Caterpillar to increase size of under-construction Texas plant

Caterpillar Inc. has announced plans to increase its manufacturing capabilities and capacity for hydraulic excavators that will be produced at a facility now under construction in Victoria, Texas.

In August 2010 Caterpillar announced that it would build the 850,000-sq.-ft. excavator plant in Victoria, investing about $130 million. Work is currently under way at the Victoria site, and the announcement includes plans for an additional $70 million investment that will include another 200,000 sq. ft. under roof. The added investment will increase excavator capacity beyond the original plans and will include the addition of selected fabrication manufacturing for excavator production.

Excavator production at the facility is expected to begin in mid-2012. Once fully operational, the new facility will more than triple the current capacity of hydraulic excavators produced by the company in the U.S. and double the number of Caterpillar employees in the U.S. making excavators. Currently the company produces two excavator models at a facility in Aurora, Ill., where it also produces wheel loaders, soil and landfill compactors, wheel dozers, and components. When fully operational, the new facility will produce seven excavator models.