Firm leads way with excavators

NORTH East factory workers are to build new world-leading excavators for construction industry giant Komatsu.

- TOM KEIGHLEY

The firm's UK operation, based at Birtley, will produce two new models it says are already prompting high customer interest. Teams at the Tyneside plant will make the new eco-friendly PC220LC-12 and PC220LCi-12 excavators, which are said to offer extreme fuel efficiency, ultra-low emissions, enhanced performance and the highest levels of digitalisation of any excavator.

Stuart Reid, managing director of Komatsu UK, said: “I'm delighted to secure manufacture of these incredible new excavators for Birtley, which has a proud, three-decade history of delivering the best machines on the market. The next generation PC220LC and LCi-12 excavators have market leading features, and we are excited to be launching them onto the European market. Initial customer interest is very high, and we will be working hard in the coming months to meet the initial demand.”