New Cat 395 offers premium performance with longer reach
Super-long-reach excavator delivers up to 22m of digging depth and up to 28m reach
BEST-in-class performance is Caterpillar’s description for the Cat 395 Long Reach Excavator (LRE), making easy work of long-reach applications such as dredging, ditch cleaning, and waterway maintenance.
With a maximum digging depth of nearly 22m, and up to 28m of reach at ground level, Caterpillar says the 395 LRE is firmly in the ‘super-long-reach’ category, matching its outstanding stick and boom configuration with substantial digging force.
‘Available as a kit, which can be retrofitted to any 395 model, the 395 LRE option provides operators with a boost to the capabilities and reach of a ‘standard’ 395, bringing its power, speed, and fuel efficiency to bear on a whole new range of excavation applications,’ said Vincent Migeotte, Caterpillar senior product and sales consultant.
‘Fully integrated with the standard machine, the 395 LRE kit creates a highly specialized machine that takes in its stride all the challenges of working at distance.’
Weighing 113.3 tonnes, the new 395 LRE is powered by a Cat C18 engine which delivers 405kW (542hp) of net power and meets US EPA tier 4 Final and EU Stage V emission regulations.
The aftermarket kit comprises an 11.8m stick, a 15.5m boom, and a CV linkage adapted for the new stick and boom. Boom cylinders form part of the kit, and the specially designed bucket offers capacity for up to 2m3 of material, depending on density.
Recognizing that the super-long-reach excavator will frequently be used for underwater tasks, the kit also includes fully waterproofed sensor boxes to allow continued operation of the full range of next-generation technologies, such as Cat Payload Management System, Cat 2D Grade control system, and Cat 2D E-fence. The latter keeps the front linkage within a predefined work area, providing greater operator confidence when working at distance and protecting the machine from damage while improving site safety.
‘The kit has been designed to cover every operating requirement,’ noted Mr Migeotte, ‘so another important feature is the ability to equip the machine with high- or medium-pressure auxiliary lines, with a quick-coupler. This allows full use of retrofit hydromechanical work tools, such as a grapple.’
The undercarriage also receives an upgrade. A car body extension of 1.33m provides a big boost to stability, while overall ground clearance gains another 85mm. The configuration also adds extra height to the cab position, adding 24cm over the standard and endowing the operator with significantly more all-round visibility.
Another nod to stability is in the design of the counterweight. Cleverly, Caterpillar has upped its mass by nearly 40%, but despite the increase to 21.5 tonnes, it sits within the same dimensions, preserving the machine’s tail ratio.
‘The kit also underlines Caterpillar’s commitment to productive, safe work sites, with additional handrails making for safer access and egress, while as-standard rear- and side-view cameras can be supplemented by a 360° option for maximum visibility, said Mr Migeotte’
He added: ‘As well as safety, the addition of the kit preserves all the characteristics of the standard 395, but with added versatility and performance. With the Cat 395 LRE, operators benefit from the same low costs of ownership, low fuel consumption, and low maintenance, offering the same attractive return on investment that has become synonymous with any Cat machine.’
