In This Article:
Nov. 4—In 1998, Caterpillar Inc. opened in Sanford with one building and less than 100 employees.
Twenty-five years later, the company continues to invest in its product — compact track loaders — as well as its employees and the community.
On Thursday, company officials marked the silver anniversary by taking state and local officials on a tour of the Womack Road plant.
"Sanford (location) started in 1998 and manufactured 20 machines the first year," said Dave Emonson, a regional vice president and general manager for Caterpillar. "Since then, we've manufactured more than 420,000."
And what started as a single building on the outskirts of Central Carolina Enterprise Park has grown to five in Lee County. Two are at the Womack Road location and the company has just purchased a building next door, Emonson said. Other sites are on Boone Trail and Harvey Faulk Road.
Caterpillar manufactures compact track/steel loaders that are shipped around the world and are used for construction, road work, clearing land and more.
Two new models of compact track loaders were unveiled at the event.
"They have more performance, move more material, lift higher and there's more comfort in the operator environment," Emon said.
Caterpillar Inc. credits its workers — including those in Sanford — with making the company known across the globe.
"We would not be successful without all the employees that we've got, not just in this facility, but in all the supporting facilities. They enable us to build the highest quality machines to sell to our customers. It is a family." Emonson said.
A picture of the first employees in 1998 hangs on a wall inside one of the buildings. If you look closely, you will see Bobby Rumbley, a Sanford resident who is still at the plant.
Rumbley learned about the plant by hearing the company CEO's high praises of the workforce.
"The next night, it was announced that Caterpillar was coming here," he said.
Rumbley didn't hesitate to apply for a job and was hired. He has no regrets.
He is a CNC — computer numerically controlled — machinist. That means he checks the computer-programmed machine to ensure that everything is working properly.
"It's a great place to work. It's fun and the work is engaging," Rumbley said. "You get to work on a product, and you have ownership of it and by ownership, I mean, you get to make your own decisions. There's not somebody running you down all the time all day.
"They treat you like you want to be treated."