Cat to build proving ground and large wheeled loaders in China

Caterpillar has announced plans to build a factory to manufacture large wheeled loaders alongside a proving ground in Tongzhou, Jiangsu province, China. The factory will produce a new model of wheeled loader that is currently under development at the company's R&D centre in Wuxi, also in Jiangsu province, for sale in China and other developing markets.

Caterpillar vice president and chief technology officer, Tana Utley said, "The Asia Pacific Proving Ground will be critical for Caterpillar to develop and validate the right products for growth markets quickly and cost effectively. After this new proving ground is open, Caterpillar will be better positioned to compete and support its growing customer base in China and across Asia."

Luis de Leon, vice president with responsibility for Caterpillar's mining products division added, "The large wheeled loaders we are going to make in Tongzhou will give customers a new option that has been designed to suit the needs and requirements for mining applications in China and growth markets.

"By locating the wheeled loader facility with the proving ground and near several other Caterpillar operations and our supply base, we will leverage Caterpillar's total business model to speed product development cycle times with unmatched engineering and supply chain support."

The proving ground is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2012, with production of large wheeled loaders starting at the Tongzhou factory in the final three months of 2012.