Whenever I hear the name Caterpillar Inc., I think of my grandfather, who worked there before I was born. The manufacturing company has been around for more than 90 years, and while it still remains a powerful player in construction, energy and infrastructure, Caterpillar has changed quite a bit since my grandpa worked there. It had to, really – to remain viable, pretty much every manufacturing company has had to shift its way of doing things. Caterpillar has been integrating additive manufacturing into its operations for a couple of years, and this week the company announced that it will be pursuing the technology even more aggressively through a new partnership with FIT AG.
FIT AG, which is based in Germany but also has headquarters in Boston, has been providing additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping services for more than two decades. The corporation, whose subsidiaries include FIT Prototyping GmbH and FIT Production GmbH, is the former parent company of netfabb, which was acquired by Autodesk in 2015. Through the terms of the new agreement, FIT AG will help Caterpillar to focus on designing and additively manufacturing parts in titanium and aluminum.
“We are thrilled to enter into a strategic alliance with Caterpillar,” said Carl Fruth, CEO of FIT AG. “Caterpillar is a world leader in many markets, which will benefit greatly from additive manufacturing. However, this requires innovative technologies and new thinking combined with experience and deep know-how. Our companies complement each other with their respective strengths.”
The partnership will boost the work being done at Caterpillar’s Additive Manufacturing Factory, which opened in December 2015 in Mossville, Illinois. The facility was set up for two main purposes: for employees to be able to learn additive manufacturing skills, and also to serve as a miniature production facility.
“Caterpillar has a long history of creating innovative products designed to fit the needs of our customers and entering into a strategic alliance with a leader in additive manufacturing will help further that tradition,” said Stacey DelVecchio, Caterpillar Additive Manufacturing Project Manager. “Not only will Caterpillar now have access to FIT AG’s cutting-edge technologies in additive manufacturing but this alliance will also help accelerate our adoption of 3-D printing.”

Caterpillar discusses its additive manufacturing success at the Benesch 3D Printing Conference in 2016. [Image: Clare Scott for 3DPrint.com]
The strategic alliance between Caterpillar and FIT AG will have an initial three-year term, and will possibly be extended further at the end of that time, depending on how successful it is. Discuss in the Caterpillar forum at 3DPB.com.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
Print Services
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.
You May Also Like
Havaianas Collaborates with Zellerfeld to Launch 3D Printed Flip-Flops
The shoe of the summer is undoubtedly the flip-flop. Easy on, easy off, your feet won’t get sweaty because there’s not much material, and they’re available in a veritable rainbow...
UCLA Researchers Develop 3D Printed Pen that May Help Detect Parkinson’s Disease
Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is difficult. Often, early symptoms of the progressive neurological condition may be overlooked, or mistaken for signs of aging. Early diagnosis can help save lives and improve...
Printing Money Episode 30: Q1 2025 Public 3D Printing Earnings Review with Troy Jensen, Cantor Fitzgerald
Printing Money is back with Episode 30, and it’s that quarterly time, so we are happy and thankful to welcome back Troy Jensen (Managing Director, Cantor Fitzgerald) to review the...
Heating Up: 3D Systems’ Scott Green Discusses 3D Printing’s Potential in the Data Center Industry
The relentless rise of NVIDIA, the steadily increasing pledges of major private and public investments in national infrastructure projects around the world, and the general cultural obsession with AI have...