Komatsu West is expanding into Northern California, opening branches in Fresno and Sacramento. Komatsu photo

Global heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu has acquired the former Gee Heavy Machinery dealerships in Fresno and Sacramento, welcoming them into its Komatsu West company-owned dealer organization in Northern California.

Gee Heavy Machinery shut down operations in July “after a thoughtful and thorough evaluation of the long-term outlook for the business,” according to equipmentworld.com. It became the official Komatsu distributor for Northern California in December 2023 after assuming the operations of the previous distributor Core Machinery.

Gee Heavy Machinery filed state layoff notices for a total of 57 workers in its Sacramento headquarters and locations in Fremont, Redding and Fresno. Fresno had nine employees at its 5461 Nikita Ave. facility.

Both sites — Fresno and Sacramento — are up and running once again, staffed with Komatsu professionals, including many of the same technicians who have long served local customers, according to a news release.

With this expansion, Komatsu West will offer complete sales, rental, parts and service capabilities to help maximize operational uptime and productivity, according to the release. Customers in Northern California will also find an expanded selection of pre-owned equipment, with more than 350 pieces now available for purchase through these locations.

“Our focus is on supporting customers and helping them keep their operations running smoothly,” said Todd Gaspers, vice President of operations for Komatsu West. “By expanding our operations into Northern California, we’re making sure customers have the local expertise, inventory and service they depend on.”