Caterpillar to Showcase Customer Focus, Product Innovation and Global Strength at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011

LAS VEGAS, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is showcasing its industry leadership by featuring the broadest customer service options, product line and state-of-the-art technology at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011. The five-day event, which opens today, is the largest construction equipment trade show in the Western Hemisphere with more than 125,000 industry professionals expected to attend.

"Every customer is different, but one thing is absolutely the same, they all want the world's best products, readily available and ready to work every day," said Caterpillar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman. "CONEXPO offers us a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to our customers and to the earthmoving industry."  

"The Next Generation Starts Here" is the Caterpillar theme for this year's event, with a major focus on customer needs, breakthrough technologies and sustainable solutions. CONEXPO-CON/AGG's mass appeal will help showcase the company's rich history and the innovations that will deliver value to customers in the future. More than 200 Caterpillar experts will be on hand to talk to customers and answer questions.  

"The Caterpillar advantage is our ability to combine innovative products and services to produce the solutions our customers need to be successful," said Caterpillar Group President Stu Levenick. "While the look and feel of Cat equipment may have changed over the years, our primary goal has always been to help our customers succeed. Our products and services help customers enhance jobsite productivity, control costs, meet regulatory requirements and operate in more sustainable ways."

Caterpillar exhibit highlights:

Dealer Solutions

Caterpillar's CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 exhibit is also placing a major focus on the unique solutions provided by Cat dealers. The Dealer Solutions Center Stage features complete dealer solutions—technologies, products and services that help make customers more productive and more successful. Cat Connected Worksite technology—through the Cat dealer network—allows the jobsite of the past to become a better, faster and smarter operation. Connected Worksite provides advanced machine guidance and remote equipment monitoring solutions integrated seamlessly into business operations.

Cat Financial will also be on hand to discuss various financing options to customers. Other prominent features in the Dealer Solutions exhibit are Cat Rental and Cat Used equipment. From a large supply ranging in age and hour—to financing and extended service coverage options—Cat Dealers offer affordable alternatives to new machines and engines.

Tier 4 Technology Solutions

Caterpillar is showcasing its Tier 4 readiness throughout its exhibit by featuring a variety of Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB and Tier 4 Final machines and engines. The company's Tier 4 Final capable 775G Quarry & Construction Truck and the C1.5 engine are on display featuring their state-of-the-art design and technological advantages.

"The Caterpillar approach to Tier 4 product development is to make emissions solutions transparent to customers while improving the overall machine value," said Tana Utley, Caterpillar Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "Our design process enables us to tailor technology solutions to meet our customer and regulatory requirements."  

Caterpillar will be employing tailored emissions technology solutions to meet Tier 4 Final emissions regulations that take effect in 2014. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology will be utilized on some portion of the Caterpillar Tier 4 Final machine product line. With the addition of SCR, Caterpillar will have a full suite of technology building blocks that will best meet customer needs at Tier 4 Final.

Caterpillar's Tier 4 engine technology includes an integrated system design built upon the success of the company's ACERT technology. Additional technologies, including powertrain innovation and aftertreatment devices, will be specifically tailored and applied to products to provide maximum value to customers while meeting the stringent emission requirements mandated by law.

More than one million hours of operating data from Tier 4 prototype and pilot machines and engines has been captured since the product development effort began in 2008, making this the most aggressive validation program in Cat equipment history.

On-Highway Vocational Trucks

Caterpillar is unveiling its first Cat® Vocational Truck, the Cat CT660, at this year's show. The Cat Vocational Truck line will be sold and serviced exclusively through the Cat North American Dealer network, with production beginning after CONEXPO for customer delivery later this year. The Class 8 vocational trucks will offer custom solutions, including many different body types like dump, refuse, hauler and mixer for a large variety of job applications. Four CT660s with different body styles are on display.

Also being announced is the second model in the new line of on-highway Cat® Vocational Trucks, the Cat CT680. Like the CT660, it will be built in the United States and sold and serviced exclusively through the Cat North American Dealer network in the U.S. and Canada. The truck will feature a Set-Forward Axle (SFA), with both 116-inch and 122-inch Bumper to Back of Cab (BBC) lengths available. The development work for the CT680 is already well underway, and it will be available first quarter 2013.

