Caterpillar Showcases Equipment Innovation, Ease of Use Technologies, Convenient Service Options and the 2023 Global Operator Challenge at CONEXPO-CON/AGG
The stage is set for Caterpillar’s largest exhibit to date at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 where the company will highlight its latest products, services and technologies while paying tribute to those who build the world’s infrastructure.
The company’s 70,000 ft2 (6,500 m2) outdoor demonstration arena will anchor the massive display known as Operator Stadium located in the expo’s Festival Lot.
New Caterpillar Technology, Services and Sustainability hubs provide visitors the opportunity to look beyond the iron for ways to increase operating efficiencies and improve machine uptime. Visitors will find new and current models and battery-electric machine prototypes during the expo from March 14-18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Latest Equipment
The extensive Cat® equipment display in the Festival Lot includes more than 30 machines, including model unveilings and battery-electric model prototypes with charging stations. Visitors will see two main equipment demonstrations each day; one focused on the latest Cat Technology, and one that will spotlight the company’s full equipment line up.
Additionally, Caterpillar will be providing unique daily spotlight demonstrations that will take a deep dive into key industry topics including improving fuel efficiency and jobsite efficiency, the evolution of technology, and convenient, scalable solutions for all customers.
The new Cat 950 medium wheel loader on display offers premium performance and simple-to-use technologies to help boost operator efficiency and increase productivity, while extended service intervals help lower maintenance costs.
Visitors will be treated to a preview of the Next Generation Cat 926, 930 and 938 small wheel loaders – slated for production in late 2023 – which feature new technologies designed to make work easier, a reimagined operator environment and extended service intervals.
For paving contractors, Caterpillar has entered into an agreement with construction solutions supplier, Axenox, Inc., to acquire the intellectual properties of two of the company’s asphalt paving screed products.
Under the agreement, three-dimensional screed plates and the modular screed plate fastening system will be available options exclusively for Cat asphalt paving customers. The Axenox® screed plate design is a significant departure from industry standard. Whereas traditional plates are flat, these plates utilize a three-dimensional, angular design.
This added dimension delivers lateral compaction confinement to asphalt material. The kneading action helps aggregate to interlock more efficiently than with flat screeds, increasing mat and joint density along with improving mat smoothness. A revolutionary new way to secure the plate to the screed, the modular fastening system reduces screed plate change time from days to less than four hours, minimizing replacement costs for the paving contractor.
The Latest Power
Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems Division will exhibit in booth S84329 in the South Hall a wide and rapidly growing portfolio of high-efficiency Cat industrial power solutions. The exhibit includes the unveiling of a new high power internal combustion engine, as well as the leading-edge lithium-ion battery technologies under development.
Engines on display, such as the C3.6 IPU, C7.1 and C9.3B, meet EU Stage V, U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards and are compatible with biodiesel up to B20 and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to EN15940, to help customers power a better, more sustainable world. The booth will also showcase Caterpillar’s technical services and market expertise leveraged by the global Cat dealer network to maximize the efficiency and extend the lifecycles of off-highway equipment, including Cat remanufactured and service replacement engines.
The Services Hub: Easy and on-the-go
Caterpillar offers a range of service options that are easy, convenient, flexible and sustainable. The new Cat Central app is the latest tool for convenient access to genuine Cat parts and support. This on-the-go experience makes it easy for customers to find and order Cat parts, scan and shop a specific asset instantly and find answers to maintenance and support questions.
Another new service-related solution is the new Cat SIS2GO app which takes the guesswork out of maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing Cat equipment. Both apps are available on Windows, iOS and Android platforms.
The Services Hub is located in the Festival Lot, and the hub will include Caterpillar subject matter experts (SME) who will help guide attendees through several maintenance options for Cat equipment.
Customer Value Agreement (CVA) options offer easy ownership plans customized to fit a customer’s business needs to extend equipment life and maximize the investment. Cat Certified Rebuild programs return end-of-life machines, systems and components to like new condition.
Cat Reman products bring new life to assets with like-new performance at a fraction of the cost of buying new. Cat Self-Service Options deliver convenient, simple parts ordering and machine repair support for those who prefer to do their own service.
