Longtown-based Komatsu Forest UK has officially opened a new £4 million premises near Carlisle Airport.
The Japanese firm is the world’s second largest manufacturer of forestry, construction and mining equipment behind Caterpillar, and has a network of international satellite sales bases.
The new site near Carlisle Airport is the first premises to be owned by a Komatsu Forest sales company.
The £4 million investment project began in January 2023, with local firm Cubby Construction leading the build, alongside Carlisle-based Architects Plus and Donleys Chartered Quantity Surveyors.
The new site has been designed and built with the future in mind, offering more space and helping to improve Komatsu’s UK operations, as well as safeguarding 35 jobs.
The new two-storey, timber-clad office provides the current team a unique setting to work in, with room for future growth.
The workshop area has a modular design, with room for additional work-bays to be added as and when required.
Three machines can easily be housed at the same time in the main service bay, which is also equipped with a sophisticated exhaust fume extraction system, meaning that machines can be running inside without putting engineers’ health at risk.
The facility also has solar panels on the roof to improve energy efficiency, and electric car-charging points.
A celebration was held in September when the facility was officially opened by the Mayor of Carlisle, Abdul Harid and honoured guests from the Japanese Consulate Fujiwara san and Ishii san.
Stephen Bellas, Managing Director at Komatsu Forest UK Ltd, said: “Our investment in a new facility demonstrates our commitment to providing a sustainable business for the future of our employees and providing outstanding service to our customers throughout the UK.”
