An estimated 100 jobs will be added following an expansion of Caterpillar’s large engine facility in Lafayette, Ind., that was taken on to further meet growing customer demand.
The multi-year capital investment will increase capacity for both new engines and aftermarket parts, the OEM said, and also allow it to expand its ability to build and test new engines, genset packages and provide aftermarket components by expanding the campus’ footprint, refurbishing equipment and investing in additional equipment.
The facility first opened in 1982, and this is its largest-ever project. The expansion will support a growing need for backup and prime power for data centers globally, driven in part by cloud computing and generative artificial intelligence, Cat officials said.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to further invest in our Lafayette Engine Center to continue to deliver for our customers,” said Bart Myers, Caterpillar senior vice president of Large Power Systems. “We are grateful to the state of Indiana and the city of Lafayette for their support as we make this investment to ensure adequate capacity while enhancing safety for our employees.”
About 1,900 employees currently work at the Lafayette Engine Center. Cat did not indicate when the expansion would be complete.
Source: caterpillar.com