MEDIA RELEASE PR37352
Caterpillar Celebrates Opening of Research and Development Center in China
BEIJING, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
State of the art facility to support growing operations in China and
Asia Pacific region
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
SAFE HARBOR
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
undertake to update our forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: Caterpillar Inc.
CONTACT: China,
Ding Wen of Caterpillar (China) Investment Co., Ltd.,
(8610) 5921 0166,
ding_wen@cat.com,
or North America,
Jim Dugan of Corporate Public Affairs,
+1-309-494-4100,
dugan_jim@cat.com
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