Caterpillar Announces Expansion Plans for Hydraulic Excavator Facility

Words: Zack Dugan/Public/News/20110630125500-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Excavator production in Victoria is expected to begin in mid-2012." />
Excavator production in Victoria is expected to begin in mid-2012.
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) announced plans to significantly increase its manufacturing capabilities and capacity for hydraulic excavators that will be produced at a facility now under construction in Victoria, Texas. In August of 2010, Caterpillar announced that it would build the excavator plant in Victoria, investing about $130 million to open the state-of-the-art, 850,000 square foot operation. Work is underway at the Victoria site, and today’s announcement includes plans for an additional $70 million investment in the Victoria area that will include another 200,000 square feet under roof. The added investment in Victoria will increase excavator capacity beyond the original plans and will include the addition of selected fabrication manufacturing for excavator production. This expansion of investment in Victoria also helps set the stage for potential future phases of growth.

“Based on our analysis of where customer demand is moving for excavators in the years ahead, it makes sense to increase capacity in Victoria now, so that we can better serve our customers,” said Gary Stampanato, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for hydraulic excavators. “In addition, we have also determined Victoria is the right location to produce selected fabrications for the excavators that will be assembled in this new facility.”

Excavator production in Victoria is expected to begin in mid-2012. Once fully operational, the new facility will more than triple the current capacity of hydraulic excavators produced by the company in the United States and would more than double the number of Caterpillar employees in the United States making excavators. Currently in the United States, Caterpillar produces two excavator models at a facility in Aurora, Ill., where it also produces wheel loaders, soil and landfill compactors, wheel dozers and components. Once fully operational, the Victoria facility would produce a total of seven excavator models.

“We continue to aggressively increase our excavator manufacturing footprint with investments like this as part of Caterpillar’s long-term strategic initiative to remain the global leader in this industry,” said Rich Lavin, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for construction industries.
Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin

Cass Stern
American Treasure
Brick Clay Brick
Read More
Britt Stokes, Acme Brick’s Director of Marketing, Retires.
August 2026

Fort Worth, Texas – After faithfully serving Acme Brick Company for 40 years, Britt has chosen to retire – although he will still be involved with Acme on various projects. Britt began his career with Acme as staff photographer and through dedicati

Industry News
Read More
Why SkillsUSA is the Keystone to MCAA’s Outreach
August 2026

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More
The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More