Komatsu Opens Oyama Technical Center : Integrating its development capability, a virtual reality room and the Parts HANSEI (sales and production planning) Operation Center

Komatsu Ltd. (President and CEO: Tetsuji Ohashi) (hereinafter "Komatsu") has opened the Oyama Technical Center on the premises of the Oyama Plant, one of Komatsu's main plants in Japan. 
The new technical center accommodates the development capability of Oyama Plant-made components, such as engines, axels and hydraulic equipment, that of vehicle bodies of Tochigi Plant-made forklift trucks and mini construction equipment, and administrative operations of the Oyama Plant. By integrating the development capabilities of different components and those of components and vehicle bodies, Komatsu has strengthened its ability to develop and introduce higher value-added products in a shorter period of time. 
In a new virtual reality room, Komatsu has introduced the system which enables virtual evaluations, during the design stage, of ease of assembling, serviceability, visibility (including upper direction), designability, fabrication and other factors. By using this virtual reality system, Komatsu is better positioned to shorten lead-time for designing key components and vehicle bodies and to improve design quality. 
Komatsu has also expanded the functions of the Parts HANSEI Operation Center. By monitoring the spare parts systems of spare parts distribution centers around the world, Komatsu has improved the accuracy of predicting demand for parts, and sales, production and inventory planning. Komatsu has thus enhanced the quality of customer service through optimal allocation of parts and strengthened its operations designed to cut down parts inventories. 
With respect to energy savings, the new technical center is equipped with leading-edge technologies of solar radiation controls by means of eco-friendly louvers and of natural ventilation by means of eco voids. For this new technical center, Komatsu is working to reduce the purchase of electricity to half from FY2010.
Komatsu is striving for growth by offering innovation designed to create new value for its customers, and is going to further enhance its competitive advantage with this new Center.