Tadano completes factory trio
18 March 2008
In Japan Tadano has opened its new truck loader crane manufacturing plant in Tadotsu.
Construction work at the site started in June 2006 as part of the company's Yen 11.5 billion (US$97 million) reorganisation of domestic facilities to create a trio of factories. A range of cranes are now being produced at Tadano's Shido plant, while the company's Takamatsu site specialises in aerial work platforms.
In late July, 130 employees and customers joined company president Koichi Tadano, along with the Tadotsu town mayor, to unveil the first crane from the new 20,715 square metre plant, before full-scale production got underway. Ninety workers are employed at the site, which has the capacity to produce about 900 units a month.
A company spokesperson said the factory would provide an integrated production system incorporating the latest laser cutting technology, robotic welding and cat ion-electrodeposited painting, along with an automated warehouse with multi-storey racking.
“Tadano invested and will continue to invest a total of approximately Yen 11.5 billion over the three years from 2005 through 2008 in the refurbishment of an improved production system to boost output. Its goals are to raise the production of the mainstay construction cranes by over 50% in the targeted year 2008 compared with the year 2004,” the spokesperson added.