Caterpillar has unveiled a new hydraulic excavator which combines more power and a heavier counterweight to work with larger tools.
Quarrying is a tough job. Not all equipment can handle the arduous task of moving tonnes upon tonnes of material day in day out.
That’s why Caterpillar has designed the Cat 352 Hydraulic Excavator.
Brian Abbott, Caterpillar global product manager for large hydraulic excavators, said the machine has been built for big jobs and delivers unmatched performance in its size class.
“It can be equipped with high-capacity buckets to dig and load tonnes of material in fewer passes or large hammers to work in demanding quarry applications,” he said.
The robust engine power (330kW for Tier 4F, 303kW for Tier 3) and electrohydraulic system allows the 352 to power through difficult materials. Auto dig boost increases bucket penetration by 8 per cent when encountering resistance in the cut, and auto heavy lift increases lift capacity by 8 per cent, which comes in handy when picking up heavy loads like sandboxes and pipe. Auxiliary hydraulic options allow the use of a wide range of Cat attachments for greater versatility.
Three engine modes match excavator power to the demands of the job. Smart mode automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions to lower fuel consumption. Power mode delivers maximum power to meet the most demanding tasks. Eco mode reduces engine speed to a constant 1500 rpm to minimise fuel consumption.
Smart technology has been incorporated into the excavator, which has the potential to boost productivity by up to 45 per cent. Cat 2D Grade indicates depth and slope on the in-cab monitor with auditory alerts, while standard Cat Grade Assist allows the excavator to stay on grade with single-lever digging.
Higher level offerings allow users to create and edit designs and efficiently complete more complex grading applications. All Cat Grade systems are compatible with radios and base stations from top third-party technology suppliers.
Operators can store up to four depth and slope offsets to quickly cut to grade without a grade checker. Providing real-time weight estimates without swinging the boom, Cat Payload on-board weighing helps achieve precise payload targets to improve operating efficiency. It can be combined with VisionLink to remotely manage production targets.
Cat Swing Assist automatically stops excavator swing at operator-defined setpoints in truck loading and trenching applications, increasing safety, and conserving fuel. Auto hammer stop warns operators after 15 seconds of continuous firing and then shuts off the hammer after 30 seconds to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
The 352 Excavator comes with either a fixed or variable gauge undercarriage. The variable gauge undercarriage retracts to a 2390mm width, making it much easier to transport. When expanded, it is 150mm wider than the fixed gauge undercarriage for greater stability.
Different cab trim level options are available with features like heated and air-suspension seats. They each have a tilt-up left-hand console for easier access in and out of the machine. The 352 features keyless pushbutton start with an available Bluetooth key fob. Operators can also ignite the engine through an operator ID passcode.
The 352 remains reliable in virtually any environment, with a high ambient temperature capability of 52˚ C, cold-start capability at -18˚ C and can work at up to 4500m above sea level.
Remote troubleshoot and remote flash let dealers connect with the machine before traveling to a jobsite to diagnose fault codes and update operating software. The system can also automatically collect vital machine operating information like location, hours, fuel usage, idle time, maintenance alerts, diagnostic codes, and machine health and share it through web and mobile applications.
The air intake filter with pre-cleaner features high dust capacity, and a high-efficiency hydraulic fan cools the engine on demand to reduce fuel consumption. Long-life fuel, oil, and air filters combine with synchronized 1000-hour oil and fuel filter service intervals to reduce downtime. The extended intervals eliminate labour cost for nine oil and fuel filter changes and parts cost for 27 oil and fuel filters over 10,000 machine operating hours compared to many competitive models in its class.
Visit cat.com to learn more.