Komatsu has heralded the start of its second year of partnership with Atlassian Williams Racing with a special team visit to its Perth facilities today, ahead of this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, taking place in Melbourne (March 14-16).
Team Principal James Vowles and ambassador Jacques Villeneuve, who won the 1997 championship for Williams using a Komatsu-manufactured gearbox component, visited Komatsu’s Welshpool facility to see behind the scenes and meet Komatsu employees.
Komatsu joined forces with Williams, now known as Atlassian Williams Racing, for the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season, as Principal Partner. The partnership continues into its second season with the team’s ninth visit to a Komatsu facility in twelve months, and second in Australia.
Located approximately ten kilometers from Perth city center, Komatsu’s Welshpool facility is home to over 770 Komatsu Australia employees, and assembles a variety of construction and mining machinery, including Komatsu’s industry leading Autonomous, Electric Drive Mining Haul trucks. The site also incorporates a world class remanufacturing centre. The site also features a training center designed to nurture the upcoming wave of engineering talent in-amongst the bustle of the machine assembly, and a world class remanufacturing centre that rebuild engines, electric wheel motors, transmissions and other major components.
The Williams visit offered the chance for Komatsu to highlight the synergy between the two brands and to get the second year off to a positive start. Vowles and Villeneuve were led on a tour of the 200,000- square meter facility, having the opportunity to get up close and personal with the impressive Komatsu machines and to meet some of the employees. They were also given the chance to drive a Komatsu HD1500 rigid dump truck, earning applause from the Komatsu employees.
After a tour of the facility, 12 Komatsu employees were treated to a special meet and greet with their Atlassian Williams Racing guests before a Q+A session with over 300 Komatsu members of staff took place – bringing the partnership to the heart of the day-to-day business.
Todd Connolly, Vice President of Global Brand Transformation at Komatsu, said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome our partners at Atlassian Williams Racing into the heart of Komatsu’s day-to-day operations, and especially so at the start of a new year of our partnership. Each time we have had this opportunity in the past twelve months, it has proven to be a mutually memorable experience with our Komatsu colleagues immersing themselves into our partnership just as much as our friends at Williams learn more about our business. Starting a new season in Australia offered us the perfect opportunity to share and showcase the partnership to our colleagues in Perth – after our visit to Wacol, Brisbane last year – and it was another special day.
Sean Taylor, Managing Director at Komatsu, said: “We have so much pride in our employees, so to be able to share the excitement of this partnership to over 850 of them was truly something impressive. Komatsu and Williams have already created plenty of value together through the shared values of ambition, perseverance, collaboration and authenticity. The continuation of our collaboration for a second year is something both organisations hold in high regard – and we can’t wait to see where the rest of the year takes us.”
James Vowles, Atlassian Williams Racing Team Principal, said: “It was great to be back at a Komatsu facility as we start the 2025 season. The value created in this partnership is undeniable, and to be able to meet so many of the people that make it happen is truly special. We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Komatsu, and this visit is just the first step we are taking together in year two. We are excited to welcome two Komatsu employees to our garage for a ‘Day in the Life’ experience and get back on track again this weekend in Melbourne.”