Caterpillar and Eaton Corp. recently announced a joint venture to provide a total systems approach to integrated, reliable electric power solutions for customer needs.

The joint venture combines the global resources and expertise of Caterpillar, the Caterpillar dealer network and Eaton's Cutler-Hammer Group. Eaton will own 51 percent of the joint venture, with Caterpillar owning the remaining 49 percent.

The joint venture will operate under the name Intelligent Switchgear Organization LLC and will be based in Alpharetta, Ga. It will capitalize on Caterpillar's reputation of providing advanced generator set control switchgear using PowerLynx technology and on Eaton's strength in the electrical distribution switching market.

The product lines for the joint venture will include paralleling switchgear and automatic transfer switches used for emergency or prime power applications for a wide variety of facilities, ranging from commercial and industrial facilities to utility and generation installations. The product line will carry the Cat brand. The joint venture will sell its products exclusively through the Caterpillar dealer network focused initially in North America, with plans to begin expansion through the global Cat dealer network in 2004.