Caterpillar announced Thursday that its plant in Newberry, above, and its plant in Ridgeway will begin a closure process that is expected to take up to a year to complete. In a statement, Caterpillar officials said the decision — which will impact four other locations and 820 employees total — was part of an “aggressive and significant restructuring initiative” that was announced in September 2015.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_DSC_0033.jpgCaterpillar announced Thursday that its plant in Newberry, above, and its plant in Ridgeway will begin a closure process that is expected to take up to a year to complete. In a statement, Caterpillar officials said the decision — which will impact four other locations and 820 employees total — was part of an “aggressive and significant restructuring initiative” that was announced in September 2015. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

NEWBERRY COUNTY — Caterpillar announced Thursday its intention to close its Newberry generator plant over the next 12-18 months as it consolidates Newberry’s electric power generator set packaging facility as well as Ridgeway’s generator set control panel assembly facility into existing facilities elsewhere.

The work will be consolidated into existing Caterpillar engine facilities in Seguin, Texas, Lafayette, Indiana, and Griffin, Ga. The consolidation is a part of cost reduction for the company, the company said in an official statement released to the news media. Employees were told about the closure on Thursday.

The Caterpillar facility provides 325 jobs, making it one of Newberry County’s largest employers. The company is also the third-largest taxpayer in the county, providing $1.2 million in annual property tax revenue for school and county purposes.

Caterpillar rolled its first product off the assembly line on April 5, 2006, about six months after it was announced it would be moving into the building, which had sat vacant for several years after it was built. It employed 50 people when it first opened.

For the full story, see Friday’s edition of The Newberry Observer.