Caterpillar Inc. has announced it will locate its global headquarters and a limited group of senior executives and support functions in the Chicago area later this year and reaffirmed the ongoing importance of its presence in Peoria and central Illinois. 

“Caterpillar’s board of directors has been discussing the benefits of a more accessible, strategic location for some time,” says Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby. “Since 2012, about two-thirds of Caterpillar’s sales and revenues have come from outside the United States. Locating our headquarters closer to a global transportation hub, such as Chicago, means we can meet with our global customers, dealers and employees more easily and frequently.

“We value our deep roots in central Illinois, and Peoria will continue to be our hometown. The vast majority of our people will remain in this important region where we have many essential facilities and functions,” adds Umpleby. “The new location is also an opportunity to add to our talented team while improving the productivity of our senior leaders.” 

As a result of continuing challenging market conditions and the need to prioritize resources to focus on growth, Caterpillar will not build the previously announced headquarters complex in Peoria. The current headquarters building will continue to be used for Caterpillar offices. 

Over the last five years, even while facing these challenging conditions, Caterpillar, along with its employees and retirees, has contributed more than $60 million to support thousands of families, organizations and programs across Central Illinois. The company will continue its philanthropic support and deep civic involvement in the Peoria area. 

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis says, “As mayor, I never want jobs moving out of the city. However, the overwhelming majority of Caterpillar employees and their families based in the Peoria area won’t be impacted by this decision. I’m pleased Caterpillar continues to call Peoria its hometown."

“If Caterpillar succeeds globally, we win in Central Illinois," says Peoria County Board Chairman Andrew Rand. "I’m disappointed we can’t keep every job here, but if moving some of its team near Chicago helps Caterpillar thrive, it will benefit Peoria, our county and the surrounding communities." 

A limited number of senior executives will move into leased office space beginning in 2017. Once the new location is fully operational, Caterpillar expects about 300 employees to be based there, which includes some positions relocated from the Peoria area.

Precision AirConvey Corp. (PAC), Newark, Delaware, has established a dedicated team of engineers who are tasked with solving critical challenges in health care, recycling and facility design. The Precision AirConvey Laundry and Waste Group specializes in the custom design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of pneumatic conveying systems that automatically transport bagged waste, soiled linen and/or recycling from multiple collection points in a facility to central points for pickup or laundering.

The PAC Laundry and Waste Group offers automated vacuum systems to replace manual laundry and waste collection systems that rely on rolling carts. Ideal for use in hospitals, multifamily housing, hotels and other facilities, the company says its latest systems minimize cart movement through the facility, reduce exposure to germs, sharps and other hazards and support infection and pest control measures while boosting worker safety and productivity.

To operate these systems, workers are giving secure access to the computer control system. They place their bags of trash, laundry or recycling into the separate load stations, close the station doors and walk away. The company's patent pending Q-Chute automatically meters the bundles into the powered chute system for fast, efficient transport, all hidden from view behind the walls, PAC says. The company built a full-scale, fully operating automated laundry and waste removal system in its test laboratory and offers tours by appointment.

In addition to designing systems for new facilities, additions and renovations, the PAC Laundry and Waste Group also repairs, services and modernizes existing transport systems installed by any company, even by those no longer in operation.

Sennebogen has introduced the next generation of its 860 E-series material. Featuring the Green Hybrid energy recovery system, the new material handlers are designed for port use and for scrap handling and offer lifting capacities of 6.2 tonnes with a maximum reach of up to 23 metres (75 feet). The new generation of the 860 series saves up to 30% more fuel than the previous version, Sennebogen says.

With the new generation of E-Series machines, Sennebogen says it has further optimized its material handlers. The new generation of machines is driven by a powerful 261-kilowatt diesel engine complying with Tier 4f emission standards, including automatic idle stop and EcoMode. A Tier 3a version and an electric version also are available. Effectively, the maximum range of the 860 series was increased by 2 metres (6.5 feet) to 23 metres, Sennebogen says, and even with the longest reach, a load of 6.2 tonnes is still possible and within safety limits.

The Sennebogen Green Hybrid energy recovery system features an energy recovery cylinder mounted on the boom in between the two hoist cylinders, offsetting the weight of the boom in its function, significantly reducing energy costs by up to 30%. This additional hydraulic cylinder stores the energy produced when the boom is lowered in compressed gas cylinders placed in the rear of the machine. This accumulated energy is then provided during the next stroke, Sennebogen explains. The principle is similar to a spring being compressed and then releasing its energy when it is allowed to expand. Together with Green Efficiency, maximum energy efficiency is achieved, the company says.

The 860 offers operators a comfortable work space with an overview from the elevating Maxcab cab, Sennebogen says. The Maxcab can be upgraded to the Mastercab, which offers an additional 9 metres (29.5 feet) of rise.

The new E-Series of the 860 supplements the range of Green Line material handlers for port handling and scrap yard applications. Configurations are available for such operations, allowing the machine to be tailored to customer-specific requirements.

The 860 series is available with a mobile undercarriage, crawler undercarriage, pylon variants, gantry solutions and rail undercarriages.

Sennebogen is based in Straubing, Germany. It’s North American subsidiary, Sennebogen LLC, is based in Stanley, North Carolina.  

Caterpillar, Peoria, Illinois, will launch new Cat Connect hardware and software to enable equipment managers to connect all of their assets—from the largest earthmover to the smallest generator, and including both light and heavy-duty trucks and utility vehicles—at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2017 March 7 to 11 in Las Vegas. New Cat Product Link technologies connect any brand and type of equipment, powered or non-powered, and all report through a single system, VisionLink.

The new technologies offer multiple communications channels—cellular, satellite and Bluetooth. And the systems are designed to use plug-and-play technology and apps for mobile devices. Battery backup for machine-powered devices and long-life batteries for units on non-powered assets help ensure reliable operation.

The new Product Link device for monitoring production machines has scalable features that are designed to increase data collected as needed—from machine hours and location through machine health parameters and production numbers. In contrast, a new tracking device for non-powered assets, such as attachments and trailers, reports location only. The device uses Bluetooth technology to connect with VisionLink, which enables managers to monitor equipment remotely using their smart phones, tablets and desktop computers.

The new truck monitoring hardware is designed for retrofitting all brands of light and heavy-duty trucks, including pickup trucks, service trucks and materials haulers.