A subsidiary of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, one of the largest manufacturers of machinery in Japan, Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America will make a multi-million dollar investment in new machinery at its manufacturing operation in Augusta County, Virginia.

The company recently built a new 72,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its former Mill Place Commerce Park location that will serve as SMA’s new Gearbox Center of Excellence. The company will purchase new 10-and 20-ton overhead cranes, a new paint booth, a washer/deburrer, an automatic storage retrieval system, and new assembly workstations.

“Since SMA established a presence in Augusta County back in 2013, we have found a hard-working and dedicated workforce,” said Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America CEO Jim Solomon.

“The quality of life available in the Verona area allowed for the smooth transfer of several employees from our Chesapeake headquarters, and has helped to attract a number of additional skilled employees, resulting in a 35% increase in total staff to date,” Solomon said.

“Additionally, with the help of the InterChange Group, this investment further strengthens our commitment to the Shenandoah Valley and our commitment to re-shore manufacturing in the U.S. This new, modernized and carefully designed assembly and light manufacturing facility will allow us to continue to meet the needs of our diverse customer base, both now and in the future,” he explained.

The company will receive funding from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program to support the retraining of 34 existing employees on the new equipment, processes, and certifications.

Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America is currently participating in VEDP’s award-winning Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program. VALET is an application-based, two-year international export acceleration program.

“Sumitomo is a longtime, valuable corporate partner to the Commonwealth, and we are glad this global company has chosen to reinvest in Augusta County and Virginia,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “Companies in the Shenandoah Valley benefit from the region’s skilled manufacturing workforce, unmatched infrastructure, and access to major interstates. I am confident Sumitomo will continue to be successful in Augusta County.”

“As a locality with a significant portion of its workforce in manufacturing, supporting companies such as Sumitomo Machinery Corporation (operating as Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Verona) is a high priority,” said Chairman of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors Gerald Garber. “Sumitomo continues to be a strong partner in strengthening our economy, and we congratulate the company on its forward thinking in opening the Gearbox Center of Excellence.”