Komatsu Company was established in 1921 in Komatsu City, Japan, and the first crawler-type farm tractors (early track bulldozers) were manufactured in 1931. From there, the progression of Komatsu heavy equipment development included motor graders (1952), dump trucks and forklifts (1953), wheel loaders (1965) and hydraulic excavators (1968). Since then Komatsu Ltd has expanded their quality and innovative range by purchasing several existing products (Dresser, Demag, Haulpak, FAI and Joy Global) and incorporating them into the standard Komatsu range of yellow machinery. Komatsu Ltd is now a global manufacturer of earth moving equipment, with factories, distributors and subsidiary companies around the world.
In Southern Africa, Komatsu sold its first bulldozer in 1963 and thanks to the demand in the agriculture, forestry, construction and mining industries, the company has expanded to now having branches and depots around South Africa. Komatsu South Africa has three subsidiary companies in Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique as well as dealers in Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe who operate with the full support of the South African entity.
Komatsu South Africa has recently invested in consolidating the Head Office, Workshops, Training Centre, Reman Centre and Parts Depot to one campus in Germiston, Gauteng. From this campus, Komatsu supplies superior products with competitive pricing and a customer-focused workforce intent on supporting the customers and the equipment they have purchased.
In Zimbabwe, a new dealer, MMI is now in a position to offer their customers the full Komatsu product line of heavy equipment, genuine parts and service including the benefit available from the technology, quality, productivity and years of experience which is synonymous with the Komatsu brand worldwide.
Written by Morag Davis utilising www.komatsu.co.za as well as the historical information from the Komatsu Commemorative Book which appeared on the old site as well as her years of experience with Komatsu SA (Pty) Ltd.