Equipment Roundup: Cat 988K XE wheel loader; Miller’s new ArcReach; Case CX145D SR excavator; Michelin Vision 3D printed tire

Cat unveils 988K XE electric drive wheel loader with up to 49% efficiency boost

Delivering 25 percent greater overall efficiency, Caterpillar says its latest wheel loader, the 988K XE, is designed “for demanding jobsites where fuel efficiency makes a difference in the machine’s total cost of operation.”

The fuel savings are thanks to the new loader’s electric drive system. However, the machine retains the Cat C18 ACERT engine, mechanical dropbox, driveline and axles from the non-XE 988K. Cat says the XE model delivers 10 percent more productivity in load-and-carry applications than the standard 988K.

During four years of field testing, Cat says it actually saw efficiency figures increase over the standard 988K by as much as 49 percent when operated in face-loading applications.

Read the full story here.

 

What to see at ICUEE 2017: JCB, John Deere and Hyundai in Area K

ICUEE is preparing for record exhibit space for the October 3-5 Demo Show at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. In the run-up to the show we’ll be providing a series of sneak peeks to give you an idea of what to look for at the show. To check out the rest of the ICUEE 2017 preview articles, click here.

Here is a sample of some of the equipment ICUEE attendees will see in Area K.

 

Miller’s new ArcReach weld tech saves time and money

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. says its new ArcReach technology can save a welder up to two hours a day of work, making the welder more productive while saving labor costs for companies.

Miller does this with its Cable Length Compensation and Adjust While Welding advancements. The cable feature automatically compensates for voltage drops in the weld cable, so the welder doesn’t have to stop to make manual adjustments while working. And the welding adjustment technology allows operators to make parameter changes and other adjustments – such as compensate for heat buildup, change weld position or variations in part fit-up – at the wire feeder or by remote control without stopping the arc.

The technologies are available by pairing ArcReach accessories with the new XMT 350 FieldPro power sources, which include a variety of feeder and remote options, the company says. The XMT 350 Field Pro is designed for welding applications in structural steel, shipbuilding, and bridge and commercial construction.

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Case intros CX145D SR excavator with more power, improved cab

Case has expanded its D Series lineup of full-size excavators with the introduction of an updated minimum-swing model, the CX145D SR.

Powered by a 102 horsepower Tier 4 Final (T4F) engine, the CX145D SR has an operating weight of 32,100 pounds and delivers bucket digging forces up to 21,400 lb.-ft. and lift capacities up to 21,350 pounds. Case says the machine’s engine is a maintenance-free T4F solution requiring no diesel particulate filter (DPF) or regeneration. The engine instead implements a combination of selective catalytic reduction (SCR), cooled gas exhaust recirculation (CEGR) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) technologies to meet emission regulations.

Case says the machine boasts faster cycle times thanks to improved breakout forces and more lifting strength made possible by a new electronically controlled pump, larger control and solenoid valves and multiple sensors. These upgrades combine with Case’s Intelligent Hydraulic System which is made up of four control systems that work to optimize hydraulic power on the fly.

Read the full story here.

 

Michelin’s Vision, a 3D printed concept tire, solves a whole lot of problems

It looks strange and the first applications may be a decade away, but I have a suspicion this 3D printed concept tire from Michelin might eventually be coming to a loader near you.

Michelin calls it the Vision tire. As you might deduce, it’s airless. No need to inflate it or worry about inflation pressures. That also means it can never go flat. It also doesn’t need a rim or steel wheel to secure it to the axle. The lacy web of material is arrayed so that the tire gets stronger and more rigid toward the center while remaining pliable and shock absorbing at the perimeter. Sensors imbedded in the material give you real time information about its condition.

The Vision tire is also made from bio-sourced and bio-degradable materials including food scraps, cardboard, hay, paper and metal. And it’s what the company calls “rechargeable,” meaning once the tread wears out to the minimum depth, you can print out a new tread belt on top of the old one.

Read the full story here.