Opening in 1965 the Caterpillar plant in Gosselies, Belgium was a huge manufacturing plant. Excavators and parts were assembled until closure in 2016.
Visited April 2018 Gosselies, Belgium Closed, Decommissioned
Production of hydraulic excavators and medium-wheel loaders began at Caterpillar’s Gosselies plant in 1965. At 100 hectares, this was the biggest industrial site in Wallonia, Belgium’s southern region and was home to the headquarters of Caterpillar Belgium. By 1967, Caterpillar workers produced 40 machines a month, from diesel engines to industrial equipment. In 1972, a new assembly hall covering eight hectares was added. In 2000, the plant started to make its first electric motors for industrial equipment. Some 97 percent of the output of the plant was exported to the world market, until 2013 when management limited it to the European Union. In later years the facility concentrated on the manufacture only of components rather than full-scale assembly. The factory closed in 2016 with the loss of 2,000 jobs, and manufacturing was shifted to existing plants in other countries.
Archive images from when the facility was in useCaterpillar, Gosselies – The vast, now empty space in the first building we enteredCaterpillar, Gosselies – Part of a production lineCaterpillar, Gosselies – Converyors on a production lineCaterpillar, Gosselies – Parts manufacturing areaCaterpillar, Gosselies – Manufactured parts such as bearingsCaterpillar, Gosselies – An array of pipes and valvesCaterpillar, Gosselies – Parts manufacturing and assemblyCaterpillar, Gosselies – Parts machiningCaterpillar, Gosselies – Rows of furnacesCaterpillar, Gosselies – Aichelin Furnace and control panelCaterpillar, Gosselies – More assembly areasCaterpillar, Gosselies – Manufacturing machineryCaterpillar, Gosselies – Furnaces and machineryCaterpillar, Gosselies – Automated forklift vehiclesCaterpillar, Gosselies – Karl Klink machinesCaterpillar, Gosselies – One of the production robotsCaterpillar, Gosselies – ABB robot with forked attachmentCaterpillar, Gosselies – Automated abrasion machinesCaterpillar, Gosselies – Another robotCaterpillar, Gosselies – One of the control stationsCaterpillar, Gosselies – Robot on the production lineCaterpillar, Gosselies – Automated lathesCaterpillar, Gosselies – Front of an automated latheCaterpillar, Gosselies – More robotic production lineCaterpillar, Gosselies – Inside a latheCaterpillar, Gosselies – Inside an automated machineCaterpillar, Gosselies – Paint sprayer and extractionCaterpillar, Gosselies – WalkwayCaterpillar, Gosselies – The site’s massive water tower
One thought on Caterpillar Manufacturing Plant, Gosselies, Belgium
I visited Gosselies plant in 1998 while working for the argentinian dealer, I still work for a Cat dealer, now in Europe. I love the brand and it breakes my heart to see the plant like this. Thanks for sharing.
Gosselies, Belgium Closed, Decommissioned 
I visited Gosselies plant in 1998 while working for the argentinian dealer, I still work for a Cat dealer, now in Europe. I love the brand and it breakes my heart to see the plant like this. Thanks for sharing.