Case intros new M Series crawler dozer line with improved performance, fuel economy, cab (VIDEO, GALLERY)

Updated Nov 4, 2013
2050M2050M

 

During a special event Thursday at its customer center and proving grounds in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, Case Construction Equipment unveiled its new M Series lineup of crawler dozers.

The new lineup includes the 92-horsepower 750M, 112-hp 850M, 127-hp 1150M, 150-hp 1650M and 214-hp 2050M.

In the development of the new machines, Case says its engineers set out to build them stronger and more capable than their predecessors and competitors. The company also sought to provide “performance beyond the Tier 4 emissions mandate” with easy serviceability and a low cost of ownership.

To achieve those goals, Case made customer feedback a priority, says Peter White, Case’s Director of Product Quality. White says the manufacturer brought in 78 customers to evaluate and operate the new machines. Case built 45 development/customer machines throughout the process and customers accounted for more than 12,500 hours of machine testing.

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The results from all that feedback are sizable improvements in performance, fuel economy, durability and operator comfort.

“We started from the ground up with a new and more robust chassis,” says Eric Nettleton, global product manager for Case dozers, noting durability improvements to the C-frame, rippers and blades. Nettleton also highlighted the improved 24-volt electrical system and a new cooling package that upped cooling capacity for improved life of pumps and motors. Nettleton said the dozers can operate in conditions up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

Case says the 750M through the 1650M offer best-in-class drawbar pull. Case product managers agreed that the increased drawbar pull, the lineup offers between 42,813 pounds and 80,979 pounds, is one of the first things operators will notice.

Plus, the full lineup offers between a 5- and 14-percent increase in horsepower compared to the previous models offered. (Specs are listed below.) The 750M is powered by a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (CEGR) engine built by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, while the 850M through the 2050M are powered by Fiat engine with Case’s exclusive selective catalyst reduction (SCR) engine technology.

Case M Series dozer specs

Case contends SCR is “well suited for dozers because it lets the engine run at peak performance under variable loads without compromising the power or drawbar pull that achieves the brute force required for earthmoving.”

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In Case’s testing, the manufacturer found that the 850M improved productivity by 26 percent over the 850L and improved efficiency by 35 percent. Meanwhile, the 2050M boasted a 17-percent improvement in productivity over an unnamed competitor and an 11-percent efficiency improvement over that same competitor.

“We have primarily been known for our light equipment,” says Athena Campos, Case’s director of marketing. “Today, hopefully, we’ll change that.”

The M Series dozers feature a load management system that automatically reduces track speed while increasing torque when a heavier load is on the blade, and increases track speed while reducing torque when a lighter load is present.

On the inside, Case has increased the visibility from the cab, giving operators a better view of the blade than before. The dozers also feature sealed and pressurized cabs that keep dust out and noise down—noise in the cab is down to a very quiet 75db.

Control panel inside the 2050MControl panel inside the 2050M

 

Case has also built new control customizations into the M Series lineup, allowing the operator to tailor performance based on preference and ground conditions. Blade sensitivity (offered on the 1150M through the 2050M) steering sensitivity and shuttle sensitivity can be set to “smooth,” “moderate” or “aggressive.” The dozers also feature a new grading mode that reduces blade speed by 40 percent for increased accuracy.

The end result is a great ride. We took the 2050M for a spin and found the new joysticks inside to be extremely responsive. The new blade shake toggle on the right stick makes cleaning your blade as easy as a few nudges of the thumb. The cab was quiet and very comfortable and offered great visibility thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass.

When it comes to daily servicing, all checkpoints, including hydraulic components, filters and electrical components, are accessible from the ground and do not require hand tools to access. “If I can make something easier for you to do, it’s more likely to get done,” says product specialist Ira Davis.

Case was also mindful of customer preference in blade control. Rather than partner with an exclusive technology, the manufacturer will outfit any M Series dozer with the blade control brand of thier choice. Customers let their dealer know if they prefer Leica, Topcon or Trimble and Case outfits the dozer appropriately leaving only monitor installation to be done.

Davis says giving customers that choice can end up saving them a lot of money since going out and buying new blade control tech isn’t a requirement for owning one of these dozers.

Of course, each of the M Series dozers is covered by Case ProCare which offers three-year, 3,000-hour planned maintenance and full-machine factory warranty as well as three years of Case’s advanced SiteWatch telematics plan. Brad Stemper, Case’s director solutions marketing says ProCare gives customers the knowledge of how much the machine will cost them for the next three years.