Caterpillar to downsize Aurora facility

Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. said Monday it plans to immediately start consolidating the space at its facilities in Aurora as well as in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The company said it aims to "drive efficiencies," but spokeswoman Barbara Cox said they could not disclose the amount of savings.

She also said no workers would be affected by the consolidation. She could not say how many workers are on the campuses.

In Aurora, the company plans to reduce about 1 million square feet of manufacturing space and eliminate the use of one of its largest buildings on campus. Aurora will continue to produce large and medium wheel loaders, compactors, and wheel dozers, as well as powertrain and tube components associated with those products, the company said.

In South Milwaukee, where the company makes electric rope shovels, hydraulic mining shovels and draglines, Caterpillar plans to redesign and retool the facility, removing the need for more than 260,000 square feet of production space in its manufacturing footprint.

"We continue to evaluate our operations for efficiency, to lower cost and to improve competitiveness. This decision allows us to more competitively position the products produced on these campuses, and it provides employees in these facilities clarity around our long-term plans for maintaining production," said Ed Rapp, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for resource industries.