The $50 million investment will include a 225,000-sq.-ft. addition that will house increased production capacity for high-tech machining and metal additive processes, as well as a state-of-the-art metallurgical lab. The expansion also will increase the facility’s production of new and remanufactured piece parts and advanced wear coatings.
Construction is expected to begin this month, with operations commencing in June 2012. When the expansion is complete and fully operational, it is anticipated Caterpillar will add roughly 250 additional workers over a three-year period, bringing the total workforce to approximately 550 in West Fargo.
“This expansion will increase our capability to provide unmatched customer support to the mining industry,” says Greg Folley, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Remanufacturing & Components Division. “Remanufacturing is an attractive, growing and sustainable industry. Together with our remanufacturing facilities in Singapore and Shrewsbury, United Kingdom, we can now provide our mining customers drive train products with an unprecedented combination of availability, cost savings and support.”
“Our facility in West Fargo has been producing remanufactured components for the past 40 years, and now we’re looking forward to the next chapter in our history,” says Dan Walerius, Caterpillar West Fargo facility manager. “We appreciate the support we’ve received from the state of North Dakota, the city of West Fargo and the Greater Fargo/Moorhead Economic Development Corporation in making this vision a reality.”
