As part of a long-term strategic initiative, Caterpillar Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines, announced on March 11 that it has undertaken a study that could lead to a new hydraulic excavator facility being built in the US.
According to a company press release, such a move could triple the current capacity of hydraulic excavators now produced by the company in the US and significantly increase Caterpillar's employment in the US dedicated to excavator production, and further leverage excavator production in Japan to serve increasing demand in China and across Asia.
Currently, the company only produces two excavator models at a facility in Aurora, Illinois. The new facility would manufacture several additional excavator models now produced in Japan and exported to the US. If finalized and approved, the factory would be the primary North American source for excavators.