Japanese heavy machinery manufacturer Takeuchi Manufacturing survived the COVID-19 pandemic because of the importance of its products.
“We are classified as an essential business because we provided a lot of equipment to utility sector, septic tank installation, and plumbing industry. So, we stayed working the entire time,” explained Takeuchi Mfg. U.S. President Jeff Stewart.
Takeuchi believes that having a fully-American managed company provides an advantage to them because the team possesses a complete understanding of the U.S. market and can connect more closely with their customers.
As the United States accounts for 90% of all track loader products purchased, Takeuchi decided to bring production closer to its customers. The company has since expanded across the Southeast. This year, it opened its first production facility in Moore, South Carolina, after having previously opened three others in Jackson County, Georgia.
“South Carolina was a great fit for us being only an hour and 45 minutes up the road. It gives us very easy access. It is also very easy for our suppliers and trucks to get in and out. It just was a win for us to purchase that facility. New production facilities, building costs, and land are quite expensive in Japan, but we are able to lower those costs here in the U.S. by buying the [South Carolina] facility,” Stewart explained.
In September, the South Carolina facility made history by manufacturing the first Takeuchi track loaders outside Japan.
The U.S. subsidiary, according to Stewart, is Takeuchi Japan’s largest customer and accounts for more than 50% of global sales and revenue.
