UTE inaugurates multi-million dollar training and workshop facility

In a proactive bid to overcome the dearth of competent technicians in the field of construction and heavy machinery, United Tractor and Equipment (UTE) inaugurated a state-of-the-art training facility yesterday.

UTE has also upgraded its Caterpillar service workshop into a star level facility with an investment of over hundred million Sri Lankan Rupees. The training facility affiliated to internationally renowned Caterpillar ABC training program is a giant leap in the Sri Lankan construction industry currently experiencing exponential growth. The training centre is also affiliated to the National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA).

Several dignitaries including Caterpillar Regional Manager Steve J. Lanctot and US Embassy Economic and Commercial Officer Christopher Corkey participated at the opening ceremony held at the UTE premises in Wattala.

Inaugurating the new UTE training facility located at Wattala, Lanctot said: “This ultra-modern facility is equipped to produce technicians of the highest calibre. I am truly delighted to see that UTE is committed to maintaining the same level of leadership, innovation and sustainability that Caterpillar is renowned for world over.”

The new training facility is comprehensively equipped to provide well rounded training programs. The facility comprises of six engine workstations, two machine workstations, two generator workstations, a hydraulic and transmission workstation and electrical and computer labs among its facilities. One of the unique features of this facility is the fault simulators lab which is the first of its kind in the country.

Armed with the expertise of engineers and technicians trained at Caterpillar International Training Centres, the latest UTE training facility will undertake producing several batches of skilled Engine and Electric Power technicians every year.

Duration of the training period will be two years including nine months on the job training and three months for Caterpillar Certification Tests. The first batch of technical professionals has already commenced the Accelerated Basic Course (ABC) in the new facility.

UTE is renowned for producing skilled technicians in construction equipment and power generator sectors since its inception in 1947 through training provided under the guidance of its training department.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, UTE Chairman Priath Fernando said: “We are proud to be the pioneering private sector Sri Lankan organisation to conduct formal training for technicians on construction machines and power generators. International level training is vital to the Sri Lankan construction industry as there is a lack of professionally qualified technicians in the country.

“We hope to fill that gap and produce professionals who are able to quickly adapt to the rapid developments in the technological innovation front. Our training programs follow the curriculum developed by Caterpillar University. Not only can our technicians but also our customers’ technicians too could benefit from the training facility.” He added, “We believe this to be a timely venture of national level importance. Parallel to the economic resurgence of Sri Lanka the construction industry has grown rapidly of late and the industry is adapting latest technological innovations at the same speed. In this backdrop the country needs industrial training of a global level to stay abreast of the forecasted growth targets.” UTE is the sole authorized dealer for Caterpillar Construction Equipment and Power Generators since 1947 and the first Sri Lankan company to market these products. Cat currently is the leading brand of Construction Equipment locally as well as in the World.