Caterpillar production ends, plant closes
Published 1:24 pm Monday, November 28, 2016
- Jordan Barela/Times-EnterpriseThe work at the Thomasville Caterpillar plant has been consolidated with one of the company's other facilities in Illinois.
THOMASVILLE — With about 10 employees left at the Thomasville Caterpillar plant, production has ended. Only a clean-up crew remains at the 100 Caterpillar Way facility.
The plant is closing as a result of consolidating engine system manufacturing into one facility to reduce the company’s manufacturing footprint, according to information provided by Jarod D. Moss, Thomasville plant facility manager.
The Thomasville plant manufactured fuel system and after-treatment components for Caterpillar engines and machines serving multiple industries.
The 168,000-square-foot plant, which opened in 1998, employed about 200.
Work previously done here will be consolidated into the Pontiac, Illinois, Caterpillar plant.
Displaced Thomasville Caterpillar employees received company severance packages and services to ensure personnel has support during the transition.
Shelley Zorn, Thomasville Payroll Development Authority (PDA) executive director, said the PDA is eager to fill the Caterpillar building with high-quality jobs.
“We have marketed the building to our statewide partners, power companies, site consultants and national Realtors with outstanding results,” Zorn said. “We have had numerous requests for information on the site and several visits from national companies interested in the building. We will continue to work diligently until we replace the valuable jobs lost at the Caterpillar.”
Meanwhile, the PDA has worked with the Georgia Department of Labor and the Georgia Department of Economic Development to place former Caterpillar employees in a new career.
Said Zorn, “Existing industry in our community and in our region have been extremely interested in hiring the former Caterpillar employees. They are highly skilled, highly trained and highly motivated. Many of the former employees have already found jobs in our area, some are going back to continue their education, and some are considering starting their own businesses. We will continue to monitor their progress through the new year.”
Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820
