Komatsu plans to acquire technology company Immersive Technologies, the world’s largest supplier of surface and underground equipment simulators.
Western Australia-based Immersive Technologies will retain its Perth headquarters and operate as an independently managed subsidiary of Komatsu.
The arrangement means Immersive Technologies will have the resources of Komatsu at its disposal, and the original equipment manufacturer’s trust to operate with autonomy.
Immersive Technologies’ advanced simulator modules are deployed in 44 countries, supported by customer sales and support offices in Australia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Indonesia, India and Russia.
“We are very pleased to welcome Immersive Technologies into the Komatsu group. We look forward to working together with Immersive Technologies to enhance Komatsu’s mining business and continue the success in its multiple-OEM simulator strategy,” Komatsu Mining chairman Masayuki Moriyama said.
Immersive Technologies will operate under its existing name and branding, while continuing to collaborate with all equipment manufacturers to address the performance improvement challenges of mixed equipment fleets.
“This acquisition represents the start of the next phase of Immersive Technologies’ evolution,” Immersive Technologies chief executive and co-founder Peter Salfinger said.
“We now have the opportunity to contribute to the realisation of Komatsu’s strategy for mining, whilst also leveraging Komatsu’s vast support network and advanced technology portfolio. This includes closer collaboration with other well-known mining technology companies owned by Komatsu.”