Komatsu Australia is committed to supporting the needs of customers in Papua New Guinea following the acquisition of existing distributor UMW Niugini. The business has been renamed Komatsu Niugini Limited (KNL) and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Komatsu Group.
Sean Taylor, managing director of Komatsu Australia, says the acquisition follows a change in the ownership structure of the joint venture parties that previously owned UMW Niugini.
“As a result of this change in structure, KNL has become a fully owned part of the Komatsu Group. Komatsu Australia is the obvious choice to manage Komatsu Niugini going forward, given our proven expertise and success in the Oceania region,” says Taylor.
“The KNL team will be able to draw on the resources of the broader Komatsu Australia business, especially our technical expertise and training capabilities to support machine troubleshooting and workforce development.
“We hope this acquisition will also benefit our Australian customers who have connections in PNG as well.”
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Komatsu products have been distributed in PNG since 1970, and the local team has established itself as a key supplier of construction and mining equipment, as well as power generation solutions. The company holds market share in PNG’s heavy equipment sector, supporting a machine population in excess of 1,200 Komatsu units.
KNL employs approximately 100 people and services major customers including Morobe Mining, Monier (PNG), Digicel (PNG), Construct Oceanic and IPWENZ Construction.
The acquisition was completed on 1 May 2025, with Dash Rayat appointed general manager of KNL. The company’s main office will continue to operate from its Port Moresby base.
“Our local PNG customers can expect the same level of support they have always had from their trusted local experts, now supported by the wider Australian business,” says Taylor.
“We look forward to welcoming the KNL team and building on the strong foundations already in place in the region, while leveraging our global expertise to create value together.”