History

The story of CAT dates back to the late 19th century, when Daniel Best and Benjamin Holt were experimenting with different ways to fulfill the promise that steam tractors held for farm work. Prior to 1925, the Holt family had pioneered track tractors and gasoline powered engines.  After the companies of Best and Holt were merged, the company went through several changes then at the end of World War 2, they began to grow at a very fast pace, launching the first venture outside of the country in 1950, which marked the beginning of CAT development into a big corporation. CAT equipment ranges from track type tractors to hydraulic excavators, backhoes, motor graders, off road trucks, wheel loaders, tractors, diesel and gas engines, and gas turbines.  CAT equipment is used in construction, excavation, building roads, mining, energy, forestry, transportation, and material handling companies.  

Sales
Over half of CAT’s sales are to customers in overseas areas.  CAT products are sold in almost 200 different countries.  The company has a worldwide network of over 200 dealers - 63 in the United States and over 150 in other countries.  CAT equipment and components are manufactured in 42 plants in the United States and 58 plants in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, and several other countries.

Labor
CAT almost went down in the early 1980s due to the massive union strikes and a down turn in product demand.  At the time, several news reports indicated that products were piling up so high in facilities that temporary workers hired to work the lines could barely get to their stations to perform their jobs. In the 1990s, CAT suffered yet another long strike in which the company hired what it deemed to be permanent replacements for union workers that were on strike.  During both strikes, jack rocks were placed in the home entrances of many of CATs top executives and employees, puncturing the tires of their vehicles and making things worse for the company. Not long after the strike of the 1990s ended and the economy started to get back up again, CAT adopted the “6 Sigma” quality management program, to help reduce costs and inventory and identify and correct the defects in processes and products.

In standard form, the CX330 is almost 5,000 pounds heavier than the 9050B.  This added weight comes from a larger counterweight and from a redesigned carbody that will now completely enclose the swing system. 

These added pounds will also contribute to the boost in the CX330s over-front capacity, and in combination with higher hydraulic pressures the travel circuit, give the excavator a very impressive 16% boost in draw bar pull, which means more power for negotiating poor underfoot conditions and very steep grades.

In addition to the new features, the CX330s digging linkage has been enhanced in many ways.  The boom and arm, deeper in cross section to accommodate higher digging forces, now incorporate V-groove type welds that are placed by robots and 100 percent ultra sound inspected.

The boom foot and boom to arm pivots use improved bushings, new plated pins, and new dust seals that combine to make a more durable and easier to take care of assembly.  The newly hardened chrome pins will also contribute to the overall digging linkage durability.

Even though the basic 6 cylinder, 8.3 liter engine in the CX330 has been used in Case products since 1985, continual refinement over the years has changed nearly 85% of the original engine’s part numbers.  The CX330 features 259 net HP with an air to air intercooler and a free breathing 24 valve cylinder head. 

The electronic logic that controls the new engine’s fuel system tracks the machine’s operating parameters and keeps the system continually armed to respond instantly and precisely to the fuel requirements of each individual cylinder.  The total electronic design of the engine will also eliminate cable and step motor controls from the fuel system, with a large gain in reliability.

Even though modest changes in the CX330s digging linkage geometry will contribute to the higher forces of digging, the big guns here are the refinement of the trench with it’s open center hydraulic system.  The main pressure in the implement circuit is up almost 8%, with the hydraulic cylinder diameter up 7% as well.

Hydraulic power
The increase in hydraulic power combines with the more efficient linkage geometry to yield almost 20% more bucket digging force and 15% more arm force.  With 19 more HP, the CX330 can drive it’s main hydraulic pumps with much better force.  In addition, the new pumps will produce about 6% more flow for increased hydraulic speed at much lower system pressures.

The new PCS (Pro Control System) will manage the hydraulic system and interface with the 6TAA-830 engine, and does it with more electronic genious than the 9050B did.  Similar to the 9050B, the CX330 does have manually selected working modes, although it departs from previous designs by adding a new automatic work mode.  By working in the new automatic mode, the CX330 can analyze load demands and operator input at the joystick, then adjust the engine and hydraulic pumps to balance power and speed with efficiency and even with the economy.

Other PCS features include a high speed assistance system, which will speed up boom and arm functions, and an automatic power boost system as well.  The power boost system will increase main pressure by 10% for 8 seconds if the implement system reaches the standard relief pressure for more than 1 second in tough digging conditions.

With everything the CX330 from Case offers, it’s  truly the best excavtor in years.  Case has outdone themselves this time, doing their part to make excavating both fun and exciting.  If you’ve been looking for the perfect upgrade from the 9050B, the CX330 is all that and a bag of chips.