Generations Park

Caterpillar is transforming an outdoor parking lot into a lush park-like setting to highlight the company's commitment to sustainable development. At Caterpillar, sustainable development means using technology and innovation to increase efficiency and productivity with less impact on the environment. The park will feature Cat Remanufacturing, Cat Eco Operator Training program, Cat Connected Worksite Solutions and a variety of social initiatives Caterpillar has developed or is sponsoring.

"Generations Park is dedicated to those around the globe who use our products. We carry a responsibility to create solutions for them that increase efficiency and productivity with less impact on the environment," said Oberhelman. "This is Caterpillar's commitment today and our promise for generations to come."

At the conclusion of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, all of the materials in the park will be donated to the Las Vegas-based Opportunity Village and the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas.  

About Caterpillar:

For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2010 sales and revenues of $42.588 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.caterpillar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relate to future events and expectations and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are subject to known and unknown factors that may cause Caterpillar's actual results to be different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "believe," "estimate," "will be," "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "project," "intend," "could," "should" or other similar words or expressions often identify forward-looking statements.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our outlook, projections, forecasts or trend descriptions.  These statements do not guarantee future performance, and Caterpillar does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

It is important to note that Caterpillar's actual results may differ materially from those described or implied in its forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) global economic conditions and economic conditions in the industries and markets Caterpillar serves; (ii) government monetary or fiscal policies and government spending on infrastructure; (iii) commodity or component price increases and/or limited availability of raw materials and component products, including steel; (iv) Caterpillar's and its customers', dealers' and suppliers' ability to access and manage liquidity; (v) political and economic risks associated with our global operations, including changes in laws, regulations or government policies, currency restrictions, restrictions on repatriation of earnings, burdensome tariffs or quotas, national and international conflict, including terrorist acts and political and economic instability or civil unrest in the countries in which Caterpillar operates; (vi) Caterpillar's and Cat Financial's ability to maintain their respective credit ratings, material increases in either company's cost of borrowing or an inability of either company to access capital markets; (vii) financial condition and credit worthiness of Cat Financial's customers; (viii) inability to realize expected benefits from acquisitions and divestitures, including the acquisition of Bucyrus International, Inc.; (ix) the possibility that the acquisition by Caterpillar of Bucyrus International, Inc. does not close for any reason, including, but not limited to, a failure to obtain required regulatory approvals; (x) international trade and investment policies, such as import quotas, capital controls or tariffs; (xi) the possibility that Caterpillar's introduction of Tier 4 emissions compliant machines and engines is not successful; (xii) market acceptance of Caterpillar's products and services; (xiii) effects of changes in the competitive environment, which may include decreased market share, lack of acceptance of price increases, and/or negative changes to our geographic and product mix of sales; (xiv) union disputes or other employee relations issues; (xv) Caterpillar's ability to successfully implement the Caterpillar Production System or other productivity initiatives; (xvi) adverse changes in sourcing practices of our dealers or original equipment manufacturers; (xvii) compliance costs associated with environmental laws and regulations; (xviii) alleged or actual violations of trade or anti-corruption laws and regulations; (xix) additional tax expense or exposure; (xx) currency fluctuations, particularly increases and decreases in the U.S. dollar against other currencies; (xxi) failure of Caterpillar or Cat Financial to comply with financial covenants in their respective credit facilities; (xxii) increased funding obligations under our pension plans; (xxiii) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or investigations; (xxiv) imposition of operational restrictions or compliance requirements if carbon emissions legislation and/or regulations are adopted; (xxv) changes in accounting standards or adoption of new accounting standards; (xxvi) adverse effects of natural disasters; and (xxvii) other factors described in more detail under "Item 1A.  Risk Factors" in Part I of our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 22, 2011 for the year ended December 31, 2010.  This filing is available on our website at www.caterpillar.com/secfilings.  

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.