Eaton Boosting Capacity To Meet Strong Demand

iversified manufacturer Eaton Corp. said Jan. 24 that last year's strong demand for Class 8 trucks should continue into 2006, and it was increasing capacity at existing plants that make its products and technologies.

The company also noted that the Chinese heavy-duty market eventually could rival the market in the United States, and said raw materials, especially metals, would remain costly. It reported strong improvements in profitability from its truck parts unit, specifically, and for the company as a whole.

“We are ramping up investments in this [truck] business both in research and development and Asia Pacific,” Alexander Cutler, Eaton’s chairman and chief executive officer said in a conference call with investment analysts and journalists.