Foster keen on Cat's future
May 31, 2009
(BEACON NEWS, AURORA) — Caterpillar workers described U.S. Rep. Bill Foster as a kid in a candy shop, as he toured the massive plant off Route 31 and learned from company leaders from here and Peoria about the company's future.
During his morning-long tour Wednesday, Foster maneuvered the single-seat 992K wheel loader produced at the Oswego Township plant, the third-largest piece of equipment manufactured there.
"I love hydraulic design, and I'm a big fan of welding and steel alloys," said Foster, a businessman and former scientist at Fermilab.
"I guess they got nontypical questions from a congressman about welding techniques. Maybe I should start a welding caucus when I get back to Washington," the Geneva Democrat joked.
The visit to Caterpillar was part of Foster's Jobs and the Economy tour of local companies in the 14th Congressional District, from companies as large as Caterpillar, to mom-and-pop shops with a handful of employees.
He left Caterpillar with a brighter perspective on the plant, which has been hit with 600 layoffs so far this year and another 815 jobs expected to be cut in June.
What impressed Foster about Caterpillar's current position is the $250 million investment the company made in the plant over four years, which covered the cost of new equipment and machinery to speed up production.
Foster also credited the plant for bringing some work back in-house. Hydraulic assembly work had previously been completed by subcontractors.
"That's the sort of thing you want to do as a businessman," Foster said.