A Booming Plant Opening

Anytime a farm equipment manufacturer opens a new facility, it is a big deal. The company has spent millions of dollars on construction, local governments have done everything they can to smooth the way for new jobs, and dealers and customers have expectations of getting equipment fresh off the line of a spanking new facility. The April grand opening of the new Kubota tractor assembly plant in Jefferson, Ga., was no exception. But it was unusual.

Kubota stuck with Japanese tradition ... in this case, a very loud tradition. Six drummers opened the ceremonies by pounding away on huge drums and filling a corner of the new factory with bone-vibrating rhythm. A group named Matsuriza, based in Walt Disney’s Epcot Theme Park, attacked the Taiko drums, which are ceremony staples in Japan. At 10 in the morning, it was an eye-opener.

Then came the customary lineup of speakers. From Japan, Chairman, CEO of Kubota Corporation Yasuo Masumoto and Kubota Industrial Equipment President Henry Kubota. From Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal and the Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner.

Different styles. The Japanese don’t cut ribbons, they break open sake barrels, which—for a celebration—somehow seems more appropriate than wielding big scissors. Two groups of dignitaries at the Kubota plant stood around sake barrels with large wooden mallets in their hands. At the count of three, they banged the barrels, smashing the lids. The tradition in Japan requires the contents of the barrels to then be enjoyed. In Georgia—before noon—the celebration was more temperate.

This really was a major event for Kubota. The new assembly plant will allow the company, for the first time, to produce L-Series compact tractors (30 to 50 hp) in the U.S. for distribution here and in Canada.

Kubota opened its first North American assembly plant in 1988 in the north Georgia city of Gainesville. That plant now makes subcompact tractors and Kubota’s RTV utility vehicles. In 2006, the company opened its second U.S. plant, which makes implements and is located on the same 88-acre facility in Jefferson as the new facility.

State of the art. Efficiency is a watchword in every aspect at the new plant. The state-of-the-art paint shop has a water-purification system that is so efficient, 70% of the water that comes out of the shop goes back to be used again and again. Robots do 70% of the welds. Workers with iPads do quality checks and wirelessly send reports to large monitors so supervisors can follow progress every step of the way.

The 522,000-square-foot plant is up and running. But more work is needed before it produces its capacity of up to 22,000 tractors annually. Another 100 workers will soon join the current 100 employees. Expansion space is available.

One last traditional Japanese touch: The tour completed, grand opening guests headed for a celebratory lunch that included sushi. To tap into Georgia tradition, grits and sliders also were on the menu.

(BAS)

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