Web Exclusive! Cat Rolls Out 17 New Products
by Kimberly Jensen
June 1, 2007
Magazine editors were invited to Peoria to learn about and see new Cat products in action.
On May 21-23, 2007, Caterpillar hosted a press event and invited 38 editors and writers to its Edwards Training Center in Peoria, Illinois, to learn about 17 new products.
Caterpillar stressed that its main initiative is to become more “customer-centric” instead of “product-centric.” Instead of defining customers by the products they use, Cat wants to define customers by the work they do. The goal is to help customers become more efficient by looking at their total work requirements so that solutions can be provided for every step of their process.
“VOC” is a common acronym of Cat product specialists; it stands for “Voice of Customer” and represents the research that Cat undertakes to learn about needs and demands from the machine operators.
Cat is also focused on maintaining its brand. With a goal to make all Cat products more “Cat-like,” Cat is standardizing features on its machines. The new “trade dress,” as it’s termed, standardizes the logos and their placement on machine, and also standardizes such style features as chisel edges and hex-pattern grill mesh.
Before introducing its new products, Cat presented an update on its AccuGrade grade control systems. Tom Bucklar, the North America region manager for Cat’s machine control and guidance division, said that the product line is going broader, and the technology is “getting more deeply integrated in the machines.”
In the indoor demo area, Cat operators demonstrated the D-series track loader and D-series hydraulic excavators.
The D-series track type loaders (TTL) built on the C-series to incorporate more features that Cat customers have been asking for. For onsite serviceability, the D-series cab can be jacked up 30 degrees in the field. It also has amenities like a compartment to hold a spade, and a cell phone charger. These track loaders have been designed for site prep and utilities applications in all-weather conditions, and where tires aren’t economical. Cedric Gold, a product specialist for the TTL, compared the track loader to a Swiss army knife because of its versatility and usefulness for a range of applications, including grading, clearing, backfilling, truck loading, digging, dozing and more. D-series TTLs feature Cat C6.6 ACERT engines and increased horsepower.
Wheeled excavators can be effective for a variety of applications, ranging from lifting, demolition, truck loading, site prep and underground utilities.
Calling his presentation a “Whex 101” course, Chad Cremeens touted the mobility of the D-series wheeled excavators, which replace the C-series. Acknowledging that the wheeled excavator is an “unknown beast in North America,” Cremeens claimed that North American contractors could learn to use this machine as effectively as their European counterparts. Cat produces its wheeled excavators at its plant in Grenoble, France, and these machines have traditionally been much more popular in Europe. Wheeled excavators are best used when ground pressure is not a factor and when there are not extreme inclines on a site. Barring these conditions, wheeled excavators can be effective for a variety of applications, ranging from lifting, demolition, truck loading, site prep and underground utilities.
The C-series skid steer loader was redesigned from a two-piece to a one-piece frame centered around the cab.
For the new skid steers and multi-terrain loaders, product managers pointed out that the new C-series machines are not a product tweak to the B-series—the machine has been redesigned from the ground up to meet the changing needs of the customer, as this compact piece of equipment becomes more of a production machine.
The machines were redesigned from a two-piece to a one-piece frame centered around the cab. The new cab is sealed and pressurized, resulting in quieter, reduced sound levels. There is a “buffet of options” available on the new C-series machines. They are made to be as modular as possible so the bare-bones models can be sold to rental houses, while the owner-operator contractors who spend 12- to 14-hours a day in them can make them as comfy as possible. The 272C is the largest skid steer that Cat has rolled out. The wheeled skid steers have a new Ride Control option, which smoothes the ride for the operator.
Because the new skid steers and MTLs are more powerful machines, Cat is also releasing new, larger buckets to harness the additional power.
Beginning in April 2006, the D-series of hydraulic excavators have been released in the 19- to 35-ton size classes, offering flexible power options, reduced radius options, faster cycle times, better lift and increased load heights.
Kimberly Jensen
jensenk@bnpmedia.com
Kimberly Jensen is editor of Site Prep.
Comments (0) Post a Comment
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to the magazine.