Caterpillar ® 988 GC wheel loader helps drive down cost

Caterpillar has taken on client feedback to build a wheel loader that will allow quarries to move more  materials at lower costs.

Maintenance and fuel costs can stack up, adding to increased prices at a time where the cost of living is ever increasing. These significant expenses can hurt a quarry’s bottom line.

This is the feedback Caterpillar heard from its quarry clients

Reduced maintenance was vital to help keep the Cat® 988 GC wheel loader’s operational costs low. Caterpillar designed the machine with maintenance in mind to enable increased uptime.

The Cat 988 GC Wheel Loader features an advanced filtration and hydraulic system for performance. The design team has incorporated centralised ground-level grease points, ground-level sight gauges, and access doors on the engine compartment for easy serviceability.

Providing easy access to simplify crucial daily service checks was essential to extending the wheel loader’s performance.

The operator can also access onboard diagnostics alerts and machine information via an app or website.

These features might seem small but would help quarries achieve advanced preventative maintenance and servicing efficiency.

Reliable and efficient

According to Caterpillar, the 988 GC wheel loader can achieve up to five per cent less fuel consumption and up to 15 per cent lower maintenance costs than the Cat 988K.

This has allowed the 988 GC to deliver production within six per cent of the 988K in truck-loading applications. With these features, quarries can maximise life-cycle value in moderate production applications. It also features a specially designed advanced power electronic control strategy for the quarrying industry. The transmission neutraliser pedal extends service brake life and allows full power during stationary loading.

The transmission system is one of the best-in-class performance with consistent, smooth shifting, productivity, and efficiency improvements.

A vital part of the 988 GC wheel loader design is the torque converter with standard lock-up clutch eliminates losses, lowers system heat, improves travel times, and reduces cycle times in load-and-carry operations, improving service life and serviceability.

The 988 GC’s cooling package offers higher heat rejection with an on-demand fan strategy and two available fan speed settings for standard and high-ambient-temperature configurations.

Load-sensing hydraulics with direct hydraulic flow is also implemented when needed to optimise the machine’s performance efficiency.

For load-and-carry applications  an optional ride control system is available adding an auxiliary accumulator to the lift circuit for a smoother ride.

Easy, comfortable operation

Improving the operator experience was another important design consideration, with Steering and Integrated Control  steering featuring low interior sound levels of 72 dB(A).

Other key features for operators include cab isolation mounts, seat air suspension, a simplified interface, touch screen display, easy-to-use soft detent implement controls and an optional air-cooled and heated seat.

The 988 GC comes with standard rear Cat vision and can be equipped with Cat Detect technology. These features help enhance the awareness of the working environment and allow for safe and confident operation.

These features are designed to reduce operator fatigue, which research shows is a significant impediment on site.

According to data from the Commissioner for Resources and Safety and Health, approximately 2.5 per cent of all reported notifiable incidents included fatigue as a factor, and 80 per cent of all fatigue-related incidents in Queensland mines involved vehicles, with 85 per cent of vehicular fatigue-related incidents occurring in heavy vehicles.

By incorporating these technologies, Caterpillar aims to help quarry operators move more material at a lower cost per hour for a faster return on their investment.•

For more information, visit cat.com