Caterpillar Expands Forestry Equipment Manufacturing Operations in LaGrange, Georgia
Consolidation of Forestry Product and Support Operations Will Bring Additional Jobs to Region
LAGRANGE, Ga., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Underscoring its commitment to the forestry industry and the community in which it currently operates a forest product assembly facility, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) today announced a major expansion of its presence in LaGrange, Georgia.
The company is consolidating and expanding its manufacturing and support operations for two forest product lines, resulting in additional jobs for the region and more products to help meet increased demand. The announcement was made this morning at Caterpillar's LaGrange manufacturing plant in a ceremony attended by various state and local representatives.
Caterpillar opened a dedicated forestry machine assembly facility in LaGrange in 1997 and currently produces three models of wheel skidders, employing approximately 60 people. The number of employees is expected to double over the next year with the expansion and consolidation of operations. These plans include the addition of wheel skidder fabrication work, and assembly and fabrication operations for the company's line of track feller bunchers currently based in Aurora, Illinois, will also be re-established in LaGrange. Caterpillar Logistics Services will open a new facility as well to provide manufacturing logistics support for the expanded operations, supplying parts and material for the wheel skidder and feller buncher assembly.
"We've had a great deal of success in LaGrange with the production of our wheel skidder line, and we intend to build on that success," said John Carpenter, Caterpillar Global Forestry general manager. "The community and its people have been great partners with Caterpillar over the past several years, working together to make a world-class forestry product. We hope to continue in that tradition for years to come with the product additions announced today."
"Caterpillar is a great American company and a valued part of Georgia's business community," said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. "I am very proud that Caterpillar has chosen to build upon its success and expand its operations in LaGrange."
About Caterpillar Inc.
For 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world's infrastructure and, in partnership with its worldwide dealer network, is driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2004 sales and revenues of $30.25 billion, Caterpillar is a technology leader and the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. More information is available at www.cat.com/ .
Source: Caterpillar Inc.
CONTACT: Rusty Dunn, Chief Corporate Spokesperson of Caterpillar Inc.,
+1-309-675-4803, Dunn_Rusty_L@cat.com
Web site: www.cat.com/
