Kubota Industrial Equipment Opens New Manufacturing Plant

Kubota Corp. expanded its business operations with the opening of the Kubota
Industrial Equipment (KIE) manufacturing facility in Jefferson, Ga. Initially,
this new facility will employ about 500 people, with approximately 70,000
tractor implements to be produced annually by KIE once it is fully operational.
Daisuke Hatakake, president of Kubota Corp, and Hank Kawasaki, president of KIE
Corp., welcomed local, county and state officials, as well as international
guests to an open house Feb. 10 to celebrate the opening of the new
400,000-sq-ft facility.

“With U.S. sales having surpassed a total of 1 million units, we anticipate
continued growth in Kubota tractor and product sales,” Hatakake said. “Kubota
Industrial Equipment, our newest manufacturing plant, is a world-class operation
that will help us meet increasing dealer and customer demands for high-quality
Kubota products.”

“Kubota’s tractor business has grown significantly in the United States since
we established Kubota Manufacturing of America [KMA] in Gainesville, Ga., in
1988,” added Kawasaki. “Initially, this KIE plant will manufacture tractor
implements such as loaders and backhoes, which will complement KMA’s production
of subcompact BX Series tractors, lawn and garden tractors, zero-turn mowers and
the new RTV900 utility vehicle. KIE will use a foundation of excellent
employees, an excellent community and excellent products to satisfy customer
needs.”

The mayor of Jefferson, Ga., Jim Joiner, led a group of area dignitaries who
spoke to the audience about the importance of the new KIE facility.

“We’re pleased that the first commercial resident calling our new industrial
park home is Kubota, a company that is known to be a good corporate citizen and
a friend to the environment,” Joiner said. “KIE has made a tremendous economic
impact on Jackson County and will contribute to our city in a positive manner.
We’ll be a good community to you, as you are a good citizen to us.”