A Leicester manufacturer of production lines is to benefit from Caterpillar's £50 million expansion of two UK factories.

CI Logistics has won orders to supply conveyor systems for plants run by the US construction equipment maker in Desford and Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.

CI, in Troon Industrial Area, has also secured a third contract with Caterpillar to design, manufacture and install a pallet conveyor system into the Caterpillar Logistics site in Gosselies, Belgium.

CI and Caterpillar would not disclose the value of the contracts.

Gary Bale, managing director of CI Logistics, said: "Over the years we have demonstrated a clear capability to design and manufacture conveyor systems for heavy product production lines.

"I am certain that it is our unique engineering expertise that has given us the edge to win these prestigious contracts with Caterpillar."

Caterpillar announced a huge investment programme in December, which will see it spend at least £25 million on its factory in Peckleton Lane, Desford over the next four years. The move will increase the annual production of mobile diggers – known as backhoe loaders – from 11,000 to 20,000.