Komatsu donates to AED training initiative

The Komatsu North America Region business unit says it has donated $250,000 to the Vision 2025 training initiative organized by the Illinois-based Association of Equipment Distributors (AED) and its Foundation. The AED Foundation says the effort strives to address technician shortages in the equipment distribution industry.

“The current skills gap and workforce shortage issues facing OEMs and equipment distributors are daunting,” states Komatsu in the news release announcing its donation.

“We recognize the imperative to build a talent pipeline for our distributors and the heavy equipment industry at large,” says Rod Bull, an executive with the Komatsu North America Region. “Komatsu supports Vision 2025 and its focus on helping schools promote careers in the technical field to young people, who often aren’t aware of the great family-supporting jobs available in this industry. We’re excited to do our part to share this story of opportunity to join an industry that keeps our world growing and sustains our way of life.”

Research by the AED Foundation has found the industry needs to fill an anticipated 73,500 heavy equipment technician positions over the next five years, according to Komatsu. The technician shortage, adds the firm, “is compounded by a gap in required skills and available training.”

Vision 2025 intends to reach a minimum of 120 accredited college programs offering technician training, with the current figure standing at 71. Vision 2025 also seeks a minimum of 200 recognized high school programs, raising that from the current figure of 36.

“If the project is successful, it has the potential to create a talent pipeline that includes an additional 10,000 skilled technicians entering the workforce, 5,000 AED Foundation-certified technicians and 500 AED Foundation-certified managers,” according to Komatsu.

The Komatsu donation will go toward an overall Vision 2025 fundraising goal of $10 million.

“The AED Foundation is grateful for Komatsu’s leadership and investment in our Vision 2025 campaign,” says AED Foundation President Brian McGuire. “Komatsu’s support, in conjunction with nearly 75 other investors, brings our Vision 2025 campaign to over $6 million. These investments provide the Foundation the sustainability needed to continue to be the heavy equipment industry’s leader in workforce development.”

The latest donation is not Komatsu’s first. Including this most recent donation, a total of $1.45 million has been pledged to the Vision 2025 campaign by Komatsu and more than a dozen of its dealers, says the firm.