SANFORD, NC — Just days after announcing plans to expand its operations in Winston-Salem, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT: NYSE) today said it would expands its Compact Construction Equipment operations in Sanford.
 
According to the company the development will provide the increased logistics and fabrications capacity required to meet growing global demand for the skid steer, compact track and multi-terrain loaders currently produced in Sanford.
 
The expansion plans include a 270,000-square-foot building addition that will house logistics and the latest robotic welding technology for fabrication production.
 
“The Sanford campus project provides Caterpillar with several key benefits that support our quest to constantly improve value for our customers,” said Mary Bell, Vice President of Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products Division.
 
Construction is expected to begin in early September 2010, with operations commencing in July 2011. When the expansion is complete and fully operational, it is anticipated that Caterpillar will add roughly 325 additional workers over a five-year period bringing the total workforce to approximately 750.
 
“For the second time in less than a week, Caterpillar is making a major investment in North Carolina and strengthening its ties as a corporate citizen of our state,” said Governor Beverly Perdue.
 
Caterpillar currently employs roughly 1,000 full-time workers in North Carolina in locations throughout the state including Cary, Charlotte, Clayton, Franklin, Goldsboro, Morganton, New Bern and Smithfield.
 
The company recently announced the construction of a lower powertrain components facility in Winston-Salem that is expected to be operational in 2012 and will employ roughly 400 workers.