Cat and Exodus join forces for material handlers

Caterpillar has reached agreement with Exodus Machines to supply the latter's models of material handlers through the Caterpillar dealer network. Available in North America immediately, in a teleconference, general managaer of the new Industrial & Waste Group Jody Howard said that work would start on making the machines comply with European certification and emission requirements. She said there was no definitive timeline, but that the machines should be available in Europe in perhaps two years. :initially the machines will remain branded as Exodus but will move to the Cat brand in 2013.

The agreement follows Caterpillar's recent formation of the Industrial & Waste Group, which will have global responsibility for this product segment and which forms part of the Diversified Products Division, led by vice president Bill Springer.

Bill said of the move: ""We are pleased to be working with Exodus to meet customers' material handler needs. Bringing together Exodus' intense focus on material handlers and their innovative designs with our unmatched distribution and product support capabilities, the alliance creates a force that will serve customers well."

Exodus was formed just three years ago by Bruce Bacon, who said of the agreement: "It's rewarding for our entire team to have Caterpillar acknowledge the value that the machines we developed bring to customers. And it's exciting that our company will continue growing to serve an industry that we are passionate about." In the teleconferenece Bruce said that Exodus will "aggressively design and build additional models to join the current two model range".

As part of the deal, Caterpillar has acquired a minority shareholding in a new company formed by Exodus, Exodus Machines LLC, and Exodus plans to expand its manufacturing operations in the Superior, Wisconsin, area.