Cat subsidiary Caterpillar Logistics said the 500,000sq.ft facility in San Luis Potosi, projected to be operational by mid-2013, is ideally located with easy access to major Mexican cities as well as major airports and a rail hub.

The new center is part of Cat’s multi-year plan to expand and enhance its parts distribution network.

Officials said it was the first of many that would be planned for central and South America.

It now has six new parts distributor facilities in its modernization plan.

Other regions for the OEM’s new facilities to be located include central California; Clayton, Ohio; Spokane, Washington; Waco, Texas; and Dubai.

Locations currently undergoing expansion projects to increase capacity and network efficiencies include Atlanta, Georgia; Grimbergen, Belgium; Melbourne, Australia; and Shanghai, China.

“We are pleased to reach the next stage of our multi-year expansion and this facility will further enable us to meet the significant growth in this region now and in the future,” Caterpillar vice-president and Cat Logistics chairman and president Steve Larson said.

“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.”

Cat is also planning more capacity expansions globally including new and existing facilities for manufacturing, additional research and development.