Caterpillar produce 40,000th large dozer
Teck Resources take delivery of milestone Cat D11T large dozer at special ceremony in Peoria
THE legacy of the Cat large dozer began a little more than 40 years ago with a revolutionary elevated drive sprocket and new undercarriage design that looked unlike any dozer of its day.
The groundbreaking suspended undercarriage with its high drive design conformed to the ground better than standard oval tracks, helping to improve machine traction, extend undercarriage life and enhance operator comfort.
Earlier this month, representatives from Caterpillar Inc., Finning Canada and Teck Resources Ltd gathered in East Peoria, Illinois, to celebrate the milestone of the 40,000th Cat large dozer rolling off the production line.
Core to Caterpillar’s global identity, the current Cat large dozer line includes the D9, D10 and D11 models.
Commenting on the importance to Caterpillar of the 40,000th large dozer milestone, Greg Hepler, product manager for large dozers, said: ‘Caterpillar transformed the track-type tractor with the introduction of the suspended undercarriage with elevated drive sprocket. This innovation, along with a long history of others, enabled Cat large dozers to set the standards for efficiency, productivity and durability.’
Denise Johnson, Caterpillar group president responsible for Resource Industries, handed the keys of the 40,000th large dozer to Louis DeLuca, Teck director of supply management, during the ceremony. For more than 10 years, Teck have been one of the top customers in the world for Cat large dozers. The 40,000th large dozer, a 102.6-tonne D11T, will operate in the Elk Valley, near Sparwood, British Columbia, where the company produces steelmaking coal at five mines.
‘This milestone is important not just because of the sheer number of Cat machines sold, but also because it represents the many long-lasting and mutually beneficial business relationships established with customers like Teck,’ continued Greg Hepler. ‘We are honoured to celebrate this achievement with Teck, and we are grateful that their Elk Valley mines have counted on Caterpillar, Cat equipment and their dealer, Finning Canada, to help them reach their production goals since 1992.’
The world’s second-largest seaborne exporters of steelmaking coal, Teck currently operate a fleet of Cat dozers, each logging up to 7,000 operating hours a year in the mines. Teck’s newest D11T will be used for production dozing, dump area support, mining shovel support and haul road development.
‘We are very proud to celebrate this milestone with Caterpillar and our long-time customer Teck, as the D11T is a true workhorse in the fleet of products we service and sell, heavily relied on and highly valued by our mining customers,’ said Allan Potzold, Finning Canada’s branch manager for the Elk Valley region.
The milestone D11T is equipped with a Cat C32 engine, producing 850hp (634kW) and capable of moving up to 900 loose cubic meters of material per hour. Even in Teck Coal’s demanding, high-production application, the efficient powertrain will ensure the material is moved at a lower cost per tonne, whilst the machine’s rugged mainframe has been designed for multiple rebuilds and lowest total cost of ownership.
In addition, a host of standard and optional Cat technologies, including VIMS 3G, Automated Blade Assist, Enhanced Auto Shift and Advisor Monitoring System, will increase operating efficiencies, advance safe operation and further lower costs.
