Caterpillar Celebrates Grand Opening of Middle East Parts Distribution Center (MEDC)

The 500,000 square foot Middle East Distribution Center (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 Middle East Distribution Center joins new distribution centers in Waco, Texas (2009), Clayton, Ohio (2011), Spokane, Washington and Arvin, California (2012). In addition, construction is underway for new distribution centers in Queensland, Australia, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
"We are very pleased to be adding the Middle-East Distribution Center 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, Inc. "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 Middle East Distribution Center will increase total warehouse capacity for the Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME) network, adding to existing Distribution Centers 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 Center 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."
The facility will also contribute to Caterpillar’s sustainable development goals by reducing airfreight for parts ordered in the region. "We are delighted to be a part of the opening of Caterpillar’s new Parts Distribution Center in Jafza. Caterpillar’s expansion underlines the company’s vision and commitment to the region. We are sure the new facility will enable them to further strengthen Caterpillar’s strong presence in the region. We wish them great successes and growth in the Middle East," said Her Excellency Mrs. Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb, Chief Commercial Officer of Economic Zones World & Jafza.
The Middle East Distribution Center is an important part of Caterpillar’s overall plan to enhance the global Cat Parts distribution network and get parts to dealers and customers faster. Since the inception of this plan eight years ago, capacity has been added in every region with the opening of the China Distribution Center in Shanghai in 2006, the Russia Federation Distribution Center in Moscow in 2007, the Waco Distribution Center in Texas in 2009, the Clayton Distribution Center in Ohio in 2011 and the Spokane and California Distribution Centers in 2012.