Yanmar celebrates centenary

Japanese manufacturer Yanmar is celebrating 100 years in business in 2012 with the development of a learning centre and a museum dedicated to its founder.

A global learning centre is being developed in Japan to educate the next generation of employees, develop product quality initiatives and provide training workshops. The centre follows the establishment of a research and development facility in Florence, Italy, which is currently involved in the development of environmental technologies.

The company, which specialises in the manufacture of diesel engines and compact equipment, has grown from a family-run business to a global company with a workforce of more than 15000.

A 3000 m2 museum will be built in Nagahama, the birthplace of Magokichi Yamaoka, who founded the company in 1912. The museum will open in 2013 and will provide first-hand experience of Yanmar's history, principles and values.

Yanmar has a sales network operating in more than 130 countries and now Yanmar diesel engines and equipment are designed and manufactured for a wide range of applications, including construction equipment and co-generation power systems

In Europe, Yanmar employs 700 people and generates total annual sales of around €800 million. Its European regional headquarters and parts distribution centre was established in 1988 at its present site in Almere, The Netherlands, and the business has since expanded with manufacturing facilities in France and Italy, as well as a sales and service network covering the region.