Japanese Machinery Company Adds 200 Jobs in Bartow County

August 15, 2007, ATLANTA —Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Japanese machinery company Yanmar American Corp. will more than double the size of its Adairsville plant, adding up to 200 jobs and investing $20 million.
The company broke ground earlier this summer on a 240,000 square foot facility in Bartow County on 70 acres. The company already has a 220,000 square foot facility in place. The combined plant and office complex will house Yanmar Marine USA Inc., Yanmar Agricultural Machinery America, Inc. and the Yanmar Construction Equipment Group. Completion is scheduled in late 2007.

"It's a great sign for manufacturing in Georgia when an internationally known company such as Yanmar chooses Georgia as its U.S. headquarters," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "It shows that our workforce is strong and our business climate is second to none."

Yanmar currently produces marine diesel engines as well as small V-twin industrial engines at the existing Adairsville plant. The new facility will assemble agricultural utility tractors and a wide variety of Yanmar's compact construction equipment. It will also provide new office space for all of Yanmar's operating groups.

'The tractor and construction equipment assembly lines represent the first steps in the expansion plans of Yanmar in North America,' said Yanmar America President Akihiko Nakaoka. 'We plan to make Adairsville, Georgia the new base for our North American operations, which will also include a service parts distribution center and office complex.'

'As a manufacturer looking to significantly increase production and distribution activities in the U.S., the willingness of Bartow County officials to increase the Freeport tax exemption was a critical factor in our determination to expand our presence in Adairsville,' Nakaoka said.

Bartow County officials heralded Yanmar's expansion.

'We are proud that Yanmar will expand its operations and continue to invest in Bartow County,' said Clarence Brown, Bartow County Commissioner. 'We hope increasing the Freeport Tax Exemption will lead others to follow in Yanmar's footsteps.'

Yanmar is a global supplier of fuel efficient diesel engines for marine, industrial and agricultural applications as well as agricultural machinery, construction equipment, industrial transmissions, and more. Yanmar pioneered the world's first practical small diesel engine in 1933. The company was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan.