The upgrades on the new 484-horsepower Cat 374 excavator focus on the things that matter in demanding conditions: high loading production, a 20% reduction in maintenance costs, and a beefed-up boom, stick and frame designed to deliver twice the durability of the previous 374F.
In fact, Cat says the 374 can now load up to 33 Cat 772 trucks per hour working at 100% jobsite efficiency. (This assumes a 6.5-cubic-yard bucket working in 1.6-cubic-meter material density.)
Using a new dedicated hydrostatic swing circuit, the 374 can regenerate swing brake energy and independently manage cylinder oil flow, Cat says. This circuit has a dedicated bi-directional swing pump, swing motors, charge pump and charge accumulator. The swing pump supplies oil to the swing motor; the charge pump and accumulator prevent cavitation (air bubbles) and overheating.
All of this gives the machine the ability to multitask with ease, Cat says.
"The dedicated swing pump offers 10% more swing torque,” says Ryan Neal, Cat market professional, speaking during a recent Cat press event. "If you're trying to cast material uphill, this is going to help you get that material up; 10% is noticeable."
Easily accessed and understood technology also leads to productivity improvements, Cat says. Standard 374 technology includes Cat Payload, which offers on-the-go weighing to prevent both overloading and underloading trucks, and Cat Grade with 2D, giving operators visual guidance on the touchscreen monitor to make accurate cuts.
The Cat Grade with 2D also can be upgraded to Cat Grade with Advanced 2D –which includes an additional touchscreen monitor and enables in-field design capabilities -- or to Cat Grade with 3D, which adds GPS and GLONASS positioning.
