Toyota celebrates 25 years of manufacturing excellence in Indiana
Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), the Indiana-based company responsible for buildingToyota brand forklifts, commemorated the manufacturing plant’s 25 years of operations in the U.S.A. The event, which was attended by Toyota’s 1,500-plus associates and Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence, highlighted the company’s further investment in the community with multi-million dollar plans to expand the TIEM campus. In addition, Toyota announced its partnership with the Columbus Express Soccer Club to sponsor a new local indoor soccer facility to be named the Toyota Industrial Equipment Soccer Pavilion.
“Toyota’s 25th anniversary manufacturing forklifts in the U.S. couldn’t have happened without our suppliers, customers, dealers and all of the Toyota associates who have helped along the way,” said Brett Wood, president and CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America. “We are proud to call Columbus, Indiana, the home of Toyota Forklifts.”
Looking ahead, Toyota recently announced a new $16 million dollar expansion and building renovation. The 50,600-square-foot addition will increase the total facility to 1.1 million square feet of manufacturing and support space. The new building and renovation will provide room to support human development activities, new manufacturing technology development, and new product development, along with the company’s Vision 2020 strategic initiatives. The expansion includes a two-story office building, a new cafeteria, a new storm shelter & locker room and expansion space for Toyota’s on-site medical center for associates and their families. The new building will also serve as headquarters for Toyota Material Handling North America, the North American division of Toyota Material Handling Group.