Caterpillar To Invest £7m In NI

US engineering firm Caterpillar is to invest more than £7m in a major manufacturing project in Northern Ireland.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness revealed the announcement this morning (Friday).

The investment will see the well-known, yellow-coloured Caterpillar machines manufactured in the region. They are typically used by customers around the world for scrap sorting and handling, and forestry applications.

The new operation will facilitate around 100 positions. It is understood some will be new jobs, while others will involve the retraining of existing staff.

Invest Northern Ireland has offered Caterpillar more than £1m to secure the project, while the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) has also offered £220,000 through its Assured Skills Programme.

Welcoming the news, Mr Robinson said: "This is an extremely positive investment of £7milllion from one of Northern Ireland's most established engineering firms.

"This expansion will see the further development of skills at Caterpillar and, when fully established, approximately 100 positions will be required to run the operation.

"Caterpillar has a long tradition of manufacturing and I welcome that this is the first manufacturing project to be located in Northern Ireland from outside the firm's Electric Power Division."

Mr McGuinness added: "This £7 million investment supported by a range of assistance from both Invest NI and DEL will ensure that Caterpillar has the support it needs to fully realise its manufacturing potential within this key area.

"The 100 quality manufacturing positions required to run the operation will generate salaries in the region of £2.2million annually, ensuring that existing employees and local people have an opportunity to progress high value career development opportunities."

Caterpillar Northern Ireland Operations Director, Robert Kennedy said: "We are very pleased to have the support of Invest NI and the Department for Employment and Learning to make this investment which will enable new work to come to Northern Ireland, providing an important addition to our existing operations. All Caterpillar Northern Ireland locations will benefit through the diversification of manufacturing, enabling us to continue to develop the skills and expertise of our local workforce."

(JP/CD)