Case Construction Equipment, RPM Machinery, Southeastern Equipment, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County and Team Rubicon teamed up for a heavy equipment operator training and socioeconomic improvement project—named Operation Fearless Mary—in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood of Grand Rapids, Mich. RPM Machinery and Southeastern Equipment donated the use of several skid-steers and excavators, while Team Rubicon brought in 72 volunteers and 20 new members from across the U.S. for the operation.
Slated for completion in 2022, the comprehensive renewal project required the removal of approximately 7 million pounds of debris, and upon completion will include single- and multifamily homes, retail, green space as well as a new high school that will house more than 500 students from the local community.
Kubota Tractor Corp. plans to purchase 203 acres near the company’s current leased facility in Edgerton, Kan., for its North American Distribution Center (NADC). The company plans to design and build two, 1 million square foot facilities to expand its distribution capacity and streamline logistics processes.
“After more than two years of operating in Kansas with such positive results, we are now confident about building more infrastructure here,” said Masato Yoshikawa, president and CEO of Kubota Tractor Corp. “We’ve had access to an excellent workforce in the area and we’ve built a quality team; together, we’ve achieved operational efficiencies to better serve our dealers and customers and we remain committed to growing and expanding to ensure we are equipped to support Kubota’s continued Midwest growth and overall North American expansion.”
In addition to the logistics facilities, Kubota will establish a fifth operational division and sales office in Edgerton. The new Midwest Division office will reside within the same complex as the parts and whole-good operations. Mike Jacobson, a 17-year Kubota veteran, will become director and division manager of this new division effective Jan. 1 and will lead the company’s efforts to expand its product offerings and markets in the Midwest.
Kubota’s NADC will continue to receive and process shipments from Asia and Europe, in addition to a number of daily truckloads of goods from suppliers in North America. It will continue to be the worldwide source for many Kubota parts, which will be exported globally.
Doosan Bobcat North America donated seven Bobcat machines to four regional vocational schools for their service technician training programs.
Multiple pieces of Bobcat equipment, including compact track loaders, compact excavators, all-wheel steer loaders and VersaHANDLER telescopic tool carriers, were delivered to Conestoga College in Guelph, Ontario; Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wis.; Minnesota State Community & Technical College in Moorhead, Minn.; and State University of New York in Cobleskill, N.Y.
The training programs provide instruction for service technicians and students on how to troubleshoot, service, repair and rebuild compact equipment and learn advanced equipment technologies.
Briggs & Stratton Corp. will move production of its V-Twin Vanguard engines from a joint venture partnership in Japan to its existing manufacturing facilities in Statesboro, Ga., and Auburn, Ala. The increased production in North America will create approximately 50 new jobs at each of the facilities.
“Moving production of the Vanguard Small and Big Block V-Twin engines to the U.S. is another step in the execution of our commercial growth strategy,” said David Rodgers, senior vice president and president, Global Engines & Power. “We see this as a strategic competitive advantage because we can manufacture closer to our customers in the U.S., resulting in faster production times and faster shipping.”
Production of V-Twin Vanguard engines in the company’s U.S. plants is expected to be phased in beginning in the middle of 2018 through the middle of 2019.
Driven Landscapes Franchising awarded a new franchise territory to firefighter Josh Schultz of Naperville, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago.
Prior to becoming a firefighter, Schultz worked at a local garden center and then for a tree service company. Part of his decision to get back into the green industry was based
on a desire to build a business he can someday share with his two sons, the company said in a recent release.
“My goal is to build a self-sustaining business that can run without me having to manage every detail, every day,” Shultz said. “I want to build something strong that can support
my family, and still allow me to spend time with them. With the Driven Landscapes systems, and with coaching from Jon, I know I can get there.”
Schultz’s franchise will begin operations this month, serving Naperville and the surrounding towns.
Photo: Case Construction
