Caterpillar Announces New Parts Distribution Center in Mexico

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PEORIA, Ill., March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Logistics Inc. (Cat Logistics), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), today announced further enhancements to its parts distribution network with the addition of a new parts distribution center in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The 500,000-square-foot facility will employ up to 150 people and is expected to be operational mid-2013. The capital city, San Luis Potosi, serves as an ideal location for a strategic logistics operation. Access to major airports and a rail hub is complemented by a major highway crossroads providing easy access to transportation routes between major cities in Mexico. 

This investment represents the first of many aimed at enhancing parts distribution operations in Central and South America. The facility in Mexico will be the sixth new parts distribution center in the modernization plan and will join new facilities in Central California; Clayton, Ohio; Spokane, Wash.; Waco, Texas; and Dubai, UAE. The added facilities represent nearly four million square feet of increased capacity to the overall distribution network and clearly demonstrate our commitment to providing unmatched parts availability to customers and dealers around the world.

In addition to these new facilities, there are also capacity expansion projects underway at existing Cat Logistics facilities in Atlanta, Georgia; Grimbergen, Belgium; Melbourne, Australia; and Shanghai, China. These projects are focused on delivering unmatched customer support by increasing capacity and realizing network efficiencies. All of these facilities are leveraging common systems and processes in addition to Service Parts Management (SPM), a global solution that replaces multiple legacy software systems supporting the Cat parts network. 

"We are pleased to reach the next stage of our multiyear expansion, and this facility will further enable us to meet the significant growth in this region now and in the future," said Steve Larson, vice president of Caterpillar Inc., and chairman and president of Cat Logistics. "Our investments in state-of-the-art technology and processes have one purpose—ensuring that Caterpillar and Cat dealers support our customers' success better than anyone else," Larson added.

In addition to the global expansion and enhancement of the Cat parts distribution network, Caterpillar has announced a number of strategic capacity expansions globally including new and existing manufacturing facilities and additional research and development capacity. These actions have occurred in the United States, South America, Europe and across Asia, positioning the company to meet growing demand for its products in the coming years. 

About Caterpillar:

For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2011 sales and revenues of $60.138 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.caterpillar.com.

About Cat Logistics:

Caterpillar Logistics Inc. provides world-class supply chain solutions and services to its parent company, Caterpillar Inc., and more than 50 other leading corporations throughout the world. Headquartered in Morton, Illinois, Cat Logistics operates more than 108 offices and facilities in 23 countries on six continents. Cat Logistics, through its subsidiary Caterpillar Logistics Services LLC, provides its full service capabilities to companies in market sectors, which include automotive, industrial and aerospace service parts, consumer durables, technology, electronics and manufacturing logistics. More information is available at www.CatLogistics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relate to future events and expectations and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as "believe," "estimate," "will be," "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "project," "intend," "could," "should" or other similar words or expressions often identify forward-looking statements.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our outlook, projections, forecasts or trend descriptions. These statements do not guarantee future performance, and we do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

Caterpillar's actual results may differ materially from those described or implied in our forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) global economic conditions and economic conditions in the industries and markets we serve; (ii) government monetary or fiscal policies and infrastructure spending ; (iii) commodity or component price increases and/or limited availability of raw materials and component products, including steel; (iv) our and our customers', dealers' and suppliers' ability to access and manage liquidity; (v) political and economic risks and instability, including national or international conflicts and civil unrest; (vi) our and Cat Financial's ability to: maintain credit ratings, avoid material increases in borrowing costs, and access capital markets; (vii) the financial condition and credit worthiness of Cat Financial's customers; (viii) inability to realize expected benefits from acquisitions and divestitures, including the acquisition of Bucyrus International, Inc.; (ix) international trade and investment policies; (x) challenges related to Tier 4 emissions compliance; (xi) market acceptance of our products and services; (xii) changes in the competitive environment, including market share, pricing and geographic and product mix of sales; (xiii) successful implementation of capacity expansion projects, cost reduction initiatives and efficiency or productivity initiatives, including the Caterpillar Production System; (xiv) sourcing practices of our dealers or original equipment manufacturers; (xv) compliance with environmental laws and regulations; (xvi) alleged or actual violations of trade or anti-corruption laws and regulations; (xvii) additional tax expense or exposure; (xviii) currency fluctuations; (xix) our or Cat Financial's compliance with financial covenants; (xx) increased pension plan funding obligations; (xxi) union disputes or other employee relations issues; (xxii) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or investigations; (xxiii) compliance requirements imposed if carbon emissions legislation and/or regulations are adopted; (xxiv) changes in accounting standards; (xxv) failure or breach of IT security; (xxvi) adverse effects of natural disasters; and (xxvii) other factors described in more detail under "Item 1A.  Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2012 for the year ended December 31, 2011.  This filing is available on our website at www.caterpillar.com/secfilings. 

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.