Power
The CX700 is a powered by a high performance, fuel efficient Isuzu engine that is completely Tier 3 certified.  With an operating weight of 153,400 lbs. and over 400 HP, the CX700 is capable of digging to 31 feet 11 inches with reaches up to 46 feet 11 inches.

The frame for the CX700 is based on the larger CX800 to ensure optimum durability and reliability,  especially given the powerful performance specs the machine calls for.

New to the Case CX700 is a switch that will allow you to give priority to either the boom or the swing functions.  The CX700 also offers retractable side frames and an optional counterweight removal device, which makes transporting easier than ever before.

More durable
The Isuzu engine that powers the CX700 is fully electronic and uses a high pressure rail system that provides a 5% increase in HP and also gives the excavator 10% better fuel economy.

Several enhancements have been made to the CX330 upon releasing the CX700, including the overall reliabilty and durability of the machine, which includes the strength of the front idlers by beefing up the thickness and design of the center hub and improving the track seal design for increased life.

Upgrades
Several of the features that come standard with the CX700 are upgrades for the CX330 that will also be applied to other large Case excavator models that move forward.  The key upgrades include ease of maintenance and servicing.  Both the CX330 and CX700 models feature an easy maintenance system, lubricated bushings throughout the boom and arm, which provides extended lube periods of up to 1,000 hours.  The engine oil filters are now mounted vertically in the pump house access area, which allows for easier access and servicing.

The addition of a modified oil drain plug with a check valve will make it easier than ever to change oil.  Both the CX330 and CX700 both offer finer fuel filtration, up to four microns, which provides increased uptime and improved fuel performance.

The upgraded cooling system features a design that reduces the stacking of coolers for better cooling efficiency and also improves access to ease the removal of debris.  In addition to this, the Case CX700 also features a hydraulically driven, thermostat controlled reversible fan for improving the cooling of the engine and easy cleanout of the materials.

It is however, not easy to make these types of  decisions, thanks to several factors that you’ll need to consider. 

Rental pricing
Its no secret that rental companies make a killing with the equipment they rent out.  Most companies will rent on a daily or weekly basis, which is good for them but can be bad for you.  Depending on what area you work in, the price can be very high or just right.
Depending on what type of equipment you need, the price to rent will vary.  Excavators and off road dump trucks are among the highest to rent, as they  can cost as much as 12,000 dollars per month!  This may seem a bit outrageous at first, although if you own a profitable company and are working on a big project, you’ll have problems meeting the price.

Buying
When you need more equipment and don’t want to rent, you can buy your equipment.  Buying is the way to go if you plan on using the equipment more.  If you work on large projects on a frequent basis, you may want to look into buying the equipment you need instead of renting.

Buying will save you money in the long run, providing you are going to be using the equipment again.  If you need the equipment for one or two projects, you may just want to rent.  Sure you won’t own the equipment, although you certainly don’t want to buy something you won’t be using.

Servicing
One of the great things about renting is the fact that company you rent from is responsible for fixing anything that breaks.  Your company won’t be responsible for repairs, as you don’t own the equipment.  If something breaks or goes wrong, simply call the company and they will come out there and fix the problem, as the price for repair is included in the rental contract.

If you choose to go ahead and buy the equipment, then your company will be responsible for the repair of the equipment.  As you probably know with owning other equipment, you’ll need to do regular maintenance and service on the equipment.

Making that final choice on renting or buying is ultimately up to you.  You should always think about finances, and if you can afford the machinery.  If you don’t have the finances or capital to buy what you need, you should go with renting.  Either way you go, you’ll get the machines you need to complete your job and stay ahead of schedule.

Bobcat
Bobcat gave its compact backhoe loaders a power boost when the company introduced the second generation B series to the lineup.  The 31.5 HP B100 received a 45% increase in backhoe bucket breakout force and a 27% jump in the breakout force of the dipper.

The 46 HP B300 received a 44% increase in dipper breakout force and a 21% boost in the breakout force of the bucket.  The three model line also includes the B250, which is a 31.5 HP sideshift unit.  Similar to the larger B300, the B250 also features all wheel steering and four wheel drive.

New Holland
Each one of the four models of backhoe loaders in the New Holland lineup use the new 4.5 liter turbocharged Tier 2 engine.  This new engine and a number of other upgrades were the basis for the B series machines, which offer low effort pilot controls which will give you a choice between excavator or loader style patterns.

Case
Case added quite a bit to its M series backhoe loaders, by switching to family 3 engines to meet Tier 2 emission standards.  The new machines of the M series have quieter, larger displacement engines for better lugging capacity.  They also have increased torque rise for faster cycles of loader and backhoe operations.

With 500 hour intervals of oil changes and easy to access transmission mounted hydraulic pumps, the M series is surely a force to be reckoned  with in the world of backhoes.

