Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced plans to open an engineering design center in Rapid City, S.D. The new facility, known as the Black Hills Engineering Design Center, will provide additional engineering support services for Caterpillar's U.S. operations and will complement the company's existing engineering design centers in Chennai, India, and Champaign, Ill.

"The Black Hills Engineering Design Center is part of Caterpillar's Product Development and Global Technology Division's engineering services strategy to increase velocity and, ultimately, better serve our customers," said Tana Utley, Caterpillar vice president and chief technology officer. "For years, Caterpillar has benefited from a long relationship with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology."

"Caterpillar has long been one of our leading partners and recognizes our heritage in preparing leaders in engineering and science," said Robert Wharton, School of Mines president. "This is a great opportunity for both of us to work together and further one another's success as we make a difference both locally and globally."

The Black Hills Engineering Design Center will initially occupy 3,100 square feet of office space within the Black Hills Business Development Center in Rapid City and, when staffed at full capacity, will employ up to 100 people. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the third quarter of 2010; hiring is planned to begin at that time and ramp up over a five-year period.

Caterpillar Inc. is headquartered in Peoria, Ill.