Caterpillar digs for new opportunities

China's stricter environmental protection regulations and its booming natural gas industry will create opportunities for global machinery manufacturers, which are grappling with a global economic slowdown.

Last year was a tough one for the world's heavy equipment producers. The world's second-largest economy - China - was facing multiple problems, such as rising costs, low product prices and falling demand, which throttled profit growth.

However, foreign participants in the industry still express strong confidence in China's economy as they seek new growth avenues.