November 21, 2017 - In a move that will accelerate new product development and expand testing capabilities for its industry-leading electric drive solutions, Komatsu today broke ground on a new 23,000-square-foot power lab facility.  

The $6 million state-of-the-art research and development facility will be the new home of the company’s existing electric power systems team and pivotal in moving the company’s electric drive technology for mining equipment forward through new product development, testing and manufacturing.  

Komatsu creates some of the most energy efficient mining equipment in the world thanks to its advancements in electric drive line solutions that capture energy through the braking cycle and apply it back to the operating cycle for improved performance and reduced fuel consumption. The company’s proprietary SR Hybrid Drive technology and Kinetic Energy Storage System (KESS) have been proven to reduce overall fuel consumption by 30% and supplement engine power by more than 50% to improve machine acceleration, reduce the effects of engine turbo lag and dramatically improve machine cycle times. 

With the expanded capabilities of the new power lab, the company will accelerate its development of electric drive products that reduce impact on the environment through deep energy storage solutions that further reduce emissions.  

“The application of these electric drive solutions creates some of the highest performance shovels, loaders and underground equipment in the mining space,” said Rod Bull, Vice President and General Manager - Loader Products for Komatsu in Longview. “We are excited to be developing this new facility in an area key to Komatsu’s manufacturing and design operations, ensuring our teams will continue contributing to Komatsu’s culture of innovation worldwide.” 

To learn more about Komatsu’s mining offerings, visit www.mining.komatsu.