Side-By-Side: Comparing Cat, Deere, Komatsu and Topcon mast-less dozer GPS systems
GPS machine control started out as a tangle of aftermarket products all bolted on and wired up as retrofits to existing dozers. These systems revolutionized the operation of dozers, but there were a lot of parts to track and maintain.
In the past 18 months, however, several major manufacturers have begun integrating these systems into the physical structure of their machines, creating integrated systems that not only improve the grade control performance, but make the process less cumbersome from a hardware perspective.
On previous generations of systems, one or two GPS receivers were bolted somewhat awkwardly on long mast poles attached to the blade. Long cables – draped from the receivers to the body of the dozer – carried blade positioning information to the controllers in the cab.
Sany adds 4 compact excavators to lineup
The Sany lineup of compact excavators jumps to seven with the unveiling of four new machines ranging in size from 5,908 pounds to 20,238 pounds.
The lineup begins with the SY26U, the company’s smallest excavator, weighing 5,908 pounds. Sany says the machine includes many features associated with larger excavators, including a standard fully enclosed cab, auxiliary hydraulics down the arm and zero tail swing.
Next in line is the SY50, at 11,905 pounds. The company says it is designed for heavy work but can still fight tight spaces. It also comes with structural reinforcements for operator safety.
Ditch Witch launches SK1550, its largest, most powerful mini skid steer
Leaping the company’s SK1050 in size and power, Ditch Witch has unveiled the SK1550, a mini skid steer designed to tackle heavy duty landscaping projects typically reserved for traditional skid steer loaders.
With a rated operating capacity of 1,558 pounds and a 44-horsepower Tier 4 Yanmar diesel engine, the machine represents the company’s largest and most powerful mini skid steer. It can handle trees, transfer sod, and load and unload material on a wide range of dump sites, the company says.
The SK1550 runs at a top speed of 4.7 mph in forward and reverse. It’s auxiliary flow control has low, medium and high settings, and optional dual-auxiliary connections allow it to better handle advanced attachments for heavier loads.
Caterpillar unveils TH514D telehandler with improved hydraulics, comfort and work range
The Cat TH514D Telehandler comes with updated hydraulics to handle a variety of work tools.
Attachments include forks and a choice of carriages, buckets, truss booms, winches, pipe grapple, sweeper, material-handling arm, concrete bucket and fork-mounted platform. A manual attachment coupler is standard and a hydraulic coupler is available.
The telehandler is powered by a 100-horsepower, Tier 4 Final Cat C3.4B engine. The machine has a rated load capacity of 11,021 pounds and a maximum lift height of 45.5 feet.
Yanmar to provide remanufactured engines for Manitou’s Gehl and Mustang machines
Manitou has reached an agreement with Yanmar on a deal that will bring remanufactured engines to North American customers of the Gehl and Mustang heavy equipment brands.
Yanmar Americas REMAN will remanufacture engines using Manitou’s certified XPRT Genuine Parts. The engines will fit any Gehl or Mustang machine operating in North America and will be sold under the XPRT brand, according to a Manitou Americas press release.
Manitou says lead-times are less than 15 days on most remanufactured engines (compared to 120 days with new engines) and carry a one-year OEM factory warranty backed by the Gehl and Mustang dealer network.
Cat intros 950 GC, a lower-spec loader developed using telematics data
With the North American and European launch of the 950 GC wheel loader, Caterpillar says it is bringing a machine stateside that has proven itself to be a high-performing, reliable and budget-friendly machine in lesser regulated countries.
Telematics played a big part in the development of the 950 GC, Cat says. In addition to helping customers keep track of when, how hard and where their machines are being used, Cat’s Product Link telematics provide its engineers with a lot of detailed data useful in improving the designs of its machines while developing new ones aimed at specific use cases.
Using lessons learned from telematics data gathered on its 950 wheel loaders, Cat developed the 950 GC as a lower-spec machine designed to appeal to lighter duty operations. Priced 15 percent lower than the full-spec 950M, Cat says the 950 GC excels in stockpiling, load-and-carry, hopper charging and truck loading applications.
Altec intros 2 truck cranes for use on Prinoth’s Panther T22 track carrier
Altering the design of its traditional chassis-mounted models, Altec has introduced two truck cranes now available for sale on the Prinoth Panther T22 track carrier.
With the track-carrier-mounted AC45-127S-TC and AC40-152S-TC, Altec says it is now able to bring all the features of these two models’ chassis-mounted variants to hard-to-reach jobsites.
