Kubota Begins SVL75-3 Compact Track Loader Production in Kansas

Kubota North America is adding to its investment commitment in the U.S. and the continent as a whole, officials say, with an expansion of its construction equipment manufacturing presence.

Now producing its SVL75-3 compact track loader at Great Plains Manufacturing in Salina, Kansas, the Grapevine, Texas-based arm of Kubota celebrated the expansion Aug. 18. The company says the compact track loader, currently the top-selling machine of its kind in the U.S., will be assembled on the same line as the SVL65-2 at Great Plains, operating on a mixed model manufacturing approach.

Todd Stucke, president of Kubota North America, says the expansion is about serving not only Kubota customers, but its dealership network all across the U.S.

“By increasing output of America’s #1-selling compact track loader from our Kansas operations, we’re strengthening our ability to meet customer demand faster and more efficiently,” he says. “This is how we are investing in American infrastructure and in the future of our company, by bringing manufacturing facilities closer to the people who depend on Kubota equipment every day. It reinforces our leadership position and our commitment to the communities we serve.”

The manufacturing expansion not only reinforces Kubota’s investments in North America, but it strengthens its overall domestic supply chain across the continent.

The company says its recent manufacturing footprint expansions are “strategically synergistic” for the firm, as it continues to grow in North America. The Salina-based Great Plains Manufacturing will one day be a construction equipment hub for the company, situated near the exact geographical center of the U.S.

Finding synergies

Brian Arnold, Kubota’s general manager of the North America Manufacturing Unit, says the bolstered manufacturing presence in North America has positioned the company for not only steady growth, but market leadership in the coming years.

“This newly expanded production line at Great Plains in Salina represents the best of Kubota manufacturing processes, utilizing skilled craftsmanship, operational excellence, and precision engineering,” he says. “Our Kansas-based team takes pride in providing equipment that’s trusted by our customers across the country, and this expansion allows us to advance our capabilities and deliver the quality and consistency our customers expect.”

Kubota has also announced major investments in Salina’s construction equipment infrastructure, representatives say. The company’s total investment in the area includes about $300 million over the past few years.

The past decade has been eventful for Kubota’s U.S. manufacturing processes, kicking off with the development of construction machinery attachments in 2016. Five years later, the company would establish its Construction Equipment Research and Development North America (CERDNA) facility.

Now, Kubota aims to strengthen its manufacturing footprint both in Kansas and northern Georgia, where its headquarters sits.

“Kansas is home to a highly skilled workforce and robust manufacturing industry, and the continued investments in our state from global businesses are a testament to that,” says U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. “Kubota’s expansion at Great Plains will bring more skilled jobs to Salina and reinforce Kansas as a hub for equipment innovation.

“I’m pleased by Kubota’s decision to grow its presence in Kansas, and I look forward to the positive impact that this expansion will have for our economy and the local community.”