Executives have broken ground for a new Toyota Material Handling headquarters at its manufacturing facility in Columbus, Indiana. On December 4, Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. began the multi-million dollar 21,400 square foot expansion to the campus of Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg Inc., where most Toyota lift trucks sold in North America are built. Upon completion in 2013, the new offices and conference spaces will serve over 170 associates.
The groundbreaking continues the execution of a strategic initiative – announced by Toyota in April – to centralize marketing and sales with manufacturing in one location. The current office of Toyota Material Handling is physically connected to the manufacturing plant, but the new combined campus will provide over 1 million square feet of space and house 1,000 Toyota associates working in manufacturing and support.
The Columbus plant can manufacture industrial equipment including 3-wheel and 4-wheel electric lift trucks, internal combustion cushion tire and pneumatic tire lift trucks, diesel tow tractors and DC/AC inverter assemblies for the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg Inc. associates watched the first lift truck roll off the line 20 years ago after T.I.E.M. became the first Toyota lift truck plant outside Japan in 1990. Since then, T.I.E.M. associates have built more than 400,000 lift trucks as Toyota’s industry-leading design quality and manufacturing capabilities have led to steady growth in the North American market.
In 1990 the lift truck plant was under one roof and covered about seven acres. After 12 expansions, the 1 million square feet of facilities will now sit on 126 acres. The campus includes a National Customer Center, manufacturing operations, a training center, and equipment and service parts distribution centers.
Toyota Industrial Equipment has over 70 authorized dealers and over 220 dealership locations throughout North America, providing one-stop shopping for both new and used lift trucks, comprehensive customer service and support, lift truck rentals, parts and service, fleet servicing and financing.