Outside China, hospitals are struggling to get funds for diagnostic machinery such as CAT scanners, MERs and the like.

BBC: News | NHS at 50 | The NHS at 50: What you think

Under Barton's predecessor, Donald Fites, Cat squeezed its working capital in the machinery and engine businesses down to 10% of sales from 25% in 1991.

FORBES: Sharpening the claws

In January Cat completed its purchase of remaining shares in Shandong SEM Machinery, a leading maker of wheel loaders in China.

FORBES: Digging In

This time around two-thirds of Cat's product line is for economic sectors that have been in recession, estimates machinery analyst John McGinty of Credit Suisse First Boston.

FORBES: Sharpening the claws