PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – An event for employees, retirees and their families helped Caterpillar celebrate a century in business.
Centennial Fest at the company’s Edwards Demonstration and Learning Center focused on the contributions of employees and retirees in the Peoria community, which once housed the company’s world headquarters.
The company’s headquarters has moved from Peoria, to Deerfield, Illinois to Irving, Texas.
The event featured a 45-minute demonstration of about 100 different machines showcasing cutting-edge technology and innovative features that have defined CAT’s legacy.
As for the next 100 years, Caterpillar Vice President of Earthmoving, Robert Strong, told 25 News, “We’re focusing on safety, productivity and helping our customers with operator shortage out there, and definitely bringing in new machines, new innovations, new services to help them with that.”
Caterpillar also celebrated its first 100 years by giving back to the community, donating $87,000 each to the Midwest Food Bank, Easter Seals and Dream Center Peoria.
Caterpillar was founded in 1925 when two companies merged (Holt Manufacturing Company and C. L. Best Tractor Company). Originally, known as Caterpillar Tractor Company, the company reorganized as Caterpillar, Inc. in 1986.
During World War II, CAT supplied the Allies with equipment and brought women to work in its factories.
According to the company website, “communications between the Apollo 11 moon landing crew and all NASA tracking stations around the world was provided by an 18-foot tracking antenna in North Carolina powered by ten Cat® diesel gen sets.”
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