By Trish Svoboda

Today, Governor Laura Kelly declared that KMW, a precision manufacturer specializing in agricultural front loaders, backhoes, and various attachments, is set to invest $105 million in building a new North American headquarters and production facility in Sterling. This initiative will create 251 new employment opportunities, boosting the local workforce to 485.

After a competition among states in the Midwest, KMW chose Sterling in Rice County as their preferred location. The relocation will house their headquarters and also provide space for KMW to further expand its manufacturing operations.

“The partnership forged between Agrostroj Pelhrimov, KMW, the City of Sterling, Rice County, and the State of Kansas sets an exemplary precedent,” KMW Ltd. 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 operates two additional facilities in Kansas, one in Great Bend and one in Lyons. The ownership of the company lies with Agrostroj Pelhrimov, a leading global entity based in the Czech Republic, renowned for manufacturing agricultural machinery and freight transport equipment.

With a 30 year history, KMW integrates cutting-edge precision engineering, contemporary manufacturing techniques, and skilled artisanship to produce top-tier loaders, backhoes, and attachments. Although the company’s main focus has been on original equipment (OEM) loader and backhoe customers, KMW has broadened its product range to encompass an expanded variety of loader sizes and other attachments, now accessible to non-OEM customers as well.