The Bond films are renowned for their action-packed sequences and in Skyfall part of the thrilling sequence features James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, operating a Cat 320D L hydraulic excavator.
True to form, the British Secret Service agent does it on a train that?s hurtling down the tracks through the Turkish countryside.
?Seeing our machine on the big screen is exciting. Seeing it featured in the world?s longest running film franchise is simply amazing,? said Diane Lantz-Rickard, Caterpillar?s global brand marketing manager. This is the second time that a Caterpillar machine has featured in a Bond film.
?Our brand has been featured in more than 20 movies dating as far back as 1927, and we worked with the Bond films previously in The World is Not Enough in 1999. We?re proud to continue the association with such a respected and globally known brand,? Lantz-Rickard said.
While Caterpillar prides itself on designing and building equipment to meet customers? needs, the customisation in this case was a little out of the ordinary ? as you could only expect in a Bond thriller. It involved putting the cab on the opposite side of the 320D L, as requested by EON Productions, the James Bond production company.
?The cab switch, required for the location of the shoot and interaction between characters, took several months of pre-planning,? said Robert Woodley, Caterpillar communications manager for Europe, Africa, Middle East and the CIS.
?The biggest challenge involved changing the electronics and hydraulics to accommodate the cab on the other side of the machine. Ultimately, two 320D L excavators were produced in Caterpillar?s Akashi, Japan plant for Skyfall.?
Caterpillar dealers Finning UK and Borusan Makina were in on the action too. Finning UK assisted the visual effects department in technical support and supply of parts for the excavators.
On-site, Borusan Makina provided expertise and services as well as equipment such as generator sets, a skid steer loader and mini-hydraulic excavator for the shoot.
Skyfall opens in Australian cinemas on 22 November, 2012. The film?s world premiere is in London this week, on 23 October.
To catch a glimpse of 007 and the 320D L in action, watch the movie trailer.
More information about the 320D L can also be found at the Caterpillar Australia website.
Source: Caterpillar