Caterpillar reach production milestone
Company’s manufacturing facility in East Peoria builds 500th D7E track-type tractor
CATERPILLAR have completed assembly of their 500th D7E track-type tractor in East Peoria, Illinois. The groundbreaking D7E features an electric drive system that is said to boost productivity and efficiency while lowering operational costs and significantly reducing fuel consumption.
According to Cat Product Link data, customers using the D7E have already saved more than 1.3 million gallons of diesel when compared to the previous D7R model.
‘With diesel costing more than $3.50 a gallon in the US and even more in Europe, this equates to several million dollars going directly to our customers’ bottom line,’ said Scott Johnson, worldwide tractor product manager.
‘This financial benefit, as well as the corresponding reduction in emissions, will compound as field population continues to grow.’
Since the first D7E unit was shipped in 2009, an ever-increasing number of D7E dozers have been working in a wide range of applications throughout North America and Europe.
K&E Excavating of Salem, Oregon, tested a D7E for the first time during a visit to Peoria earlier in the year and purchased a machine shortly after that. ‘We like to operate with the very latest technology and the D7E fits right in,’ said K&E president Kerry Kuenzi. ‘We have hired and retained very good employees because we run newer equipment.’
In operation, Mr Kuenzi found the Cat dozer to be quicker and more powerful than the D7R. ‘The new D7E burns half the fuel of our D7R,’ he said.
Pre-production studies suggested that the D7E would provide 10–30% better fuel economy over the previous model, depending on the application.
‘Customer satisfaction with this machine has been outstanding,’ said Scott Johnson. ‘Whether the D7E is working in construction, oil and gas, or landfill applications, the reliability has been great and the reduction in fuel usage has been in line with, and often even better than, initial customer expectations.’
