Caterpillar is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, industrial turbines, engines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Formed from the merger of two competitors in 1925, Caterpillar traces its origins to the fertile San Joaquin Valley, California’s agricultural heartland. The company’s name stems from one of the founders’ inventions, which replaced a steam tractor’s rear wheels with a track system that observers likened to a caterpillar as the machine crawled across soggy terrain. Caterpillar has seen its bright yellow machines become a familiar sight at construction sites around the world, while its employees develop products for industries ranging from oil and gas drilling and power generation to marine and rail technology.
