Caterpillar’s new excavators for emergent markets

The 336 and 336GC variants are aimed at customers in South America, Africa, Middle East, Turkey, Eurasia, China, South East Asia and India. According to 178 Caterpillar, the 336 and 336 GC offer increased operating efficiency, lower fuel and maintenance costs, and improved operator comfort compared to previous models.

Features fitted to the 336 include standard integrated Cat Connect Technology and the most power and lift capacity of the two models. Meanwhile the new Cat 336 GC combines a balance of productivity features with reduced fuel consumption and maintenance costs, for high reliability and low cost/hour performance.

The new Cat 336 has a high level of standard factory-equipped technology to boost productivity. Integrated Cat Connect Technology is said to increase operating efficiency by up to 45% over traditional grading operations.

The standard Cat Grade with 2D system provides guidance for depth, slope, and horizontal distance to grade through the standard touchscreen monitor, making operators more accurate. The system is upgradable to Cat Grade with Advanced 2D or Cat Grade with 3D.

Standard Grade Assist automates boom, stick, and bucket movements so operators can effortlessly stay on grade with single-lever digging.

The E-fence feature prevents the excavator from moving outside operator-defined set points, which is useful when working beneath structures or near live traffic.

Cat LINK hardware and software connect jobsites to the office and provide customers with machine-critical operating information.

The firm says that its Next Generation excavators produce more work/unit of fuel than the models they are replacing, with up to 15% better fuel efficiency for the 336.

New Smart mode operation automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions, optimising fuel consumption and performance. Engine speed is automatically lowered when there is no hydraulic demand to further reduce fuel usage.

The machines have a new electrohydraulic system and feature a new main control valve that eliminates the need for pilot lines, reduces pressure losses, and lowers fuel consumption. Fewer hydraulic lines on the excavators result in less oil required, lowering long-term operating costs.

The new Cat hydraulic return filter has a 3,000-hour service life, a 50% increase over the previous filter. The fuel system filters are synchronised for service at 1,000 hours, an increase of 100% over the previous filters.