25.06.2010 Caterpillar and Wacker Neuson Strategic Alliance

Caterpillar and Wacker Neuson have signed a strategic alliance that will see them work together on the design, manufacture, sale and support of Caterpillar's sub 3-tonne mini excavators. Under the agreement, Wacker Neuson will manufacture the three affected models in Caterpillar's range at its factory in Linz, Austria. These machines will be built to Caterpillar's specifications and sold by the company's dealer network around the world except in Japan. All Caterpillar models will be clearly differentiated from comparable Wacker Neuson models.

By shifting production to Wacker Neuson, both companies would benefit from economies of scale by spreading the cost of manufacturing across higher volumes. For Wacker Neuson the deal would result in more than doubling the volume of sub-3 tonne mini excavators produced at its Linz plant by about 2012. Also the deal would increase the number of models available in this weight category to Caterpillar's customers. Currently Cat has three models of 3t and below but the new range will consist of up to seven machines, starting from 800kg. The initial term of the agreement is 20 years.

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