Cat Cuts Continue: Material Handlers, Jobs In Mossville,

As it continues to adjust to an unprecedented downturn in almost every one of its end use markets, Caterpillar Inc. has announced further employment cuts, plant closings, along with another product line being discontinued, according to reports in the Peoria Journal Star, as well as overseas news organizations.

This follows the recent announcement that Cat is starting the process that will likely result in the closing of its construction equipment plant in Gosselies, Belgium.  Most of that production, mostly excavators and larger front-end loaders, is expected to move to a Cat facility in Grenoble, France and other European facilities.

Now Caterpillar has announced that it is considering discontinuing production of 25-ton and larger material handlers in Northern Ireland, including the planned launch of large material handlers for Europe.  In addition, Cat has started the process to close its Monkstown facility in Norther Ireland, along with consolidation of logistics in two other facilities in that country.  These cuts would eliminate about 200 to 250 jobs.

In Peoria, Caterpillar said it was eliminating 300 engineering, management and support positions in its nearby Mossville, Ill. facility, including at the company’s Tech Center.