Team members from Cat Financial will be available to discuss the latest leasing and financing programs, including Cat Card, as well as extended protection packages to help secure customers’ investments. Whether they are looking for new or used Cat machines or for repair/rebuild options to keep their current machines operational, Cat Financial experts will help customers make the right decision to support their business – no matter how large or small.
The Technology Hub: Solutions for Any Operation
The Caterpillar Technology Hub in the Festival Lot will offer attendees the ability to experience a range of new and existing Cat technologies – VisionLink, Cat Command, VisionLink Productivity, Cat Detect, Cat Grade and Cat Payload. Caterpillar SMEs will be on hand to assist each customer in finding a scalable solution designed to fit the business’s needs and budget.
Its centerpiece exhibit, the “Looking Glass” cube, displays and interactively showcases the five key capabilities of the new Cat VisionLink® application – Geofence & Location, Fuel Theft Alerts, Diagnostics, Idle Time/Fuel Burn, and Maintenance. An interactive wall invites visitors to explore the full suite of VisionLink capabilities for both Cat and non-Cat equipment and non-machine assets.
The hub’s multiple Cat Command stations allow attendees to remotely operate Cat machines located more than 400 miles away at the Tinaja Hills Demonstration and Learning Center. They are positioned to allow attendees to better experience and learn more about the Command for Dozing, Excavating and Loading technologies. One of the Command stations allows visitors to try the “Strike Pay Dirt Challenge,” where participants remotely control an excavator to win a prize.
The Sustainability Hub: Choose Your Machine. Choose Your Power
The Caterpillar Sustainability Hub in the Festival Lot will spotlight fuel efficiency and alternative power sources; technologies to fit every operation and budget; and parts and service designed to make uptime fast and easy. Plus, customers will learn about sustainability benefits they can choose today and plan for tomorrow.
Outside the Sustainability Hub, exhibit attendees can view components of Caterpillar’s total site solution for the energy transition, including four battery-electric machine prototypes – the Cat 301.9 mini excavator, 320 medium excavator, 950 GC medium wheel loader and 906 compact wheel loader – in addition to AC and DC charging solutions. The Caterpillar-designed batteries powering these battery-electric machines are built on lithium-ion Cat technology with a modular design that offers flexible configurations across multiple applications.
Celebrating the Operator
With the quest to prove they are the best, more than 10,000 operators representing more than 32 countries around the world registered to compete in the 2022-2023 Global Operator Challenge. From 3,500 participants in the first round of local competitions to 84 advancing to the regional semifinals, nine of the world’s best equipment operators will demonstrate their advanced skill, precision and stamina in hopes of being named the Global Operator Challenge Champion. The nine finalists competing in Operator Stadium at ConExpo are:
• Pontus Eriksson, representing Zeppelin Sweden
• Sebastian Behr, representing Zeppelin Germany
• Łukasz Mokrzyński, representing Bergerat Monnoyeur Poland
• John Schiedeck, representing Holt Cat (Texas, USA)
• Matt Ferris, representing Empire Cat (Arizona, USA)
• Fernando do Nascimento , representing PESA (Brazil)
• Masato Imai, representing Nippon Caterpillar (Japan)
• Patrick Doheny, representing William Adams (Australia)
• Nick Thompson, representing CavPower (Australia)
The finals kick off on Tuesday morning, March 14, immediately following the expo’s grand opening ceremonies. Throughout the competition, the skills of the finalists will be put to the test in three identical challenges – excavating, loading, and hauling/maneuvering the equipment through a variety of obstacles. The champion is set to be crowned on the afternoon of March 14.
All CONEXPO-CON/AGG attendees are encouraged to attend the Global Operator Challenge Finals to see first-hand the new equipment, technologies and services on display in Festival Lot exhibit, F9127.
The Finals will also be broadcast live on cat.com. More information on the finalists can be found at www.cat.com/operatorchallenge and for more details about the Cat CONEXPO-CON/AGG experience, visit https://www.cat.com/en_US/campaigns/event/conexpo-2023.html.
