Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) recently announced a new $16-million expansion and building renovation at its forklift manufacturing plant in Columbus, Indiana. The 50,600-square-foot addition will increase the total facility to 1.1 million square feet of manufacturing and support space.
Toyota plans to expand its new product development capability in the United States to improve support for the North American market. The new building and renovation will support the company's strategic initiatives along with human development activities, new manufacturing technology development and product development.
The expansion includes a two-story office building, cafeteria, storm shelter, locker room and expansion space for Toyota's onsite medical center for associates and their families. The new building will also serve as headquarters for Toyota Material Handling North America.
"To achieve our long-term vision and goals, we are investing in our people and our manufacturing and support space," said Tony Miller, senior vice president at TIEM. "This expansion represents Toyota's commitment to its associates, customers and the Columbus, Indiana, community."
Over the past 25 years, Toyota associates have built more than 500,000 forklifts, with the majority of all Toyota forklifts sold in North America produced at TIEM.
The company will hold a ground-breaking ceremony in September 2015 and a grand-opening ceremony when construction is complete in 2016.
For more information, visit www.ToyotaForklifts.com.