Shandong SEM Machinery Co., Ltd. (SEM) and Weifang Educational College (WEC) celebrated ground breaking of the SEM Training Center on June 11. Located on the WEC campus, the 4,000 square-meter building was part of an educational collaboration program between SEM and WEC.

When the construction is completed in the second quarter of 2010, the SEM Training Center will serve as a regional learning center with a wide range of engineering programs offered to WEC students and SEM employees, suppliers and dealers. The training curriculum will leverage Caterpillar´s existing educational resources, including the Caterpillar University, and the WEC faculty members.

The SEM Training Center will also house a Simulated Work Environment (SWE) for CPS (Caterpillar Production System) training, as well as classrooms for providing training in assembly, welding and other fields.

The Training Center demonstrates again Caterpillar´s long-term commitment to the Qingzhou community. "We will continue to support the positive and unique partnership SEM has with the local government and community," said Paul Blackburn