Business
10 November, 2026
Three hundred Komatsu jobs go in ‘strategic reset’
One of the region’s largest employers will close its doors as part of a ‘strategic reset’ with the loss of almost 300 jobs.
One of the region’s largest employers will close its doors as part of a ‘strategic reset’ with the loss of almost 300 jobs.
Komatsu Mining’s Australian underground division – Underground Soft Rock Australasia – announced today (Tuesday) that it will close its Moss Vale facility as part of a restructuring of its Australian operations.
The site currently employs approximately 265 people, with roles expected to be impacted progressively over the next four years.
The phased closure is expected to be completed by 2030.
Underground Soft Rock Australasia vice president Helen Gibson said the decision had been made based on a need to “simplify operations and respond to changes in the Australian market and customer requirements”.
She said she appreciated it was a “difficult announcement for our Moss Vale employees” but went on to talk up the “new activity and investment” at the company’s two other sites in Rutherford (NSW) and Rockhampton (Qld).
She said the news had been delivered to employees at all three sites through simultaneous briefings attended by senior leadership.
A job loss of this magnitude – even staged – is likely to have a significant impact on the local community.
“We have deliberately planned a transition over several years to give our people time to consider their options and access the support available to them,” Ms Gibson said.
“Our employees were among the first to know and, importantly, there will be no immediate changes for them.
“We are committed to a respectful process and have developed a support package to help our staff explore new opportunities, seek retraining or education and potentially secure alternative positions within our business.”
Those positions will obviously involve relocation.
Ms Gibson said work would be progressively transferred to Rutherford and Rockhampton over the next four years.
Selected fabrication and machining activities would be outsourced to Australian suppliers.
Moss Vale’s loss will be Rutherford and Rockhampton’s gain.
Ms Gibson said Rutherford would expand its electrical, overhaul and rebuild capabilities, while Rockhampton would take on additional gearbox, rebuild and final assembly work.
“Bringing related activities together is intended to reduce operational complexity and support more consistent processes across the remaining facilities.”
Moss Vale will continue operating during the staged transition, with existing customer work expected to proceed as scheduled and future work progressively directed to the other facilities. The staged approach is designed to protect continuity of service while the business transitions to the new operating model.
“This is part of a bigger strategic reset designed to strengthen our Australian underground division,” Ms Gibson said.
“Komatsu Mining’s underground division remains committed to the Australian industry and we need to simplify our operations to remain sustainable over the long term.
“As market conditions and customer requirements evolve, we need to be more agile, more efficient and better able to respond quickly to change,” Ms Gibson said.
“We are changing how and where we undertake certain activities, with work progressively transferring to our other facilities.
“We are also investing in the facilities and partnerships that will allow us to continue supporting customers in Australia.
“Throughout the transition, protecting service continuity and quality will be central to our approach.”
Komatsu Mining’s underground division will continue direct consultation with employees and will engage with unions, customers and suppliers throughout the transition.
While some people have been quick to point the finger of blame at the Federal Government, local resident Ingrid Skirka said decisions like these stemmed from global corporate strategy driven out of Tokyo – not Australian political parties.
“Pinning it on political divides ignores international business realities and shifts the focus away from supporting the 300 local workers and families navigating a really challenging transition,” she said.
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