Cat expands South Carolina plant

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Caterpillar today announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Sumter, South Carolina, that will nearly triple the square footage. The plant currently produces small hydraulic cylinders used in a variety of Cat products. The additional capacity will bring the production of large hydraulic cylinders from the company’s Joliet, Illinois, facility to Sumter. Once the expansion is completed, the Sumter facility will be the primary source for small and large hydraulic cylinders for North and South America. The expansion in Sumter will allow the Joliet facility to focus on increasing production for other components currently produced in Joliet.

The $20 million expansion plan includes an additional 170,000 square feet, bringing the Sumter facility’s total footprint to approximately 275,000 square feet once complete. When the expansion is fully operational and at full capacity, it is anticipated Caterpillar will add more than 80 jobs over a two-year period.
Work on the expansion will begin immediately and is scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012. Hiring is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2012. Positions will be posted on the company’s recruiting website (www.jointeamcaterpillar.com) as they become available.