Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1543322
Trends and Tidbits Continued from page 14 Caterpillar Next Gen mod- els first became available in 2017; models in this size range include the 325, 330, 330 GC, and the 335. e 325 and 335 are fully sen- sored and factory calibrated for such features as payload monitoring and Auto Dig Boost. Cat Grade with 2D is standard; Cat Grade with 3D is optional. Auto Dig Boost increases bucket pen- etration by 8%. Auto Heavy Li increases li capacity by 8%. Both are standard and both operate automatical- ly with no input from the operator required. e new variant of the 325 that Caterpillar will have on display at Conexpo 2026 will have a heavy-duty undercarriage and will be configured with a blade, tiltrotator, and Cat's variable angle (2-piece) boom. Ste- ven Faucher, global product and application specialist, medium excavators, says that blade and tiltrotators are seeing increasing pop- ularity take rates on new excavators in the U.S. "Overall, we're working to improve versatility that can be taken from job-to-job while still offering the 330 GC for customers who want a reliable, but basic and simple, machine." e Caterpillar excava- tor team rolls out annual products updates (APUs) late each year. Updates can include soware and firm- ware updates, new features, and technical improve- ments. ese APUs are built upon the information architecture present in Next Gen machines; they are backward-compatible to the extent allowed by a partic- ular model's information management capabilities. Jim Joy, product manager, LiuGong excavators, says its strategy is to offer fewer configurations but make sure base models are feature rich. LiuGong excavators come with first and second auxilia- ry hydraulic circuits and hydraulic quick couplers. ROPS/FOPS cabs with guarding are standard and are sufficiently robust even for demand- ing applications such as forestry and demolition, "although dealers can add guarding to meet custom- er needs," which can also include the installation of thumbs. Demolition models do have different sticks and booms than their standard siblings. LiuGong 32-inch tracks with triple grous- ers are preferred by most customers, so that is the standard configuration. 2D is standard and provides the foundation for future availability of 3D machine control. Other standard features include the heaviest available counterweight, track guards and lighting packages. Excavator technology makes the job site safer Much of safety comes down to two things: visibil- ity and obstacle avoidance. Visibility includes rear-view cameras, which have be- come standard on virtually all models in this size range. A second camera on the operator's blind side is becoming standard. Beyond that are camera upgrade packages that provide 270- or 360-degree views on the standard monitor or on a Jim Joy, Product Manager separate, dedicated mon- itor. e 270-degree view assumes that the other 90 degrees of the site is within the operator's visual line of sight. e 360-degree view is a bird's-eye, or overhead, view. Lighting is an integral part of the safety strategy, with LED lights paired with cameras as well as LED work lights. Upgrad- ed lighting packages are available. Obstacle avoidance relies on proximity sensors that detect obstacles within a certain distance from the machine. Some systems differentiate between per- sons and inanimate objects. At the least, these systems will alert the operator with a notice on the monitor or an audible alarm or both. Some include an estop function. e Develon DX300LC-7 has the company's AVM (around-view monitor) with its 360-degree top- down view as an option. Story continued on pg 18 16 IDA Universal Q1 2026