Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/933470
January 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com 54 vice president, excavation division, calls a "digital heart." It includes a first-of-its-kind electro-hydraulic valve, electronic pump and elec- tronic engine that are knit together with a single electronic control unit that governs every aspect of the machines' performance. The new hydraulic pump features a main control valve that eliminates the need for pilot lines, reduces pressure losses and lowers fuel consumption. Fewer hydraulic lines mean you need 20 percent less oil to power the system. The pump is also larger than the previous generation to maintain high output under lower engine speeds. Wrapped around this intelligent hydraulic system are a bank of five separate electric on-demand fans to individually control temperatures on hydraulic oil, engine oil, the radia- tor, and the air-to-air aftercooler temperatures. Most excavators (and most machines, actually) combine cooling functions into two or three radiators. The five-radiator bank on the new Cat excavators means that you can quickly achieve and maintain the optimal temperatures on each of these functions without the compromises of a shared radiator and fan. That helps maximize the performance of each component. And the fans, being electronically controlled and on-demand, reduce parasitic horsepower drag on the engine caused by more redundant or less intelligent systems. Technology dazzle Although they share the same me- chanical DNA as the 320 GC model, you get an impressively wide range of digital technologies when you step up to the 320 or 323 models. Standard from the factory, these machines include a 2D dig-assist system. The 2D systems automate the position of the bucket to give you the ability to dig to a precise depth and contour. The 320 and 323 also feature Cat Payload as standard – an automated bucket weighing system that enables you to put precisely the right amount of material in a truck and avoid the wear and tear on trucks that comes with overloading. You can also get Cat Grade with 3D as a factory option on the 320 and 323, which ties the machine into satellite positioning and digital site plans. Another option is Cat Grade with Advanced 2D, which adds in-field design capabilities through a touchscreen monitor. The assisted and automated dig- ging controls are governed by sen- sors on the boom, stick and bucket. These add a tremendous amount of productivity to your excavator operations – no rework, no rough- out and cleanup, no putting a guy with a survey pole in the trench to measure the depth. Safety bonus Cat added swing and body tilt sen- sors to the Next Generation 320 and 323 excavators that create what Cat calls an "E-fence" and "E-ceiling." Set the parameters of this E-fence or E-ceiling and you can prevent the bucket or boom from inadver- tently hitting an overhead power line, a bridge, a wall or structure, or swinging into traffic on congested road building sites. A rear facing camera also helps improve safety. Creature comforts Everybody redesigns their cabs it seems, but Cat went an extra step and included the aforementioned smartphone start feature in the Next Generation excavators. You can also start them with a key or a touch pad, but no doubt younger operators will get a kick out of using the myEquip- ment app to start the machine. The app also allows operators to set up their personal preferences for the controls, which the machine will rec- ognize as soon as they enter the cab with their phone. Caterpillar also enlarged the cab and improved sightlines to the operator's left. Special attention was paid to the design and the seat and the seat fabric to prevent it from wearing or tearing – something that often diminishes the perceived value of a used excavator. The 8-inch touchscreen monitor has smartphone-like options and plenty of space to designate automated settings and read 3D GPS plans. product report | continued Visit www.felling.com/eq-world | Call 1-877-820-6584 | Email trailers@felling.com FT-45-2 LP Drill Series Shown with optional 7' x 45" wood inlaid air ramps, wood inlaid beavertail, 1/2" lip up on outer edge of beavertail, and viper red paint. Scan Now to Watch Video EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST, QUALITY THAT IS PROVEN. You know what you need to haul, Felling has the trailer to get it there. With over 100 years combined industry sales experience, we have the answers to your specialized trailer needs.