Ingersoll-Rand
The newest compact backhoe loader from this company can reach digging depths of up to 12 feet with its backhoe.  Working as a loader, the BL-580 has an operating capacity of 3,406 pounds with a breakout force of 9,370 pounds. 

Both the loader and backhoe are equipped with standard auxiliary hydraulics with a two way flow to accommodate a variety of attachments, which includes booms, breakers, augers, and even compactors.  Other nifty features include hydrostatic four wheel drive for power and traction, and all wheel steering for a tight radius. 

Komatsu
Komatsu announced that the optional excavator style joystick controls would be offered on its five model lineup of backhoes.  The lineup has also been upgraded with increased hydraulic speed, stronger components, and Tier 2 engines. The entire Komatsu line consists of the 87 HP WB140 series, and the 94 HP WB150 series. 

The standard model found with each series features a four speed mechanical transmission complete with a torque converter.  The fifth model from Komatsu is the WB150, with offers an all star wheel design with a powershift transmission and anti theft prevention system.

John Deere
The 410H is the hallmark of John Deere, offering 92 HP.  The 410H also offers the total machine control system, which integrates control for the engine, transmission, hydraulics, and brakes so that the system can respond in an efficient way to the many different job demands.

Terex
Since acquiring the Fermec line, Terex has marketed a full and impressive line of backhoes.  The models include the 92 HP TX760B and the 100 HP TX860B.  At 100 HP as well are the 860SX, 860 Elite, and the 970 Elite.  Both the 760 and 860 models  feature four speed shuttle gearboxes and travel speeds of up to 25.8 miles per hour. 

The standard types of trenchers, whether dedicated units or attachments, they are versatile machines  for contractors to have with them on the job.  They can be used for many different purposes, from digging valve box holes to trenches for drain pipes.  In areas that contain rocky soil, large roots, or other problems where the other machinery can’t access the soil, the trencher will minimize downtime that was once spent digging by hand.

The many types of vibratory plows will offer even more labor saving options.  These plows eliminate the hand labor of having to lay the pipe and backfilling on numerous jobs.  Even though vibratory plows have taken their market share and are great for pulling pipe, trenchers are still very important for many different types of applications.

The impressive company Bobcat offers three different trenching attachments that are designed for use on the smaller skid steer loaders.  The attachment models LT102, LT203, and LT304 all have digging depths from 2 - 4 feet.

Mini trenchers
The mini trenchers have been re-designed and finely tuned from the same concept that made standard trenchers so popular.  As the name suggests, they are lightweight, with the largest models weighing less than 400 pounds.  They are also compact, allowing you to put them in the back of an average pickup truck.

They will also dig a trench around 4 inches wide, and up to 13 inches deep, neatly laying the soil on side of the trench.  Without any trouble at all, you can cover pipe with the backfill, leaving a barely visible seam in the soil.

With time being money, these types of mini trenchers are the answer when working in tight or small areas, or on jobs that have a lot of trees or shrubbery. Mini trenchers have a turning radius of less than two feet and they will easily fit through most garden gates.  Jobs that would normally need a lot of manual labor will now save you a lot of time and man power.

If you do construction or excavation work, even gardening, you’ll find trenching and plowing equipment to be essential to your work.  If you’ve never used these types of equipment before, you’ll be amazed at just how much time you can save.

If you are just starting up your business, you’ll find this type of equipment to be just what you need.  You won’t need a lot of labor with a trencher, as you can do most of it yourself.  For saving time, money, and effort, trenching and plowing equipment is the way to go.

Even though the models of backhoes will vary, there are safety features with all of them that include steps and grab handles for getting on and off of the machine.  Backhoes also feature frame lock levers and attaching levers to keep the backhoe securely fastened to the loader frame during operation as well as transporting.

In addition to these standard safety features, there are some backhoes that provide a safety chain.  The safety chain will prevent the backhoe mounting frame from rotating backwards and unexpectedly trapping the operator, which can result in serious injury or death.  Therefore, it is always important to know and check all of the mounting and attachment points and the safety chain before you operate the backhoe. 

If you’ve attached the backhoe to the loader, you should take a moment to inspect it and perform any necessary maintenance.  Check for broken or damaged parts, also making sure to check for leaks, cracks, excessive wear, and check the control levers.

The warning and safety signs and instructional decals are very important and will help you to avoid injury.  You should always take them seriously and replace any damaged or missing decals.

Every 8 hours or so, you should grease all of the zerk fittings, and check the hydraulic fluid and oil and a daily basis.  If the fluid is low, the backhoe will not operate.  Therefore, you should always take the time to check your machine.

Anytime you have to leave the operator seat of the backhoe, you should lower the bucket or attachment to the ground, turn the engine off, remove the ignition key, then exit the machine. 

