Top Cat in less regulated markets

Guy Woodford reports from Turkey on how Caterpillar is building machines for less regulated markets

Among 178 Caterpillar machines for less regulated countries on show during the recent Caterpillar Construction Days (CCD) Antalya 2012 event in Turkey were the D6R, D7R and D8R track-type tractors.

Steven Faucher, product and application specialist for Cat EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East), said Cat Product Link, a telematics system allowing site managers to improve productivity, boost efficiencies and enable timely decision making based on up-to-the-minute information, had now been fitted on D6R, D7R and D8R models and other machines prized by AME and CIS customers.

“The R series can also come with added regional features,” said Faucher.

“There is a very efficient desert package for the D8R, for work in countries like Algeria. The D6R, D7R and D8R can come with higher ambient air conditioning for hot climates and an engine cooling system using reversing fans.”

Faucher said further additions can be made for cold climate R series machine applications.

“There are starting aids, special light packages, particularly useful for later night work in the CIS, and special oils and seals. There are also heavy duty batteries and cold cranking amps.”

Since April 2012, the D7R has been sold with a Cat C9 engine. The D6R has had the same engine for some time, with the D8R fitted with a Cat 3406 engine.

The operator cabs of the D6R, D7R and D8R track-type tractors have also had a recent makeover: with grey replacing their previous dark brown colour to freshen up what is a well-established machine model family.

Also showcased at CCD Antalya 2012 was the 770G off-highway truck launched in April 2012, and the first G Series machine made at Cat’s factory in Thiruvallur, India. The machine is an update of the 770 model, launched in 2007 and continues the tradition of a centre cab machine.
On the introduction of the 770G, Gustavo Vallejo, Cat worldwide commercial manager, quarry trucks and wheel tractor scrapers, said: “We started to see emerging markets growing and we wanted to be able to cover demand so we built the truck in Decatur, Illinois [for North America and European markets], and in [Thiruvallur] India [for Middle East, Africa and CIS markets].

“Lower regulated markets want machines that do not fail. They say ‘Do not make this cab like an office’. They see it as a machine.”

The 770G models for the AME and CIS regions are different from those for Europe and North American markets. They come with a Tier 2 or Tier 3 emissions regulation engine and, said Vallejo, are a more basic machine configuration, with a more basic operating interface.

“There are optional attachments. In certain [AME and CIS] countries, such as South Africa, you may have customers wanting to invest in [machine] electronics,” said Angel Luis Gonzalez, Cat EAME Global & Infrastructure product and application specialist. “There might be other customers, such as in Botswana, where the [machine] operator skill level is less and a more basic machine can fit a little bit better with their needs.”

Cat has just introduced two new economy mode features for its G Series machines to allow greater control of fuel consumption.

“In a territory like Africa and the Middle East, the largest operating cost is fuel. Whatever we can do to lessen those costs can benefit the customer,” said Gonzalez. “The customer can select [with standard economy mode] how much to reduce an engine’s operating horsepower by. It can be by up to 15%.”
The Adaptive Economy mode feature has the truck looking for haul segments that allow the truck to reduce power and fuel use without compromising production. For this feature to work, the truck must reach steady state speeds.

Emphasising the user-friendly nature of the 770G for operators based in lesser regulated countries, Gonzalez added: “It’s easy to deliver training from and perform training in. I know of a couple of times when mine operators have had 20 trucks with four operators for each truck allowing them to be used 24/7. Of those 80 operators, only four knew how to drive a car.”

Gonzalez said that the 770G was designed to last 50,000 operating hours when operated by customers in all regional markets.

Speaking during a press conference during CCD Antalya 2012, Damien Giraud, marketing manager for Cat Europe, Africa & Middle East Global Construction Infrastructure, stressed how Cat had built specific machines for Africa, Middle East and CIS markets, including the 340D L hydraulic excavator and the 120K motor grader, to tap into their “huge growth” in demand for construction equipment and greater machine fuel efficiency.