Until recently, motorists passing the Komatsu America Corp facility in Peoria, Illinois might have had little clue they were zipping past a key player in global manufacturing. But not now. The Komatsu team positioned their pride and joy, a huge award-winning electric-drive mining truck at the plant entrance a few weeks back. And as the Manufacturing Express rolled into the plant for Stop 65, there was even a groundbreaking ceremony for a new office complex, further expanding the company’s local footprint.
It’s already a pretty big footprint. In Peoria, they employ several hundred of their 14,000 person North American workforce. At Komatsu, they embrace the philosophy that if it’s not grown, it’s mined, and their employees work hard every day to ensure they are creating the most sustainable and advanced technology on the market.
“Komatsu’s commitment to Peoria is a partnership we greatly value,” said Peoria Mayor Rita Ali at the groundbreaking. “The new facility represents a step forward in sustainable manufacturing and strengthening Peoria’s economy and community. We’re excited to see Komatsu’s continued investment in our city, creating opportunities for the next generation of workers.”
In Peoria, Komatsu builds big mining trucks. The one recently installed is also famous: It’s the 2024 winner of the Makers Madness contest, being declared the Illinois Manufacturing Association’s “Coolest Thing Made In Illinois” after an eight-week, bracket-style competition that brought 315,000 entries. The welcoming display truck is an early prototype from 2020 and the trucks went commercial in 2023.
As the Manufacturing Express bus settled into the plant with room to turn, backup and park, the scale was evident. The Peoria-built mining trucks can be larger than a 3,000-square-foot 2-story house, explains Jim Mathis, manufacturing operations general manager-Peoria. The biggest stands about 26-feet tall with tires that weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
U.S. Representative Eric Sorenson joined company officials and AEM in celebrating the Komatsu workforce and explaining the importance of a global manufacturer in America’s heartland None of it was news to Pat Alwan, who was busy preparing the catered BBQ for the event. His lunch-spot, HQ is five miles away and has been family run since opening in 1957. He can rattle off the many Peoria-area manufacturers that keep his grills busy year-round. Some Komatsu employees greet him by name; and behind the grill, Gage Linn has yet another job supported by local manufacturers and their employees.
“Best people in the world,” says Pat Alwan. He would know.
At Komatsu, it’s truly the people who make the difference. Senior Vice President Dan Funcannon, who has spent the last 30 years of his career at Komatsu, expressed a similar sentiment: “Komatsu not only says it, but demonstrates every day that they really do care about their people.” As Komatsu in Peoria embarks on its next chapter with this groundbreaking, the company continues to build on a strong foundation of trust with both employees and the Peoria community—one that will sustain them for generations to come.
