Komatsu Australia is looking forward to meeting the needs of Papua New Guinea customers following the acquisition of existing distributor company, UMW Niugini Limited. The business has been renamed Komatsu Niugini Limited (KNL).
Sean Taylor, Komatsu Australia Managing Director says the acquisition follows a change in the ownership structure of the joint venture parties that previously owned UMW Niugini Ltd.
“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,” he says.
“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.”
Komatsu products have been distributed in PNG since its incorporation in 1970, and the local team has established itself as a leading supplier of construction and mining equipment, as well as power generation solutions. The company holds significant market share in the PNG’s heavy equipment sector supporting a machine population in excess of 1200 Komatsu machines. 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 1st May 2025 with Dash Rayat leading the business as General Manager of Komatsu Niugini Limited (KNL) as part of the transition from UMW Niugini Ltd. The 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. 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,” Sean says.
