Construction has officially commenced on Toyota Material Handling’s new manufacturing facility in Columbus, Indiana, US.
Indiana governor Eric Holcomb and representatives from Toyota Material Handling, alongside local officials, attended the ground-breaking ceremony.
The project will see the construction of a 295,000ft² facility that will specialise in the production of electric forklifts.
In addition, this nearly $100m facility is expected to create 85 new jobs, as well as retain the company's current workforce of 1,883.
Toyota Material Handling North America president and CEO and Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) senior executive officer Brett Wood said: “Electric forklifts make up 65% of the North American market and this trend towards electrification in the material handling industry will continue to grow.
“We hope this announcement shows our industry-leading dealer network and our customers that we are a proactive company, not a reactive one. We do not just plan for next week or next year - we’re preparing for the next decade, and this new initiative perfectly represents our commitment to that strategy.
Upon completion, the company's campus in Columbus will have expanded to nearly 1.8 million square feet, a more than sixfold increase since the opening of the original facility in 1990.
Throughout its 34-year history in Columbus, Toyota Material Handling, a part of TICO, has undertaken more than 15 expansions, totalling an investment exceeding $400m.
