Caterpillar Celebrates Opening of Research and Development Center in China

Written by Caterpillar

Created on Wednesday, 02 December 2009 11:10

State of the art facility to support growing operations in China and Asia Pacific region

BEIJING, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) executives and governmental leaders from Wuxi, and Jiangsu province China today officially opened the company's new multi-functional research and development (R&D) center in Wuxi, Jiangsu province.  The Wuxi R&D center will focus on engine and component product and process development, validation, localization and technological training.  Among its many functions, the new center will have an engine test facility with performance and emissions development capability, an advanced materials laboratory, an electronics laboratory, a system and machine integration facility and validation capability.  Caterpillar Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Tana Utley and Caterpillar China Division Vice President Jiming Zhu took part in the grand opening ceremony.

"As Caterpillar continues to increase its manufacturing presence in China to support our growing Chinese customer base, it is strategically important to have world-class product development and validation facilities in the region," Utley said.  "Around the world, Caterpillar products are known for innovation, durability and reliability.  This new R&D center underscores our commitment to technical excellence in support of our Chinese manufacturing operations," Utley said.

The center is strategically located near Caterpillar's component manufacturing facility in Wuxi that began production in June 2006, and the company's Wuxi engine campus, which began production in 2009.  It is also near the medium wheel loader and motor grader manufacturing facility in Suzhou, which began production in October 2009.

The Wuxi R&D center is the third such Caterpillar facility in China.  In 2005, Caterpillar established an R&D Center in Qingdao, Shandong Province for product and process development in China.  Caterpillar also has a design center in Xuzhou established in 2003, primarily focused on product improvement. Caterpillar has been building out its China business footprint in recent years, and now employs more than 5,800 people in China across 11 manufacturing facilities and 10 business offices.

"For more than 30 years, Caterpillar and its dealers have been investing in China to support our customers and to help drive the unparalleled economic progress that has taken place during that time," Zhu said.  "China represents the single largest opportunity for growth for Caterpillar, and our investment in the Wuxi R&D center is yet another clear indication of Caterpillar's commitment to our customers."

About Caterpillar:
For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent.  With 2008 sales and revenues of $51.324 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.  The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services.  More information is available at http://www.cat.com/.

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Certain statements in this release relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements involving known and unknown factors that may cause actual results of Caterpillar Inc. to be different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.  In this context, words such as "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "should" or other similar words and phrases often identify forward-looking statements made on behalf of Caterpillar.  It is important to note that actual results of the company may differ materially from those described or implied in such forward-looking statements based on a number of factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, (i) adverse change in general economic conditions; (ii) adverse change in the industries Caterpillar serves including construction, infrastructure, mining, energy, marine and electric power generation; (iii) Caterpillar's ability to manage material, including steel, and freight costs; (iv) Caterpillar's ability to generate cash from operations, secure external funding for its operations and manage its liquidity needs; (v) material adverse change in customers' access to liquidity and capital; (vi) currency exchange or interest rates changes; (vii) political stability; (viii) market acceptance of the company's products and services; (ix) significant changes in the competitive environment; (x) epidemic diseases; (xi) severe change in weather conditions negatively impacting operations; (xii) changes in law, regulations and tax rates; and (xiii) other general economic, business and financing conditions and factors described in more detail in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" in Part II of our Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on October 30, 2009 for the 3rd quarter of 2009.  This filing is available on our website at www.cat.com/sec_filings.  We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

 

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