Caterpillar invests £7m in Northern Ireland factories
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Caterpillar says a £7 million investment in its Northern Ireland factories will result in 100 jobs, some new and others involving retraining existing staff.
Invest Northern Ireland has contributed £1 million towards the development, while the Department of Employment and Learning has handed over £220,000 through its Assured Skills Programme.
In September 2012, the firm cut more than 700 jobs as it moved some manufacturing to China.
Caterpillar Northern Ireland operations director Robert Kennedy said: "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."
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said: "The project is especially important as it has the potential to help attract additional projects from the wider Caterpillar family. This new project for Northern Ireland will also offer our local workforce the opportunity to develop key transferable skills that will add value to our manufacturing sector, bringing further economic benefit."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added: "The 100 quality manufacturing positions required to run the operation will generate salaries in the region of £2.2 million annually, ensuring that existing employees and local people have an opportunity to progress high-value career development opportunities."
Caterpillar bought out Northern Ireland diesel generator set manufacturer FG Wilson in 1999.
It has plants in west Belfast, Newtownabbey and Larne.
