Caterpillar to invest $200 million to modernize East Peoria Illinois component facility.
The investment in the facility will position Caterpillar to meet expected capacity demand for undercarriage components and assemblies, which are used in medium and large track type tractors.
The modernization plan will bring technology enhancements to the East Peoria facility over the next three to four years. As part of its first phase, Caterpillar and community officials held a ribbon cutting recently on a full automated, technologically advanced machining centre.
"This first machining system will transform the operations and responsiveness of our East Peoria facility" said Greg Folley, Caterpillar Vice President with responsibility for the Remanufacturing & Components Division. "We are in an extremely competitive business, and our ability to continue to compete from our long-standing and historic Illinois operations demands that we invest in state-of-the-art technology and processes" Folley added.
"Our undercarriage is a key reason customers choose Cat tractors" said Folley. "This new machining systems promises more product every hour, vastly better quality and, ultimately, faster delivery of undercarriage and replacement parts to our dealers and customer."