Great Plains Manufacturing, in partnership with Kubota, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Salina, Kansas. The first Kubota machines off the line will be SVL65 compact track loaders, which had been manufactured in Japan.
The Construction Equipment Facility is part of a $53 million expansion for Great Plains that includes the renovation of an existing 750,000-square-foot facility.
“The grand opening of our new CE Facility is a major step in growing as a manufacturing hub for Kubota construction equipment with investments totaling over $178 million through 2024,” said Linda Salem, president/CEO of Great Plains Mfg., in a prepared statement.
Employment at the will reach 190 people by the end of 2022, according to Salem, with further plans to grow to more than 900 employees.
Phase I of the project, including mass production of the Kubota SVL65 CTLs, was completed earlier this year. The Phase II expansion of the CE Facility will be a $124 million investment that will include the installation of an automotive-grade eco-paint system with two paint lines: one for powder and the other for liquid applications. Expanded welding, assembly, and fabrication areas, and the construction of a building addition will increase production capacity and bring more jobs to the Salina community. Phase II is expected to be up and running by mid-2024, adding about 200 more jobs to the area.
As the project nears completion, other types of Kubota construction equipment will be produced at the CE Facility.
Source: Great Plains Mfg.
