Caterpillar — Making Progress Possible

Caterpillar machines and engines make progress
possible around the world every day.

 • Cat machines help build the world’s infrastructure:  

• Construction machines build highways, airports, dams, water and sewer systems, commercial buildings, housing developments and more.
• Mining machines help extract and deliver needed raw materials.
• Ag machines till and harvest around the world.

 • Cat engines provide power to the world:  

• Primary power for developing nations, remote mines or off-shore drilling rigs.
• Standby power for hospitals, schools and office buildings.
• Engine power for trucks, ships, boats, locomotives. 

 • Cat Financial provides affordable financing and leasing options - making it easier for customers to acquire Cat machines, engines and products.  

 • Cat Logistics provides world class integrated logistics - warehousing and distribution - for companies around the world.  

 • The Caterpillar network of 207 dealers, almost all of them independently owned, sells products into nearly 200 countries.

Caterpillar - the world leader in the manufacture of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. 

• Sales and revenues for 1999 were $19.7 billion.

• Exports from the United States $5.2 billion.

Caterpillar History

Circa 1890. Benjamin Holt and Daniel Best experimented with various forms of steam tractors for use in farming. They did so separately, with separate companies. Both were pioneers with track-type tractors and gasoline-powered tractor engines.

1915. Holt “Caterpillar” track-type tractors are used by the Allies in World War I.

1925. The Holt and Best companies merge to form Caterpillar Tractor Co.

1931. The first Diesel Sixty Tractor rolled off the new assembly line in East Peoria, Illinois, with a new efficient source of power for track-type tractors.

1940. The Caterpillar product line now included motor graders, blade graders, elevating graders, terracers and electrical generating sets.

1942. Caterpillar track-type tractors, motor graders, generators sets and a special engine for the M4 tank are used by the United States in its war effort.

1950. Caterpillar Tractor Co. Ltd. in Great Britain is established, the first of many overseas operations created to help manage foreign exchange shortages, tariffs, import controls and better serve customers around the world.

1953. The company creates a separate sales and marketing division just for engine customers. Since then, the Engine Division has become a major player in the diesel engine market and now accounts for one quarter of the company’s total sales.

1963. Caterpillar and Mitsubish Heavy Industries Ltd. form one of the first joint ventures in Japan to include partial U.S. ownership. Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. started production in 1965, has been renamed Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd., and is now the No. 2 maker of construction and mining equipment in Japan.

1981. Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation is formed to offer equipment financing options to customers worldwide.

1981-83. The worldwide recession took its toll on Caterpillar, costing the company the equivalent of $1 million a day and forcing it to dramatically reduce employment.

1985-present. The product line continued to diversify to meet a variety of customer needs. More than 300 products are now offered, more than double the figure in 1981.

1987. A $1.8 billion plant modernization program was launched to streamline the manufacturing process.

1990. The company decentralized its structure, reorganizing into business units responsible for return on assets and customer satisfaction.

1997. The company continued to expand, acquiring the U.K.-based Perkins Engines. With the addition of Germany’s MaK Motoren the previous year, Caterpillar becomes the world leader in diesel engine manufacturing.

1997. The company entered the compact machine business, offering construction machines that are smaller and more versatile.

1998. The world’s largest off-highway truck - the 797 - makes its debut at the Cat Proving Ground in Arizona.

1999. Caterpillar unveils new line of compact construction equipment at CONEXPO, world’s largest construction show, in response to changing customer needs for smaller, more versatile construction equipment.