Komatsu Reopens Branch in California They Closed Because It’s California…

Bro really said “we’re back” and the Rat King is NOT vibing

Rat King deploys excavator-based defense system after Komatsu repossesses his future rat empire. Experts say this is “probably not OSHA compliant.

REDDING, Calif. — Yo. So Komatsu is reopening its Redding branch.

Yeah. Reopening.

Like they closed it and now they're like, “Actually guys, never mind.”

And honestly? That's kinda fire.

The company-owned branch is coming back to Redding to provide construction and forestry customers with machines, rentals, parts and service.

Which is huge because apparently people in Northern California still be doing construction and cutting down trees and stuff.

Who knew?

Not me.

I thought Northern California was just San Francisco and, like, trees.

Turns out there are whole-ass industries up there.

Komatsu says the Redding location will be its northernmost branch in California, which sounds important. I'm not exactly sure why being northernmost matters, but it sounds like a geography flex and I'm here for it.

The branch is supposed to help customers get equipment, rentals, parts and service without having to travel forever just to get somebody to answer the phone.

That's actually pretty clutch.

Because imagine your excavator breaks and the dude at the dealership is like:

“Yeah bro, the part is in another city.”

Now you're cooked.

Your machine is cooked.

Your job is cooked.

Your whole vibe is cooked.

Komatsu Reopens Branch: THE TREES ARE WINNING

Komatsu is also putting more focus on forestry equipment because Northern California has a pretty big logging and timber industry.

Apparently people out there spend their days operating gigantic machines in the forest.

Which sounds pretty sick, actually.

Way better than sitting in a cubicle making a spreadsheet about other people's spreadsheets.

The Redding branch will expand its forestry equipment offerings and introduce more forestry-focused solutions for the region.

Komatsu West Vice President of Operations Todd Gaspers said forestry customers need reliable equipment and fast support because downtime can affect production.

Bro basically said:

“When the machine don't work, the money don't work.”

And he's not wrong.

If a machine is sitting there broken, it is not making money.

I have personally never operated a forestry machine, but I have owned a lawn mower, so I understand the concept.

ENTER: THE RAT KING

Now here's where things get weird. A local homeless man known around Redding as the “Rat King” was reportedly NOT happy about Komatsu moving back into the building. Apparently the building was supposed to become the headquarters of his growing rat empire.

Yes.

Rat empire.

We also have no idea what that means.

But the Rat King had thoughts.

“That building was supposed to be my new rat empire but now I guess I'm gonna have to ‘Home Alone’ these construction guys. Look out for empty paint cans, and broken glass you suckas!”

Bro.

First of all, Home Alone is a movie. Second of all, Kevin McCallister was protecting a house, not a Komatsu dealership. Third of all, if your defense strategy involves empty paint cans and broken glass, maybe don't announce it to the media?

That's just free intel.

Komatsu has been warned.

The Rat King has apparently chosen violence.

SO WHY DID KOMATSU LEAVE?

Now this is where your boy reporter is supposed to explain the complicated business reasons for closing and reopening a branch. Unfortunately, I don't know what those reasons were. And honestly, I don't think anybody wants me pretending I do.

What we do know is that Komatsu is bringing the Redding operation back because Northern California has customers who need equipment, parts and service. On God.

And that's probably a pretty good reason. California can be California.

You got regulations. You got taxes. You got environmental rules.

You got wildfires. You got traffic. You got dudes named Hunter charging $180 an hour to tell you your permitting paperwork is wrong.

It's a whole thing.

But apparently after looking at the situation, Komatsu decided:

“Wait a minute. People here actually need excavators.”

Huge if true.

THE COMEBACK

The reopened Redding branch will support both construction and forestry operations. Customers will be able to purchase and rent equipment, order parts and get local service and product support from Komatsu personnel.

That's especially important for remote forestry operations, where a broken machine isn't exactly something you can Uber to the dealership.

Komatsu says the location will strengthen local parts, service and equipment resources for the region.

Basically:

More iron. More parts. Less driving. More fixing stuff.

W.

OPEN HOUSE. COME THROUGH.

Komatsu is throwing an open house on Thursday, October 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT to show off the newly reopened facility.

Customers can meet the team, look at new and used forestry and construction equipment and learn about the company's local service and parts support.

The branch is located at:

1164 Prestige WayRedding, CA 96003

Phone: 530-229-3820

So welcome back, Komatsu. Northern California still has trees.

It still has dirt. It still has contractors. It still has loggers.

And apparently it still has a dude named the Rat King who wanted to build a rat empire inside your building.

So, like...

Good luck, everybody.

And if you're going to the open house, maybe don't leave any empty paint cans lying around.

You never know.

The Rat King might be watching.

Hard Hat Kings: bringing you the news, because apparently somebody has to.