The 47,030m² Middle East Distribution Centre (MEDC) employs 130 people and will further strengthen aftermarket parts support in the East-Africa and Middle East region. The facility will also serve as a regional office for employees from other Caterpillar service groups.
The MEDC follows the opening of other new Caterpillar distribution centres in Waco, Texas (2009), Clayton, Ohio (2011), Spokane, Washington and Arvin, California (2012). In addition, construction is underway for new distribution centres in Queensland, Australia, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
“We are very pleased to be adding the Middle-East Distribution Centre to our industry leading global parts network," said Steve Larson, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for parts distribution and logistics, and president of Caterpillar Logistics Services. “With the outstanding product support capability of Cat dealers in the region and the improved parts availability this operation will deliver, we will continue providing customers an unmatched level of after-sale support.”
The MEDC will increase Cat total warehouse capacity for the Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME) network, adding to existing distribution centres in Grimbergen, Johannesburg and Moscow. “We are excited about our overall growth opportunities in the Middle East and Africa markets and, along with our dealers, are investing in expanding our facilities,” said Nigel Lewis, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for EAME distribution. “The Middle-East Distribution Centre is the first of a number of investments we are making in the region that will allow us to improve parts and components availability and the delivery process to our dealers and customers."
Caterpillar says the MEDC is an important part of the global construction equipment giant’s overall plan to enhance the global Caterpillar Parts distribution network and get parts to dealers and customers faster.