Caterpillar mulls excavator move

Caterpillar is considering moving excavator production from Japan to the US. The company says that if the move goes ahead it could lead to a new excavator factory being built in the US and the doubling of the number of people it employs to make such machines in the country.

Caterpillar says it is currently studying the viability of such a move. "The study is based on the current analysis of where the global excavator market is heading and how Caterpillar should position itself for continued leadership in the excavator industry," said Gary Stampanato, the company's vice president with responsibility for excavators.

The company currently only makes two excavator models in the US, at its plant in Aurora, Illinois. It builds excavators at other factories in Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Indonesia, Japan and Russia. If the move goes ahead, production of the models currently made in Japan and exported to the US will be transferred to Caterpillar's home market.