Industry News

UPDATE: Cat Gen-Set Production to Newberry, Backhoes To U.K., Small Wheel Loaders To Clayton

March 17, 2010

According to numerous press reports in the Southeast, Caterpillar will cease production of backhoe loaders at its Clayton, NC plant, move that production to the U.K., and retool Clayton to be the “global center” for the production of small wheel loaders.

Cat also reportedly plans to more than triple employment at its facility in Newberry, SC. where it is transferring generator work done at its Griffin, Ga., plant. Griffin, in turn, will focus on engine production.

Caterpillar said it will shift the backhoe-loader production to a facility in the United Kingdom and “almost immediately” begin the process of tearing out the backhoe assembly line in Clayton and putting in equipment that assembles small wheel loaders. With that production moving from the U.K. to Clayton before the end of 2010. There is also reportedly a “significant update” of Cat’s small wheel loader product range coming.