Caterpillar Inc. plans to open an engineering office in South Dakota that is expected to employ up to 100 people in five years, the construction equipment company said Tuesday.
The Black Hills Engineering Design Center in Rapid City is scheduled to open by the end of September. The center will occupy 3,100 square feet of existing office space and will draw engineers and draftsmen from graduates and students of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Western Dakota Tech.
“Caterpillar has long been one of our leading partners and recognizes our heritage in preparing leaders in engineering and science,” said Robert Wharton, president of the South Dakota School of Mines. “This is a great opportunity for both of us to work together.”
The Black Hills center will complement the Peoria, company’s existing engineering centers in Champaign and Chennai, India.
Caterpillar’s stock was recently trading down 0.70 percent at $70.56 a share.
