PRESS RELEASE: Komatsu Australia has established a new business unit, Komatsu Training Academy (KTA) – a nationally registered training organisation (RTO) – to deliver vocational educational courses through one of the most advanced technical training facilities in the region.

KTA’s national business manager is Janine Temple, who has more than 17 years’ experience in training and management development roles at leading industry associations, including the Australian Mines and Metals Association, the Civil Contractors Federation and the Housing Industry Association.

KTA is headquartered at the Komatsu Technical Education Centre (KTEC) in Brisbane, which over the past few years has become the company’s primary training centre for operators and technicians in the region. 

According to Temple, KTA has been specifically developed to deliver nationally recognised and customised training where customers need it.

This includes training online, on site, at customers’ premises or at the company’s dedicated facilities in Brisbane and other centres.

“Our course offerings include a mix of fully accredited, nationally recognised courses and modules, along with purpose-designed training developed to meet customers’ specific needs,” she said.

“Through our team of specialist industry-qualified trainers, we can deliver a broad range of customisable courses, including leadership and management training, operator proficiency development, and specialised technical training and skills development.”

In the field of operator and technical training, Temple said a major focus of KTA’s courses would be moving beyond basic competency training, and into more advanced proficiency development.

“All too often today, training is merely focused on churning out numbers of trainees. 

“In contrast, at KTA, we are focusing on what is really needed: upskilling for increased production, improved fuel efficiency, reduced wear and tear, lower operating costs, better preventive maintenance and greater safety,” she said.

While KTA will be able to deliver its training and educational programmes through its branches across Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, as well as at customer worksites and facilities, the hub of its operations will be its KTEC headquarters.

KTEC has more than 2,600m² of training facilities, including seven classrooms, seven technical/electrical laboratories and a large machine operator’s workshop. It also incorporates a number of simulators, providing the ability for both novice and experienced operators to safely learn on a range of machines.

Courses available through KTA cover a variety of mining, construction and utility machine types, including backhoe/loaders, dozers, crushers, dump trucks, excavators (conventional and hybrid), graders and wheel loaders, as well as general systems and technologies.