KMW Invests $105M for New North American HQ, 251 New Jobs

Posted April 2, 2024

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced manufacturing company KMW Ltd. will invest $105 million to construct a new North American headquarters in Sterling, Kansas.

The new state-of-the-art production facility will create 251 new jobs, resulting in a local workforce of 485 and will be located on a 151-acre site on the north side of Sterling, according to a release. KMW is a precision manufacturer of agricultural front loaders, backhoes and other agriculture machinery attachments.

“There’s no doubt – this investment will grow our economy and create more opportunities for Kansans,” Kelly said in the release. “Our efforts to make Kansas one of the most pro-business states in the country is paying off for workers everywhere, including our rural communities.”

The company has a history in the Sunflower State as it operates two other Kansas plants located in Great Bend and Lyons. Furthermore, KMW was originally founded in Sterling in 1965, as Ark Manufacturing Co.

“The partnership forged between Agrostroj Pelhrimov, KMW, the City of Sterling, Rice County, and the State of Kansas sets an exemplary precedent,” KMW North American Operations CEO Wayne Buchberger said. “This expansion aligns seamlessly with our commitment to agricultural and other products manufacturing, and we’re excited to continue our growth right here in the city of Sterling – the city where we were founded in 1965 and have grown ever since.”

KMW is owned by Agrostroj Pelhrimov, a Czech Republic-based global leader in agricultural machinery and freight transport manufacturing.