After 60 Years In Brazil Caterpillar Celebrates The Mark Of 300,000 Machines Built In The Country

After 60 years after producing the first motor grader in Brazil, Caterpillar celebrates a historic milestone by reaching 300,000 construction machines manufactured in the country. Caterpillar was the first construction machinery manufacturer to start local operations: in 1954, with the opening of the commercial office and spare parts warehouse to support the then growing fleet of imported equipment in operation. Local production of the machines began in 1962.

The president of Caterpillar Brasil, Carlos Alexandre Oliveira, said:

“This milestone is reached in a special year for us, as we are completing the investment of 600 million reais in the modernization of the Piracicaba plant. This five-year investment cycle began in mid-2018 and is scheduled for completion in 2023. It includes the construction of the largest motor grader assembly line in Latin America, which went into operation last August. The investment also included the acquisition of new production equipment, such as welding robots, the introduction of new industrial processes and the optimization of the factory layout. To better support operations, a new logistics building is being constructed.”

60 Years In Brazil Caterpillar

Months before inaugurating the new assembly line in Piracicaba, Caterpillar completed the expansion of operations at its unit in Campo Largo, Paraná, with a new assembly line for compact products. As a result of this investment, it became the only company producing skid steer loaders in Brazil, in addition to incorporating advanced industrial processes, intelligent tools and automation of welding operations into that unit. These are optimizations that allow the company to double the unit’s machine production and export to markets with strict emission standards. The manufacture of skid steer loaders in the country generated approximately 400 direct jobs at the unit. Caterpillar is Brazil’s largest construction equipment manufacturer. The factories in Piracicaba-SP and Campo Largo-PR together produce several models and sizes of motor graders, wheel loaders, crawler tractors, excavators, backhoe loaders and compactors.

Production supplies part of the Brazilian demand and helps to supply customers from virtually all over the world:

“Caterpillar has a legacy of providing products and services that continually improve the quality of people’s lives, we help our customers meet society’s infrastructure needs such as homes, clean water, transportation and reliable energy. We are proud of how we help our customers build a better, more sustainable world.”