Caterpillar has announced several new features for its hydraulic excavator line as part of its annual product update (APU) program. The new features include enhancements to Cat Grade technologies, a new user interface (UI) for quick navigation and an Advanced Payload option for Cat track excavators.
The updates apply to Cat small, medium and large excavators, as well as material handlers, wheeled excavators and forestry and specialty machines.
Cat Grade
For the 2025 excavator builds, Cat Grade with Advanced 2D features and functions are now integrated into standard Cat Grade with 2D. Cat 2D technology enables operators to work more efficiently in a range of applications by delivering real-time guidance for accurate vertical and horizontal control.
The tech feature helps to ensure cuts and fills are made to exact specifications, without undercutting or overcutting, and can eliminate the need for ground stakes in most applications.
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“Our 2D grading technology provides easy adjustments to target depth and slope using joystick commands, the touchscreen interface or a jog dial. It displays target grade with visual guidance plus height and depth,” said Jason Ho, Senior Global Product Consultant – Excavation for Caterpillar.
“To help ensure long life, the integrated components are protected from damage, and 2D works with multiple bucket types, including digging, cleaning, grading and tilting.”
For grading complex designs, Caterpillar’s Grade with 3D technology is now a factory-installed option available for track and wheeled excavators. This new option includes all the hardware required for the 3D system, installed and tested from the factory. It provides an easier upgrade path for customers who want to add Cat Grade with 3D after initial purchase.
New user interface
Cat Payload for excavators and material handlers delivers precise bucket load information with on-the-go weighing to help prevent overloading or underloading. From reordering work tool lists to creating new work tool combinations, the display’s new user interface starts quickly and enables operators to set up machines and access information.
Operators keep track of the amount of material moved and can split tasks between truck loading in Weigh Mode and moving material around the site in Stockpile Mode. The ability to input couplers and attachments into the system makes setting up work tool combinations efficient by reducing calibration time.
“While Cat Payload helps operators to accurately hit load targets and avoid underloading, overloading or misloading materials, customers with track excavators can upgrade the system to Advanced Payload for expanded capabilities such as custom tags, daily totals and electronic ticketing,” Ho said. “When combined with VisionLink, Advanced Payload enables customers to analyze job sites and individual assets for remote management of production targets and key metrics.”
Advanced Payload from Caterpillar helps to:
- Lower costs, by saving time, labour and fuel consumption.
- Improve accuracy, with precise payload targets that help eliminate over and underloading.
- Increase efficiency, helping new operators to get up to speed faster and experienced operators work more accurately.
- Monitor safety, by helping to prevent truck overloading, which results in heavier and more unstable loads.
Operator training
The new excavator features from Caterpillar be viewed on Cat Operator Training at catoperatortraining.com. Caterpillar’s Equipment Training Solutions team develops and executes training programs for Cat equipment operators and jobsite supervisors and certifies operators in the Cat dealer network.
The comprehensive training solutions help operators maximize production and improve safety through a variety of training solutions, including eLearning, instructor-led, simulators and custom training programs.
