KOMATSU Machinery Manufacturing (Shandong) Co., Ltd. officially commenced operations at its new facility in the Jining High-tech Zone on June 5, 2026. With a total investment of approximately RMB 10.6 billion and covering an area of 2,000 mu (about 133 hectares), the new plant represents a major upgrade to KOMATSU's production footprint in China.   The facility will serve as the sole production base in China for KOMATSU's full range of hydraulic excavators from 5T to 60T models and HD1500 heavy-duty mining trucks. It is positioned to undertake component production tasks accounting for 70% of KOMATSU's global manufacturing capacity. The technology platform for hydraulic excavators will be upgraded from PC-8 to PC-11, representing a leap across two generations.     The new plant features a fully digitalized manufacturing system with IoT technology, automated production lines, and AI-powered quality inspection systems. It has also introduced 11 supporting suppliers to establish an integrated "host + components" industrial park—a unique model for KOMATSU globally. This strategic move clearly signals KOMATSU's commitment to positioning its China operations as a global supply hub serving worldwide markets.  

Heavy summer rains have turned many construction sites across the region into muddy work zones. For excavator operators, the convenience of working through wet conditions comes with a hidden cost: accelerated undercarriage wear.   Industry maintenance data shows that mud and sludge left on track components overnight accelerate rust formation. What starts as surface oxidation quickly progresses into pitting and structural weakening of track links, rollers, and idlers. The result is a significantly shortened undercarriage service life and unplanned replacement costs that could have been prevented.     According to maintenance guidelines from major manufacturers including Kobelco and LiuGong, operators should clean mud and debris from the undercarriage at the end of each workday. Any rust spots found during cleaning should be sanded and touched up with rust-preventive paint immediately. This prevents moisture from seeping into metal surfaces during overnight storage.   The entire cleaning and inspection process takes approximately 10 minutes per machine, but the payoff is substantial—reducing corrosion-related wear and extending undercarriage life.