Caterpillar has agreed a five-year deal with leading international mining group, Rio Tinto, to support and supply a broad range of Cat^® equipment to Rio Tinto mines worldwide. It is the second consecutive five-year agreement between the two companies, but expands to include the full range of Cat equipment. As part of this agreement Rio mine personnel, Cat dealers and Caterpillar employees will work collaboratively to improve machine and mine performance.

“Rio Tinto has been and continues to be a valued customer, so we are thrilled to be expanding our products and services provided to them,” said Chris Curfman, President of the Caterpillar Global Mining Division. “The purchase, supply and support agreement will leverage the full range of Cat equipment and showcase the strengths of Cat mining dealers.”

Some 90% of Rio Tinto’s assets are in Australia, North America and Europe. Additionally, the company has significant businesses in South America, Asia and southern Africa. The majority of the mines are open-pit operations and the majority of equipment supplied by Cat will be surface mining equipment, including large mining trucks, track-type tractors, large wheel loaders and motor graders.

In June Caterpillar announced that it is accelerating capacity expansion plans for trucks in Decatur, Illinois, USA, with additional capacity expected to come on line beginning in 2011. The expansion in Decatur will increase truck capacity at the facility by nearly 30%. Decatur produces Caterpillar’s largest mining trucks, including the new 795F AC electric drive truck, the first AC electric truck ever manufactured by Caterpillar. Pre-production models of the 795F AC are being tested at a Rio Tinto mine.