake barrel. Two of the longest-serving HCMA employees, Jami Wall (Newnan facility) and Sue Smith (Kennesaw headquarters) served the sake, with Hirano toasting the attendees.

Following lunch, Hirose made 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; the introduction of the Hitachi-branded loaders; and the new HCMA headquarters exhibit the Hitachi commitment to the foundation of our business, our customers, our dealers and our employees,” David Agan, vice president of corporate at HCMA, says.

Case CE expands dealer territories in North America

Case Construction Equipment (Case CE), Racine, Wisconsin, has announced several dealer territory expansions in North America. Existing dealers have made developments in their presence in Connecticut, Indiana, Florida, Michigan and Mississippi, while a new Case dealer has been activated in Northern Michigan.

Lee Tractor Co. Inc., Biloxi, Mississippi, has expanded its Mississippi coverage with a new location in Pearl, Mississippi, to serve the Jackson market. McCann Industries, Addison, Illinois, has expanded to cover Northwest Indiana and Grand Rapids, Michigan, markets with two new locations in Mishawaka, Indiana, and Dorr, Michigan.

Monroe Tractor, Henrietta, New York, has expanded its New England coverage with a new branch location in South Windsor, Connecticut. Trekker Tractor, Miami, has continued its expansion in Florida with a new branch in Jacksonville.

Ina Store Inc., Tustin, Michigan, is a new Case dealer that will cover Northern Michigan from Saginaw to Traverse City with a central location in Tustin, Michigan.

“The continued evolution of our dealer footprint in North America is focused entirely on providing improved and expanded services in markets that are important to our construction equipment business,” Michel Marchand, vice president in North America for Case CE, says. “These developments represent our commitment to customers as we further strengthen our dealer network to meet the needs of the industries that we serve.”

For more information on Case CE, visit www.CaseCE.com.

Liebherr breaks ground on US headquarters

Representatives from German equipment manufacturer Liebherr, executive management and Newport News, Virginia, city officials gathered July 20 for a groundbreaking ceremony on-site in Copeland Industrial Park to celebrate the construction of the new Liebherr USA headquarters.

The company has been manufacturing and operating in Newport News for more than 48 years and broke ground at the site adjacent to its current facility.

The $45 million expansion will serve as the new headquarters for Liebherr USA and will include the construction of three new buildings: a four-story administrative building, a warehouse and parts distribution center and a modernized production and workshop facility intended to support the company’s cranes, construction and concrete divisions. Once completed, the new buildings will add more than 251,000 square feet to the existing 560,000-square-foot Liebherr campus.

Sophie Albrecht, joint direction and management of the mobile cranes company at Liebherr; Newport News Mayor McKinley Price; various managing directors of Liebherr USA Co.; Liebherr’s building partners; and government officials broke ground during the ceremony.

“The U.S. is a strategic market for Liebherr and, with this investment, we send a clear message of commitment to our customers, employees and the local community here in Newport News,” Torben Reher, managing director of Liebherr USA Co., says.

“We are grateful for Liebherr’s corporate citizenship, the investments and the jobs the company has provided for our citizens and others around the region. This expansion will set the stage for even greater success as the company continues to grow, and we are proud to partner with and support Liebherr now and always,” Price says.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2020 and will house Liebherr USA employees working in administration, finance, marketing, human resources, sales and service, product support, production and distribution for eight product divisions.

Sparta Manufacturing adds vice president of business development

Terri Ward has joined Sparta Manufacturing, Notre Dame, New Brunswick, as vice president of business development, bringing nearly three decades of industry experience to the equipment company.

Ward was a key member of the team that grew SSI Shredding Systems, Wilsonville, Oregon. Working through detailed, long-term project management for size-reduction applications across the fuel, recycling and construction and demolition (C&D) markets has afforded Ward the opportunity to develop her project management skills, Sparta says. She also has developed an extensive understanding of the product, project and service requirements to ensure long-term customer retention and satisfaction.

“For years I’ve been impressed by Terri’s passion, commitment, track record and depth of industry knowledge,” Bruno Lagace, Sparta president and owner, says. “Terri embodies the Sparta culture of service. We look forward to her applying her vast experience to elevate Sparta’s systems offerings in the areas of C&D recycling, mixed-waste processing, alternative fuel preparation, size reduction/recovery lines and more.”

“I’m looking forward to using my expertise to help customers develop comprehensive processing and recovery solutions with Sparta,” Ward says. “At the same time, growth can be challenging. Brand awareness and reputation are critical to future success. A key part of my focus will be on customer satisfaction and loyalty to help Sparta continue expanding responsibly.”

Sparta Manufacturing is an integrated engineering and manufacturing firm specializing in recycling system design and development. The company has a 35-year track record integrating technologies with its portfolio of machinery. Providing turnkey system development and retrofit expertise, Sparta has an install base across North America that includes C&D systems and systems for single-stream recycling.