EDWARDS, Ill. – One of three places in the world where Caterpillar gives consumers a chance to try equipment before they buy it is located in Peoria County.
The Edwards Demonstration and Learning Center is a dedicated facility for Cat dealers and customers to get demonstrations and training for construction equipment before buying from a dealer. Centers are also located in Tucson, Arizona and Malaga, Spain.
Facility Manager Chad Cremeens says the facility is an integral part of Caterpillar’s operations.
“We had a customer viewing a 395 (large hydraulic excavator), so he got to work with the product expert, he got to work with an expert operator, and he got to get his hands on a brand new 395 piece of equipment with all the technology products,” Cremeens said. “It’s a really good scenario.”
The center sits on 720 acres of land with 7 outdoor demo sites and two indoor arenas to showcase equipment. Cremeens says that can help someone go more in-depth with a product than what they can see at a dealer, using an excavator as an example.
“They may not have an area to run the machine. Y’know, it’s a large machine, and it takes a lot of material to highlight that machine’s capabilities,” Cremeens said.
In addition to excavators, other machines that can be demonstrated include bulldozers, backhoes, and motor graders.
The facility isn’t open to the public, with Caterpillar officials saying the public can view their latest equipment and machines at the Caterpillar Visitors Center in downtown Peoria.
