Martin Provides Caterpillar Update to SCDA

Local economic development officials said that Caterpillar plans at this point to wind down operations at its Stephens County facility in the first part of 2016.

Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin updated the authority board at its meeting on Thursday.

Martin said that Caterpillar is still operating at full power as the company prepares to shut down operations at the Stephens County facility.

“Caterpillar is still looking at working through full speed, 24-7, to build up their inventory through the end of March 2016,” said Martin. “At that point in time, they will have crews come in and dismantle the four furnaces and send to their facility in Illinois.”

Martin said that means the Development Authority will look to plan a job fair sometime in early 2016 for the 118 employees currently at the Caterpillar plant.

He said no specifics have been worked out on that yet.

According to Martin, a similar event was held at Caterpillar’s Franklin, North Carolina plant, which is also being closed.

Martin said that Caterpillar is working with local officials and the employees to try and help them through this transition.

“The commitment is from Caterpillar is there will be 118 different solutions,” said Martin. “Everyone will do what is best for themselves, but there will be a lot of support and a lot of resources.”

Caterpillar announced back in January that it would close both its Toccoa and Franklin, North Carolina facilities and consolidate production to a facility in Mapleton, Illinois by the end of next year.

The Toccoa facility is located in the Hayestone-Brady Business Park on Highway 17 in Stephens County.

Both the Toccoa and Franklin, North Carolina facilities produce seals used in Caterpillar machines around the world.

Caterpillar officials said in January the decision was about improving efficiency and reducing shipping costs by locating its seal production facilities closer to its supply base and several large facilities that use these components.