Caterpillar's improved dozers with new Grade Control systems

178 Caterpillar is now offering its sophisticated 3D Cat Grade Control package on its smaller dozers, the D3K2, D4K2, and D5K2 models. This allows more efficient working along with higher accuracy and productivity, while lowering operating costs.

The package has integrated roof-mounted antennas. The AccuGrade Ready Option is part of the package, allowing other Cat GRADE technologies to be used, such as AccuGrade Laser or a universal total station when satellite reception is limited.

The system provides an in-cab display with grade plan, cut/fill data, and grade indicators. It can improve productivity up to 50%, compared with conventional grading methods. The system virtually eliminates the need for staking and manual grade checking, making the job site safer and saving rework, fuel, and machine wear. In addition, Grade Control 3D allows work to proceed even in limited visibility, while the automated blade control reduces required operator input by as much as 80%.

Grade Control 3D also allows site managers to track material movement and monitor job progress via the system's 3D track mapping data. Production data can be viewed via Cat LINK technologies by using the online VisionLink 3D Project Monitoring capability.