Kubota breaks ground on Kansas construction equipment test center

Kubota has broken ground on a new construction equipment test center in Salina, Kansas, marking a $30 million investment in its compact construction business.

The company said the 57,000-square-foot facility will expand its U.S.-based research and development capabilities and support its construction equipment lineup by accelerating development cycles and improving field-validated performance.

“This investment reflects Kubota’s confidence in the North American construction market and our commitment to engineering machines that are built for the realities of North American jobsites,” said Brian Arnold, general manager of Kubota’s North America Manufacturing Unit. “Bringing expanded testing and validation capabilities to the U.S. strengthens our supply chain, accelerates development, and ensures we deliver high performing compact equipment our customers can count on, supported by a strong dealer network focused on service, parts availability, and keeping customers productive on the job.”

Kubota established its Construction Equipment Research and Development North America operation in Salina in 2021 to bring engineering, testing and validation activities closer to customers.

The new facility will be designed by Great Plains Manufacturing, a Kubota subsidiary, and is intended to support performance, durability and reliability testing under controlled conditions that replicate real-world applications, the company said.

“This expansion is a clear statement of Kubota’s long-term commitment to investing in America and growing our compact construction business here,” said Todd Stucke, president of Kubota North America. “Kansas has been a strong partner, and the Salina facility will play a critical role as we continue to expand our construction equipment portfolio and support customers across North America.”