Caterpillar Files Suit Against Deere Over Rubber Tracks

Caterpillar Files Suit Against Deere Over Rubber Tracks TRACTORS Tires/Wheels 20-5-24 In the wake of Deere & Co.'s introduction of its own rubber-tracked tractors, Caterpillar Inc. has filed suit charging Deere with infringing on its rubber track technology. Caterpillar is challenging the design of Deere's new rubber track system, saying it infringes on the patented belt system it developed for its own rubber-tracked Challenger tractor. "It's ironic that after years of telling customers that tires are better than rubber tracks, Deere designers have now decided to adopt the successsful and patented rubber-track design," says Dick Benson, Caterpillaræs vice president of diversified products. The lawsuit comes in the wake of Caterpillar's recent announcement that it is creating a separate agricultural products division to focus on the development of new farm equipment. Case-IH also recently announced availability of its new Quadtrac tractor which is fitted with rubber tracks. De-signed new from the ground up, the 360-hp. articulated tractor has four separate track units fitted with 30-in. wide rubber belts. (Wall Street Journal)

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