Caterpillar Inc. last week announced the expansion of its compact construction equipment operations located in Sanford, N.C. The expansion 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. "We appreciate the support we received from our local partners and from the State of North Carolina for our growth strategy."

The expansion of compact construction equipment production capacity is part of Caterpillar's long-term strategy to deliver the highest quality, best value building construction machines in the industry.

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.

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.

Headquartered in Peoria, Ill., Caterpillar Inc. is a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.