Over the next 18 months, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing will spend an estimated $200 million in capital and tooling for the Consumer Products Division. This investment will allow them to expand assembly, paint and welding lines in conjunction with automation.
Due to the low unemployment rate, Kawasaki will add automation to compete in the global market, skill up current employees and increase production output. They will also add over 550 full time employees that will support the consumer products expansion and the Rail Car 211 project. Employment opportunities will include fabrication, welding and assembly – primarily for the side by side products and rail car projects. KMM is excited for the growth of the company to have a positive impact on Lincoln and the surrounding community.
Since 1974, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. (KMM), a subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), has been a proud member of the Lincoln community. KMM began with the Consumer Products division where Jet Ski’s, Mules, ATVs, UTVs and RUVs are produced. In 2001, the Rail Car Division was added to make subway passenger cars for the East Coast. The Aerospace Division was added in 2017 to manufacture cargo doors for the Boeing 777X. Currently the facility covers approximately 2.4 million square feet and employs over 2400 employees.