Caterpillar mulls closure of its Belgian manufacturing plant
by The Associated Press
Closing the plant in the Wallonia region, which had been given government financial support, would impact 2,000 workers
Caterpillar 6060 FS Hydraulic Mining Shovel.
Prime Minister Charles Michel and Economy Minister Kris Peeters were expected to attend an emergency meeting with leaders of the Wallonia regional government, home to Caterpiller’s Gosselies site. Paul Magnette, leader of the regional government, sought meetings with unions and company management.
Magnette told local media Friday he was scandalized by Caterpillar’s announcement since the Gosselies site had been given government financial support.
In a post on its website, Caterpillar said that in line with its September 2015 global restructuring plan, it was considering shifting production of construction equipment now at Gosselies to Grenoble, France, and other facilities outside Europe.
