Our History in Europe

June 21, 2021

Our presence around the globe is one of the many things that sets us apart from our competitors. In Europe, our solutions have served our customers for over a century. Dating back to our predecessor companies, we’ve supported projects that have helped build the continent – and we have the evidence to tell the story.

Check out these videos and photos showcasing our products in action around Europe.

Spain: Our First-Known Machine in Europe

Our oldest machine known to have worked in Europe was a wheeled Holt steam tractor, No. 59. In 1905, the Holt Manufacturing Company sold the steam tractor and a combine harvester to Fernando Flores outside Seville, Spain. Flores was so happy with the machine he purchased another.

Russia: A Pivotal Exhibition

In May 1913, Czar Nicholas II held a machine exhibition and plowing contest outside St. Petersburg, Russia, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Benjamin Holt had his new tractor there that day, ready to compete and show Russian royalty what it could do. No one knew it at the time, of course, but the event was pivotal to Caterpillar’s future success in Russia, playing a role in the drive to mechanized agriculture. 

Belgium: King Albert Canal

From 1930 to 1939, 12 of the first 25 Caterpillar track-type tractors helped construct the King Albert Canal in Belgium. 1Several years later, Caterpillar became the largest producer of diesel horsepower in the world.

Italy: Roads and Ruins

In 1967, a Cat® 955 Track Loader unearthed old Roman ruins of significant historical importance while working on the modernization and relocation of traffic lanes in the Porta Maggiore area of Rome. Porta Maggiore was one of the main entrances to the city, dating back to the year 52 A.D. Over the centuries, 10 feet of overburden accumulated, completely covering the walls, statues and hidden passages of the Basilica Maggiore. The 955 removed over 1,000 years of earth and debris, bringing the architecture back close to its former glory. 

England and France: The Chunnel

From 1987 to 1991, more than 100 Cat machines helped build both the access terminals and the 31-mile tunnel underneath the English Channel called the Chunnel, which connects England and France. The effort was labeled “the largest engineering projects of the 20th century.”

Romania: The Transylvania Motorway

From 2004 to 2018, Cat machines helped construct the 588-kilometer-long Transylvania Motorway. The Transylvania Motorway connects Bucharest with Oradea. Contractors used 135 Cat machines to construct one 258-mile segment of the four-lane highway that featured over 300 bridges, 70 overpasses and 19 interchanges.