KMW Ltd, a leading manufacturer of loaders, backhoes, and attachments, is pleased to announce that they are growing. Plans for building new facilities situated in Sterling, Kansas, are well underway. The new construction will include 430,000+ square feet under roof, located on a new 150-acre site near the new highway interchange in Sterling. This expansion will result in KMW growing to employ approximately 450 people when fully completed.
Beginning in 1965 as Ark Manufacturing Co., originally KMW produced trailers for hauling swathers and soil packers. Small lawn and garden loaders were added in 1968, an early indication of what the future KMW would become. Over the years, KMW made the shift to focus more on its loader and backhoe lines as the company grew.
Under the leadership of the current CEO, Wayne Buchberger, who took over KMW during the pandemic in 2020, there has been strategic acceleration of our growth. In this period KMW has been expanding its product lines and customer base. KMW and its team currently produce loader models ranging from 45-380 hp, a solid line of backhoes, and multiple loader attachments across three locations. The purchase of KMW by Agrostroj Pelhřimov in July of 2021 was pivotal with their strong support of KMW’s growth and team here in the USA. This expansion would not have been possible without their support.
For over 50 years KMW has designed, manufactured, and assembled our products in the USA. “As a company, we appreciate and value our Mid-American roots and the diligence and steadiness of our workforce. KMW is grateful for, and strives to stay true to, our Midwest Kansas ideals and heritage, helping to propel our continued growth. Our products embody the excellence of the KMW team and inspire pride in our customers.” says CEO, Wayne Buchberger, adding “Those factors made the decision to stay in our hometown a natural fit despite the strong interest in becoming our new headquarters expressed by other locations around the country.”
The size of the land acquisition ensures room for the growth of not only KMW but the entire Agrostroj Group long into the future. In addition to current KMW products we will continue to expand our manufacturing and sales activities for both our current and new OEM partners, meeting their needs in the North American market for many years to come. “With even greater capabilities and using state-ofthe-art machinery and automation, we look forward to making the new KMW headquarters a growing show piece for the state of Kansas” states Agrostroj Group owner, Lubomir Stoklasek. This is an exciting new chapter for our company. We are pleased at the strong possibilities this expansion affords us, allowing KMW to increase production capacity to even higher levels.
KMW currently employs just under 200 individuals across their 3 locations.
