The well-known Clark forklift brand will add to its North American operations with a newly built manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosí in Mexico's central region.

Clark Material Handling Co anticipates completing construction on the six-acre site during November and beginning production during the first quarter of 2012. The plant occupies 85,000 sqft. (7,650 sqm). An adjacent showroom has 4,000 sqft. (360 sqm).

"We plan to bring this facility on-line in a very deliberate manner," says Dennis Lawrence, president and chief executive officer of Lexington, Kentucky, USA-based Clark and its Clark the Americas operation. "Our sister plants in (Changwon, South) Korea and (Qingdao) China will manufacture product in parallel with the new facility in San Luis Potosí."

Clark teams in Lexington and San Luis Potosí will focus on bringing the new facility on-line without adverse impact on normal operations, notes Lawrence, who is impressed with the cooperation of local officials and numerous suppliers.

Clark selected San Luis Potosí after an extensive and detailed due-diligence search process involving Clark representatives from Lexington and South Korea and officials with Mexican government agencies. Possible sites needed to assure the availability of skilled labour, a broad supplier base, modern logistics facilities, an established manufacturing base and a willingness to partner with Clark.

The San Luis Potosí metropolitan area has a population exceeding one million people and is located in the country's interior between Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Currently, a mix of manufacturing experts from Changwon and skilled local employees are implementing purchasing, facilities management, production planning and clerical functions in preparing the San Luis Potosí location for the start of production.

Clark will disclose additional details about the facility in conjunction with a grand opening ceremony soon.