Caterpillar unveils new products, updates

Caterpillar updated its M Series medium wheel loaders, including the 972M.

Caterpillar Inc. hosted a press briefing in Peoria, Illinois, to introduce a number of new and updated products. Of particular interest to aggregate producers are the company’s updates to its M Series medium wheel loaders and 992K loader; a fire suppression system for its large haul trucks; and the new 14M3 motor grader. Other introductions included construction and roadbuilding equipment, as well as a new line of portable generators for the consumer market.

John Carpenter, Solutions & Technology manager for the company, gave an overview of the connected jobsite of the future. He says site managers will want to have the ability to connect every asset of a jobsite. “Adoption of connected machines is accelerating dramatically,” Carpenter says.

Updates to Cat’s M Series medium wheel loaders (950M, 962M, 966M, 972M, 966M XE, 972M XE, 980M, and 982M) include new Cat Connect Technologies, additional operator comfort and safety features, and features that help reduce operating costs.

Caterpillar’s Jason Hagedorn details new enhancements to the company’s 982M wheel loader.

Cat Payload Technologies are designed to increase production and job-site efficiency by ensuring haul vehicles are loaded to exact specifications, resulting in optimum utilization of equipment and lower operating costs.

For 2017, the capabilities of the Cat Production Measurement system have been expanded to include the Advanced Productivity Application, an optional web-based tool available through VisionLink. Owners can better develop future project costs and profitability estimates based on key performance indicators, including detailed production history, productivity and efficiency clearly visualized on their back office PCs or mobile devices.

Designed to lower fuel costs and increase operating efficiency, the recently updated Cat 992K wheel loader features Cat’s Economy Mode operation. With the new on-demand throttle arrangement, the 992K automatically manages engine speed, combining the efficiency of a manual throttle with ergonomic throttle lock operation. Caterpillar performance studies have shown the 992K reduces fuel consumption by as much as 21 percent compared to the previous model series.

Production-matched to deliver efficient three-pass loading of the Cat 775 and four-pass loading of the Cat 777 trucks, the 992K now offers Cat Production Measurement (CPM), an advanced payload weight measuring system. CPM promotes cost-effective hauling by helping loader operators minimize truck under-loading and overloading.

Several new features of the updated 992K enhance operating safety. The loader is built fire-suppression ready, which simplifies installation and provides system integration to enhance reliability. Fall protection tie-offs provide fall arrest for service technicians when working on the loader.

The new Cat 14M3 motor grader features a host of integrated technology solutions that increase operator efficiency, boost productivity levels and lower owner and operator costs. The 14M3 takes advantage of a larger engine, increased fuel efficiency, improved machine balance, enhanced transmission performance, more powerful telematics and added operator safety/convenience features.