Touring the Caterpillar plant in Bogart was amazing! I was with a group of OLLI members and we learned so much about the facility. We were not allow to take photos inside the plant.
Move to Bogart
When Caterpillar started their search for a new facility, they were focused on the southeast since approximately 70% of their customer base is located here and along the Atlantic coastline. They wanted to have a good supply of workers, be near a port for shipping, and have nearby rail service. They initially considered three states including Georgia. The Orkin tract was the Georgia location and won out in part due to the excellent cooperation of Oconee and Clarke counties.
Made in Bogart
This video from Caterpillar Athens Facebook page, is showing off a new product with Bluetooth radio.. and more!
Caterpillar makes Mini Hydraulic Excavators and the Small Track-Type Tractors (bulldozers) at the Bogart facility. These machines are shipped all over the United States and to countries around the world. They currently employ around 1,600 at this location, including about 75 employees that transferred from other Caterpillar facilities.
The contributions Caterpillar makes to the community and the local residents who are employed here are just a couple of reasons to appreciate what Caterpillar brings to the area.
The Caterpillar tour
The plant was very clean and organized. It is huge, with the building covering over 19 acres and plenty of space for growth as they need it. They use robots for various jobs including welding. The robots are capable of maintaining the exact position and pressure needed to get a perfect weld. And they can work with no breaks! If a problem comes up while the operator is away, the robot sends a text message. When building this heavy equipment, it’s important to pay attention to the details.
A Brief History of Caterpillar
From Cleveland Brothers:
Caterpillar Inc. traces its origins to the 1925 merger of the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C. L. Best Tractor Company, creating a new entity, the California-based Caterpillar Tractor Company. In 1986, the company reorganized itself as a Delaware corporation under the current name, Caterpillar Inc.
While the Caterpillar Tractor Company was originally formed in 1925 as the result of a merger between the Holt Manufacturing Company and C. L. Best Tractor Company, the Caterpillar name originated years earlier. In the early 1900s, seeking for a way to improve the mobility and traction of his company’s steam tractors, Benjamin Holt replaced the wheels with wooden tracks bolted to chains. The innovation worked so well that one bystander was said to have remarked that the machine crawled along much like a caterpillar. Holt agreed, and dubbed his new machine “Caterpillar,” a name he eventually trademarked in 1910. In 1986 Caterpillar officially changed the company name from Caterpillar Tractor Company to Caterpillar, Inc.
Homes for sale in Bogart:
If you work for Caterpillar or just want to live in a convenient location, near Athens, west Oconee County, and Hwys 78 and 316, check out these Bogart homes for sale:
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