August 2011, Vol. 66 No. 8
Business
Caterpillar To Expand Hydraulic Excavator Facility
Caterpillar Inc. announced plans to increase its manufacturing capabilities and capacity for hydraulic excavators that will be produced at a facility now under construction in Victoria, TX.
In August of 2010, Caterpillar announced that it would build the excavator plant in Victoria, investing about $130 million to open the state-of-the-art, 850,000 square foot operation. Work is underway at the Victoria site, and includes plans for an additional $70 million investment in the Victoria area that will include another 200,000 square feet. The added investment in Victoria will increase excavator capacity beyond the original plans and will include the addition of selected fabrication manufacturing for excavator production. This expansion of investment in Victoria also helps set the stage for potential future phases of growth.
Excavator production in Victoria is expected to begin in mid-2012. The new facility will more than triple the current capacity of hydraulic excavators produced by the company in the United States and would more than double the number of Caterpillar employees in the U.S. making excavators. Currently in the U.S., Caterpillar produces two excavator models at a facility in Aurora, IL, where it also produces wheel loaders, soil and landfill compactors, wheel dozers and components. Once operational, the Victoria facility would produce seven excavator models. www.caterpillar.com
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