Sakai celebrates North America milestones

Compaction equipment specialist Sakai America, Inc., a subsidiary of Sakai Heavy Industries, has announced two major historical milestones this year: its 50th anniversary of operations in North America and its 25th anniversary of manufacturing in the United States.

Sakai America employees pose for a group photo inside the Adairsville, Ga., factory with leadership from Japan. Pictured in front center: Ichiro Sakai (blue tie), president of Sakai Heavy Industries, and Chris Takara (red tie), executive officer & GM Corp. Strategy Office. (Photo: Sakai America)

Parent company Sakai Heavy Industries, which has been producing road construction machinery in Japan since 1918, first sought to enter the North American market in 1976 with a rubber-tired milling machine. Recognizing that successfully introducing this specialized equipment required dedicated local support, the company established Sakai America, which signed its first dealer, Arkansas-based Clark Machinery, in 1977, a partnership that continues to this day. The subsidiary currently has a network of 41 dealers spanning 199 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

In 2001, Sakai America opened its U.S. manufacturing facility in Adairsville, Ga. The first machine to roll off the assembly line – an 84-in. SV510D smooth drum soil compactor – was purchased by local contractor Fox & Brindle, who still owns and operates the machine today. More than half of all Sakai machines sold in the North American market are now built at the Adairsville facility.

“For the last 25 years, we have taken immense pride in building machines right here in Adairsville,” said Wes Shepherd, vice president of Operations, Sakai America. “Manufacturing in the USA allows us to provide excellent jobs for our local workforce and generate significant economic benefits for our local and American component suppliers. It also enables us to respond swiftly and flexibly to the dynamic needs of the North American asphalt paving and site work markets.”

“Reaching half a century in North America is first and foremost a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible employees, as well as the enduring trust our dealer network and contractors have placed in Sakai equipment,” said Yasunori Azumi, president of Sakai America. “We are incredibly proud of our long history in this market and remain fully dedicated to supporting the infrastructure and development of this region for many decades to come.”

To commemorate the dual anniversaries, Sakai America hosted a special celebration event on September 1st at the Adairsville headquarters. The event brought together team members as well as Sakai Heavy Industries global President, Mr. Ichiro Sakai, his son-in-law and next-generation leader Chris Takara (Executive Office & GM Corp. Strategy), local and state leaders, fellow Japanese manufacturing presidents from the region, key suppliers and valued dealer partners.

As the company looks toward the future, it said it will continue to innovate its product lines, expand its dealer footprint and shift even more if its production from Japan to the USA.