Annual product updates for Cat hydraulic excavators
Caterpillar announce multiple updates for small, medium, and large hydraulic tracked excavators
CATERPILLAR have announced multiple updates for their Cat hydraulic excavator line as part of their annual product update (APU) programme. Helping to improve machine efficiency, the enhancements include Cat Grade technologies and an Advanced Payload option for Cat tracked excavators. The updates apply to Cat small, medium, and large excavators, plus material handlers and wheeled excavators.
With 2025 model builds, Cat Grade with Advanced 2D features and functions are now integrated into standard Cat Grade with 2D. Compared with traditional grading methods, Cat 2D technology empowers operators to work more efficiently in a range of applications by delivering real-time guidance for accurate vertical and horizontal control. It helps to ensure that cuts and fills are made to exact specifications, without undercutting or overcutting, and can eliminate the need for ground stakes in most applications.
‘Our 2D grading technology provides easy adjustments to target depth and slope using joystick commands, the touchscreen interface, or a jog dial. It displays target grade with visual guidance plus height and depth,’ said Jason Ho, senior global product consultant - excavation for Caterpillar. ‘To help ensure long life, the integrated components are protected from damage, and 2D works with multiple bucket types, including digging, cleaning, grading and tilting.’
For customers grading complex designs, Grade with 3D technology is now a factory-installed option that can be ordered for tracked and wheeled excavators. This new option includes all the hardware required for the 3D system, installed and tested from the factory. It provides an easier upgrade path for customers who want to add Cat Grade with 3D after initial purchase.
Cat Payload for excavators and material handlers delivers precise bucket load information with on-the-go weighing to help prevent overloading or underloading. From re-ordering work tool lists to creating new work tool combinations, the display’s new user interface starts quickly and allows operators to easily set up machines and access information so they get to work without delay. Operators keep track of the amount of material moved and can split tasks between truck loading in Weigh Mode and moving material around the site in Stockpile Mode. The ability to input couplers and attachments into the system makes setting up work tool combinations highly efficient by significantly reducing calibration time.
‘While Cat Payload helps operators to accurately hit load targets and avoid under-loading, overloading or mis-loading materials,’ adds Mr Ho, ‘customers with tracked excavators can upgrade the system to Advanced Payload for expanded capabilities such as custom tags, daily totals, and electronic ticketing. When combined with VisionLink, Advanced Payload allows customers to analyse jobsites and individual assets for remote management of production targets and key metrics.’
Cat Advanced Payload helps customers to:
Lower costs – by saving time, labour and fuel consumption
Improve accuracy – with precise payload targets that help eliminate overloading and under-loading
Increase efficiency – helping new operators to get up to speed faster and experienced operators work more accurately
Monitor safety – by helping to prevent truck overloading, which results in heavier and more unstable loads.
