Fuel-saving benefits for William Thompson & Son

First Cat 972M XE in the UK to yield 25% fuel saving for Scottish quarrying operator

WILLIAM Thompson & Son have become the first UK firm to invest in the new Cat 972M XE wheel loader. The recent purchase will join a Cat 336EL Hybrid excavator – another debut UK buy – when it arrives at the Dumbarton-based company in October this year.

After witnessing the fuel-saving benefit achieved by the Cat 336 EL, William Thompson & Son acted quickly in complementing the excavator with the additional wheel loader, strengthening their position as a UK fuel-efficiency leader.

Commenting on the deal, director Andrew Thompson said: ‘At William Thompson & Son we strive to be at the cutting edge of new technologies, enabling us to maximize productivity and minimize cost, whilst reducing our carbon footprint.

‘The new Cat machines are leading the way in our industry, therefore it was a simple business decision to integrate them into our fleet and benefit from the value they will add to our operation.’

He added that efficiency is just one of the reasons for purchasing Caterpillar equipment, highlighting the significance of his operating workforce’s opinion as another key factor.

‘Making sure our operators know we’re providing the best equipment possible is important to us. Operator comfort and machine functionality was a big factor in deciding to invest in the Cat machines.

‘We’ve already seen a decrease in minor denting and an uplift in productivity since using the Cat 336 excavator on site this year,’ said Mr Thompson.

The Cat 972M XE wheel loader is said to be the class leader in fuel efficiency, with XE advanced powertrain technologies delivering the 25% fuel saving for the Scottish firm.

The Cat XE range has been engineered to deliver superior efficiency by utilizing an integrated Cat continuously variable transmission (CVT) system, rather than the standard toque converter.

A hydraulic pump and motor (variator unit) allows for a smooth and continuous gear ratio change between engine speed and machine speed. This allows the machine to run at much lower rev/min (500 less than the standard Cat 972M), saving William Thompson & Son an average of 4 litres of fuel for every hour the Cat 972M XE model is in use.

Alistair Murdoch, key account manager for Finning, added: ‘After we launched the new Cat 972M XE wheel loader at the Hillhead Show in June, William Thompson & Son made a clear statement by being the first UK firm to invest in the machine.

‘At Finning it gives us great pride to be able to facilitate delivery of the most innovative machines on the market. The 25% fuel saving will not only immediately improve William Thompson’s bottom line, but also their environmental sustainability.

‘With Finsight also included in the deal and our Finning support team based in Glasgow, it allows us to give Andrew and his team the ongoing service and analytical support they require, making sure their operation is running at its full potential both in terms of productivity and efficiency.’