Caterpillar to close plants in Sterling and Dixon

Efficiency and not performance is why Caterpillar says they’re closing plants in Sterling and Dixon and moving production to a plant in Michigan.

The company told employees at their subsidiary Anchor Coupling about the move Friday. The plants make hydraulic hose assemblies. Also closing in Sterling is a distribution center. 170 full-time jobs will be lost in Illinois.

Caterpillar says production will slow down in the fourth quarter of this year and the plants will be closed during the first quarter of next year. Workers losing their jobs will be offered severance packages.