Caterpillar showcases manufacturing excellence to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at its Peterborough Engine Centre

For Immediate Release: April 7, 2023

The importance of the UK’s manufacturing industry was among the key discussion topics when Caterpillar hosted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week (April 5) at its Peterborough Engine Centre, which produces Cat^® and Perkins-branded 1.1 to 7.1 litre industrial engines.

“The Peterborough facility is an excellent example of world-class manufacturing here in the UK,” said the Prime Minister, adding: “I was delighted to see the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable manufacturing, learn more about the investment that has been made and get the opportunity to speak with some of the employees who are clearly committed to delivering the best product for their customers in the UK and overseas.”

The Prime Minister saw firsthand examples of the component manufacturing before putting his operator skills to the test on the production line, where he helped with the assembly operation of air and pressure sensors on a Cat C4.4 industrial engine.

During the visit, the Prime Minister spent time with some of the company’s apprentices learning more about their ongoing skills development at Caterpillar and spoke with operators from the production line about the importance of their roles in supporting the company’s continued growth ambitions.

“We are delighted to welcome the Prime Minister and Paul Bristow, the MP for Peterborough, as the visit is an opportunity for us to showcase the best of UK manufacturing and the continued investment Caterpillar has made at this site and its 12 other manufacturing locations within the UK,” said Caterpillar UK Country Director and Industrial Power Systems Vice President and General Manager David Goldspink. “We’re very proud of the Peterborough facility and the design, research and development, and manufacturing undertaken here, as we work closely with our customers to help power a better, more sustainable world.”

During the visit, company leaders also discussed with the Prime Minister the wide range of skills required to support the continued success of the UK’s manufacturing industry, as Caterpillar highlighted its ongoing commitment to its successful apprenticeship programme and graduate schemes, in addition to its STEM work with local schools.

The Peterborough facility manufactures Cat and Perkins-branded power solutions for more than 5,000 different applications around the world. The site is also home to a 1.36MW photovoltaic (PV) array – providing the equivalent of 100% of the facility’s base load and supporting our operations as well as having a positive impact on the site’s environmental impact and biodiversity.