Caterpillar to Invest $1 Billion for North Carolina Manufacturing Capacity

Equipment giant Caterpillar will invest approximately $1 billion to expand its manufacturing capacity at its Cat Compact business in North Carolina, officials announced Sept. 30.

The investment includes plans for an all-new manufacturing facility in Sanford, North Carolina, located near the state’s geographical center. The injection of funds aims to strengthen Caterpillar and Cat Compact’s ability to serve the booming compact equipment customer segment in the U.S., supporting the business segment’s strategy of streamlining the contractor experience.

“As demand for compact equipment continues to increase, we’re investing to better serve this growing segment of customers,” says Caterpillar Construction Industries group president Rod Shurman. “This investment is another way we are solving our customers’ toughest challenges by expanding access to the products, solutions and services they need to work more efficiently.”

The new Cat Compact facility will produce several pieces of equipment, including compact track loaders and telehandlers. The firm says these versatile, compact machines are applicable for numerous markets, including construction, landscaping, agriculture, and material handling. The investment aims to create a modern manufacturing environment to engineer these machines more quickly than ever.

Supporting long-term growth

As the compact equipment sector continues to boom across North America and beyond, expedited manufacturing has become a paramount priority. Additionally, however, Caterpillar’s new investment will focus on improving safety, quality control, and operational performance at the new plant.

Caterpillar officials expect the new facility to incorporate a number of advanced manufacturing technologies once complete. Additionally, the plant will include automated production capabilities, digital production systems, and integrated logistics in an effort to create a connected, efficient manufacturing operation.

Shurman says the company selected North Carolina “because of Caterpillar’s longstanding presence in the state, the strength of the local workforce, and the opportunity to build on existing manufacturing expertise and operations in Sanford.”

“We appreciate the partnership and support of the State of North Carolina, Lee County and the City of Sanford as we continue investing in the future of manufacturing and the customers we serve,” Shurman adds.

The company expects the new investment to create opportunities for advanced manufacturing careers at the new plant, including jobs in automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing.