Caterpillar to expand Chinese R&D centre

Caterpillar has announced plans to expand its research & development centre in Wuxi, China. The new investment will focus on engine technology, with the addition of engine test cells and labs for fuel systems, alongside research facilities for electronics, hydraulics, cooling systems and roll-over protective structures (ROPS).

The company first opened the centre in Jiangsu province in December 2009, and it currently employs more than 500 engineers and support staff. Their work focuses on developing products tailored to the specific needs of China and other high-growth developing world markets.

"China is the largest construction equipment market in the world, and Caterpillar continues to invest in China to help our Chinese customers succeed and to position Caterpillar for long-term leadership in China. The Wuxi R&D centre is enabling Caterpillar's product development success in China and other growth markets," said Caterpillar vice president and chief technology officer, Tana Utley.

Caterpillar also has a component manufacturing facility in Wuxi that opened in 2006 and an engine factory which began production in 2009. The nearby city of Suzhou, also in Jiangsu province is home to a medium-sized wheeled loader and grader factory. Caterpillar's main excavator factory in China is in Xuzhou, again in Jiangsu province.

The start of the year has also seen Caterpillar break ground on a new proving ground for the Asia Pacific region and a factory for large wheeled loaders in Tongzhou, Jiangsu province.