Kubota named state Manufacturer of the Year

MARIETTA - In 2002, Kubota Manufacturing of America in Gainesville was the bridesmaid for a prestigious state award. This year, they became the bride.

KMA was named the Georgia Large Manufacturer of the Year Thursday by Governor Sonny Perdue. It is the first-ever Hall County business to win the award.

KMA as Georgia manufacturing standout for 2002 is the result of its nomination by Lanier Technical College and was elected from among more than 100 other nominees.

"Education and community involvement had as much to do with us winning this award than profits and the quality of our product did," KMA Vice President Mike Vincent said. "We're working with Lanier Tech on a Certified Manufacturing Specialist Program through Lanier to train our people. The people of Gainesville are the best you can find to work with.

"(The state) looks at things like community involvement, commitment to education, and we had the Georgia Quick Start Program come here to teach people how to weld and other things like that."

"This is an important achievement for Kubota and recognizes our manufacturing excellence. We promise to continue to strive to be a high performance company that merits this award. We will continue to support our community and our customers at a very high level," KMA President John Shiraishi said.

KMA manufactures and assembles Kubota lawn tractors, zero turn mowers, sub-compact tractors, and implements including loaders and backhoes.

The Gainesville plant encompasses two buildings with 616,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities, on 151 acres with over 1200 employees.

KMA ships assembled equipment and parts across the United States and internationally. Today one-third of all Kubota branded products sold in United States is manufactured or assembled in Georgia.

"Our state's ability to attract and maintain high quality manufacturers, like KMA, is a testament to our economic success. I am pleased to recognize Kubota for its ongoing investment in our people, our economy and economic development," said Gov. Perdue.