Perkins Shibaura Engines, a joint venture between Perkins Engines Co. Ltd., a Caterpillar Inc. company
, and its small engine partner, Ishikawajima Shibaura Machinery Company Ltd., announced plans to open a new small engines manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia.
Production at the Griffin location will start in May 2004 with approximately 25 employees, and will center on the Perkins 400 Series, a range of two, three and four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, naturally aspirated and turbo-charged indirect-injection engines. The Griffin facility will mirror the Perkins joint venture plant in Peterborough, England, which currently produces and will continue to produce 400 Series engines for international markets.
In planning to open a U.S. facility, Perkins Engines worked closely with the State of Georgia and the Griffin-Spalding County Development Authority. Perkins chose the Griffin location because of its skilled workforce and the opportunity to enhance customer service through improved logistics.