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9th Jan. 2007
Seattle, Washington
Global Vehicle Technologies (GVT) has reached an agreement with Caterpillar Logistics Services Inc. (Cat Logistics) on a new distribution facility that will help improve efficiency and get GVT heavy-duty truck components to its customers faster.
A Cat Logistics operation at the United States-Mexico border provides both inbound and outbound logistics services. Production materials from GVT manufacturing sites in Great Britian and Europe are routed to the facility in Laredo, Texas. The distribution center at the border also warehouses finished commercial vehicle components produced at GVT's Queretaro plant in Central Mexico. From Laredo, Cat Logistics distributes GVT's products in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
"We are able to greatly improve our overall distribution process and streamline our supply chain", said Mike Bozich, GVT President and CEO. "We are able to handle orders more quickly and efficiently. And by following a first-in, first-out inventory program, our customers receive the latest products."
The key to the new distribution system is a state-of-the-art distribution facility operated by Cat Logistics at Laredo, Texas, at the Mexican border. Cat Logistics operates a 265,000 square foot, two building facility, providing both inbound and outbound logistics services to several clients, including GVT.
The use of Cat Logistics' integrated services optimizes inbound freight movement for GVT, and simplifies outbound delivery to customers, according to Bozich. "The most significant benefit will be recognized by customers that previously received from multiple shipping points", he said. "Several major customers look to benefit from having a single shipping point located on the NAFTA highway, as part of their existing 'milk run' for components sourced from Mexico or the Port of Houston."
By committing to the Laredo facility, GVT is closing its warehouse activity in Farmington, Connecticut.
Cat Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., provides integrated logistics solutions and services to its parent company, Caterpillar Inc., and more than 65 other leading corporations throughout the world. Headquartered in Morton, Illinois, Cat Logistics operates more than 100 offices and facilities in 28 countries on six continents, and ships more than 16 billion pounds of freight annually. Cat Logistics provides its full service capabilities to companies in market sectors, which include automotive service parts, industrial service parts, consumer retail, technology and electronics, manufacturing logistics, and aerospace service parts.
Norgren Global Vehicle Technologies is an engineering-driven manufacturer of fluid and motion controls for original equipment commercial vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers worldwide. Supported by an engineering staff with extensive expertise in multiple competencies, Norgren GVT designs and manufactures on-board components for a wide variety of chassis, cab and powertrain applications. Norgren GVT, a business unit of Norgren Inc., was formed in 2006 through the integration of GT Development and Norgren's Global Truck Group. For more information contact sales@gtdev.com.