Ken Garner Manufacturing started producing counterweights in late 1980, although at that time the primary business was the integration of automated welding machinery. KGM had begun working with Komatsu America Industries on some tooling projects as they set up their excavator manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, TN. In discussion, the subject of counterweights had come up, and Ken Garner made the suggestion that KGM could supply concrete-filled counterweights as an alternative to castings. Komatsu gave KGM the opportunity to test this proposal, and the success in this project allowed KGM to grow into counterweight production. The counterweight production grew, including the addition of several mobile crane customers. In 2003, KGM began producing a range of counterweights for Caterpillar, and by 2008 was the sole source supplier of filled counterweights for the Caterpillar Aurora operations. As production volume grew for the Deere-Hitachi excavator facility in Kernersville, NC, KGM responded with the construction of a new facility in nearby Rural Hall, NC, which was completed in 2009. Then in 2014, a plant was constructed in Victoria, TX, to produce counterweights for Caterpillar’s new excavator production facility across the street.
Counterweights are used in hydraulic excavators, mobile cranes, and other large machinery to counterbalance the weight of and forces generated by the machine. The team at KGM works alongside our customers to reduce costs using drawings of cast and stacked steel counterweights and reconfiguring these products as filled counterweights. This results in cost savings, reduction of inventory, better quality, and improved reliability from suppliers.
Ken Garner Manufacturing can also fabricate counterweights for boom trucks, lift trucks, wheel loaders, forklifts, telehandlers, reach stackers, scrap handlers, test weights, elevators, aircraft tugs, and any type of mobile machinery that requires compact counterbalance. We can serve as a single source supplier for our clients, by working with our suppliers on any type of counterweight that you need, including steel plate counterweights and finished iron and steel castings.