\u201cThe 2.3 million men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry are essential to our quality of life, our national security, and to the long-term prosperity of small-town communities,\u201d said AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg in a recent interview with RFD-TV about the tour<\/a><\/strong>. \u201cThat\u2019s what (the AEM Manufacturing Express) is all about. It\u2019s to shine a light on them, the unsung heroes, who are making our way of life possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Check out Kip Eideberg\u2019s full interview with RFD-TV\u2019s Tammi Arender below:\u00a0<\/p>\n \n After a successful first week-plus run<\/a><\/strong>, the AEM Manufacturing Express kicked off Week 2 of its summer tour last week Monday in Longview, Texas, at Komatsu America Corporation<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s largest facility in North America. The morning event featured remarks from Komatsu North America CEO Rod Bull and Longview Mayor Kristen Ishihara, as well as tours of the massive Longview facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe City of Longview wants to be your partner,\u201d Ishihara said. \u201cWe are so grateful for the partners that you, the employees, are, but also Komatsu as an employer to the city. When I drive up to the plant here, I am so grateful for the investments and the capital improvements. You guys are an entryway into Longview, and now that entryway is magnificent because of the investment you\u2019ve made.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Approximately 700 workers are currently employed at Komatsu\u2019s Longview facility, one which was founded 80 years ago by Texas icon R.G. LeTourneau<\/a><\/strong>. Today, the Komatsu plant manufactures the WE2350<\/a><\/strong>, the largest front-end loader in the world, and its employees go about their work while always being mindful of the \u201cKomatsu Way\u201d: Don\u2019t do it because you were told to do it, but because it is the right way to do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Following the Komatsu event in Longview, the AEM Manufacturing Express headed west and (a little bit) south to visit Watson Drill Rigs<\/a><\/strong> in Fort Worth on Tuesday. A fourth-generation manufacturer of rigs designed for drilled shaft construction, Watson Drill Rigs welcomed AEM staff for a low-key afternoon visit, along with barbecue lunch, beer, and a bags tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Wednesday of last week, the AEM Manufacturing Express headed further south to nearby Waco for a stop at Versalift<\/a><\/strong>. Rain and thunderstorms didn\u2019t dampen what ended up being a massive visit, one which commemorated the company\u2019s 60th anniversary, its longstanding status as a global leader in aerial vehicle manufacturing, as well as its roots<\/a><\/strong> as a pioneer and inventor of the original aerial lift.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to a post on manufacturingexpress.org<\/a><\/strong>, Versalift equipment plays a crucial role in helping maintain critical infrastructure like electricity and telecommunications, and the company partners with telecommunications companies, municipal governments, and others to keep towns and cities both up and running.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe machines we produce allow companies to run electricity and run broadband to places that don\u2019t have broadband access,\u201d said Versalift Chief Marketing Officer Alex Hultgren. \u201cWhen there\u2019s an emergency or some kind of a disaster, these trucks can come in and help clear things out and get things up and running again. Even as things change, with solar power and windmills, you need something that\u2019s really tall to get up there and work on those things sometimes. It\u2019s really about empowering those key parts of society that keep things running that aren\u2019t always visible. We\u2019re the ones that really empower them to do their jobs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Finally, the AEM Manufacturing Express closed out its second full week in Texas with a second straight stop in Waco, this time at Diversified Product Development<\/a><\/strong>. Roughly 50 employees joined AEM staff for an early-morning event<\/strong><\/a> that recognized the company\u2019s impressive legacy of providing engineering, design, simulation, consulting, prototyping and production for many different industries.\u00a0<\/p>\n See some photos from the Diversified Product Development stop below:\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"8\/14](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/54721055568_f21a9d7ce3_n.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n