Calhoun, Georgia-based Kobelco Construction Machinery America, a division of Japan-based Kobelco, and a manufacturer of excavators and construction equipment, has announced that it will suspend the production of all seven of its hydraulic excavator models at the company's Moore, South Carolina plant.
The decision to suspend production was directly due to the failure of the company's engine manufacturer, Tokyo-based Hino Motors, to obtain EPA certification for its engines.
This supply chain failure will impact approximately 75% of the company's or 102 workers commencing on May 1, 2021.
According to a company spokesperson, "After receiving this notice, we have been examining the impact on production and alternate solutions, but we have judged that the production of hydraulic excavators equipped with the relevant engines would be difficult and decided to suspend the production at the Spartanburg plant."
"The plant will stay open until a decision about the future of this facility is made. The suspension of production was not a local decision, rather a decision made by our headquarters in Japan."
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?