Caterpillar Inc: Age of the Yellow Kingdom
For more than 90 years, Caterpillar Inc., also known as CAT, has been setting the pace in the construction and mining industries. This large multinational company has managed to gain such a wide reputation and popularity that its brand sounds familiar even to a non-specialist ear. And the first association does not include the image of an insect with the same name. Instead, one would certainly think of some heavy machinery painted yellow or rugged boots with the familiar yellow-black emblem. (caterpillar work clothes is popular with builders and adventurous moms who need extremely comfortable and durable clothing).
Current product segments
Today, Caterpillar Inc. focuses on its three main product segments: construction industries, resources and energy industries, and transportation. In addition to leading the mining and construction equipment markets (producing more than 30 types of machines), Caterpillar excels at manufacturing diesel and natural gas engines.
rise of legend
The birth of this remarkable company as we know it today came from the merger of Holt Manufacturing Company and CL Best Tractor Co. in 1925. Previously, both companies worked on track-type tractors (originally steam and gasoline). fed later). The word “Caterpillar” was registered as a trademark by the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1910, and almost immediately became synonymous with the track-type vehicle.
In 1928, the newly founded Caterpillar Tractor Co. decided to expand its highly promising business into the road building industry by purchasing the Russell Grader Manufacturing Company. Thus, Caterpillar began the practice of acquisitions, which allowed the company to establish new goals and reach new markets. Shortly thereafter, the expanded company introduced the industry’s first true motor grader. In fact, the introduction of the industry’s first vehicles and equipment has been a fine tradition for Caterpillar since its inception. At the same time, the brand’s designers developed the new paint color “Hi-Way Yellow” with a black border for its products. Coming back to the present, it’s safe to say that the color choice was perfect. According to color psychology, yellow is characterized as mentally creative (the color of new ideas and practical thinking). According to public surveys, people often associate this color with joy and fun. And according to Caterpillar, yellow has become an integral part of the company’s overall success. In 1979, the brand even implemented a new special paint “Caterpillar Yellow” instead of “Hi-Way Yellow”.
The history of Caterpillar Inc. reflects not only the development of a particular company, but is also associated with the progress of infrastructure, as well as energy and natural resource assets on every continent.
application fields
CAT teams helped start construction of the Bhakra Dam (India), the Mangla Dam (Pakistan), the Yacyreta Dam (Paraguay and Argentina), the Ataturk Dam (Turkey), the Three Gorges Dam (China). One of the main workhorses on these types of construction sites is an excavator. The first brand hydraulic excavator was introduced in 1972. Since then, Caterpillar excavators have been the most in-demand excavating machines on the market.
In addition, Caterpillar machines are active participants in mines around the world. In 1962, the brand introduced its first off-road truck: the 769. Today, the different versions of Caterpillar haul trucks represent one of the main products in the company profile.
Other important missions of the manufacturer include: participation in the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge; the expansion works of the sections of the Panama Canal; the construction of the Kansai International Airport, located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay (Japan); helping to complete the Saemangeum Seawall, the longest man-made seawall in the world.
Moreover, this giant company does not seem to have any limits. In 1955, the US government used Caterpillar’s custom-built equipment for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. The further, the more! In 1969, Caterpillar engines supplied power for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
company strategy
After “shooting for the moon” in the previous century, Caterpillar welcomes everyone to the Intelligent Iron Age. In today’s world, advances are happening faster and more frequently than ever before. As an incentive for productivity, the manufacturer underlines the crucial role of connectivity. To deliver total company growth, Caterpillar is focused on its three strategic goals: maintaining superior shareholder results, building the best team within the company, and continuing to lead global markets and satisfy brand customers.