KOMATSU AUSTRALIA APPOINTS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR

The board of directors of Komatsu Australia Pty Ltd today announced the appointment of Sean Taylor as managing director.

Mr Taylor, who has been general manager of the company's construction and utility division for the past seven years, has more than 25 years' experience in the earthmoving and construction industry.

According to the board of Komatsu Australia, his appointment comes at a pivotal time for Komatsu in this region and reflects the depth of capability within the company's local management team.

Mr Taylor assumes all the responsibilities held by the company's outgoing president Bill Pike, who has resigned to pursue other challenges.

Mr Taylor brings a customer-focused approach and extensive industry background to the role, making him ideally qualified to guide the company through a period of rapid growth over the coming years.

"I am very pleased to accept this promotion and appreciate the confidence shown in me by our shareholders," he said.

"I would like to assure all of our valued customers that my central focus will be to meet and exceed your expectations. Naturally, I am totally reliant on over 1600 extremely talented managers, employees and contractors. Only by maximising the teamwork and synergies of all Komatsu employees, external suppliers and importantly Komatsu manufacturing capabilities in Australia and overseas, can we meet the incredible growth challenges we are likely to face in Australia,"

Mr Taylor said.

The appointment comes just months before the launch of the Komatsu HB205 Hybrid Excavator - the first production hybrid excavator in the world.

"The Hybrid Excavator is just the latest advanced product to reach the market as a result of Komatsu's heavy investment in research and development," Mr Taylor said.

"It represents a step-change in the heavy-equipment industry with the potential to deliver substantial running-cost savings for customers and reduced emissions."

Last year Komatsu launched the world's first hybrid forklift. Komatsu is also the Australian market leader in the electric mining dump truck market.

Globally, Komatsu spends about $1.7 million every day in R&D to ensure it remains at the forefront of delivering innovative products.

Komatsu Ltd is a world-leading heavy equipment machinery supplier, with 40,000 employees and an annual turnover in 2009-10 of US$15.4 billion.

Komatsu Australia supplies equipment for mining, construction, forestry and most other material handling industries across Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. It employs more than 1600 people working from 41 sales and service facilities - making it Australia's largest national

dealer network.