When the time comes to drive to the next job site, you should always make sure that you have fully raised both the front and rear stabilizers and make sure you’ve put the backhoe seat into the “down” position for better visibility.  Before you drive off, make sure that you’ve installed the transport locking pin.

Here are some other things to keep in mind:
 -  Always select the right size bucket for the job.
 -  Stake out the work area that is going to be excavated and use flags to mark the area.
 -  Never work in areas that have inadequateoverhead clearances.

Always make sure that you keep bystanders or other workers out of the swing area.  If anyone gets in the way of the boom swinging, they can very easily get injured.  The machine has no feelings,  therefore you should always be aware of who is around you and where they are standing.

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Often times, bulldozers are large and extremely powerful tracked vehicles.  The tracks give them amazing ground mobility and hold through very rough terrain.  Wide tracks on the other hand, help to distribute the weight of the dozer over large areas, therefore preventing it from sinking into sandy or muddy ground. 

Bulldozers have great ground hold and a torque divider that’s designed to convert the power of the engine into dragging ability, which allows it to use its own weight to push heavy objects and even remove things from the ground.  Take the Caterpillar D9 for example, it can easily tow tanks that weight more than 70 tons.  Due to these attributes,  bulldozers are used to clear obstacles, shrubbery, and remains of structures and buildings.

The blade
The blade on a bulldozer is the heavy piece of metal plate that is installed on the front.  The blade pushes things around.  Normally, the blade comes in 3 varieties:
 1.  A straight blade that is short and has no lateral curve, no side wings, and can be used only for fine grading.
 2.  A universal blade, or U blade, which is tall and very curved, and features large side wings to carry more material around.
 3.  A combination blade that is shorter, offers less curvature, and smaller side wings.

Modifications
Over time, bulldozers have been modified to evolve into new machines that are capable of things the original bulldozers weren’t.  A good example is that loader tractors were created by removing the blade and substituting a large volume bucket and hydraulic arms which will raise and lower the bucket, therefore making it useful for scooping up the earth and loading it into trucks.

Other modifications to the original bulldozer include making it smaller to where it can operate in small working areas where movement is very limited, such as mining caves and tunnels.  Very small bulldozers are known as calfdozers.

History
The first types of bulldozers were adapted from farm tractors that were used to plough fields. In order to dig canals, raise earth dams, and partake in earthmoving jobs, the tractors were equipped with a thick metal plate in the front.  Later on, this thick metal plate earned the name blade.

The blade of the bulldozer peels layers of soil and pushes it forward as the tractor advances.  The blade is the heart and soul of the bulldozer, as it was the first accessory to make full use for excavation type jobs.

As the years went by, when engineers needed  equipment to complete larger jobs, companies such as CAT, Komatsu, John Deere, Case, and JCB started to manufacture large tracked earthmoving equipment. They were very loud, very large, and very powerful and therefore earned the nickname “bulldozer”.

Over the years, the bulldozers got bigger, more powerful, and even more sophisticated.  The important improvements include better engines, more reliable drive trains, better tracks, and even hydraulic arms that will enable more precise manipulation of the blade and automated controls. As an added option, bulldozers can come equipped with a rear ripping claw to break up pavement or loosen rocky soil.

The best known manufacturer of bulldozer is CAT, which has earned a vast reputation for making tough and durable, yet reliable machines.  Even though the bulldozer started off a modified farm tractor, it rapidly became one of the most useful pieces of equipment with excavating and construction.

A compact hydraulic excavator is different from other types of heavy machinery in the sense that all movement and functions of the machine are accomplished through the transfer of hydraulic fluid.  The work group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid acting upon hydraulic cylinders.  The rotation and travel functions are also activated by hydraulic fluid powering hydraulic motors.

Most types of compact hydraulic excavators have three assemblies - house, undercarriage, and the work group. 

House
The house structure contains the compartment for the operator, engine compartment, hydraulic pump and also the distribution components.  The house structure is attached to the top of the undercarriage via swing bearing.  Along with the work group, the house is able to rotate upon the undercarriage  without limit due to a hydraulic distribution valve that supplies oil to the undercarriage components.

Undercarriage
The undercarriage of compact excavators consists of rubber or steel tracks, drive sprockets, rollers, idlers, and associated components and structures. The undercarriage is also home to the house structure and the work group.

Work group
The work group consists of the boom, dipper or arm, and attachment.  It is connected to the front of the house structure via a swinging frame that allows the work group to be hydraulically pivoted left or right in order to achieve offset digging for trenching parallel with the tracks.

Independent boom swing
The purpose of the boom swing is for offset digging around obstacles or along foundations, walls, and forms.  Another use is for cycling in areas that are too narrow for cab rotation.  Another major advantage of the compact excavator is the independent boom swing.

Backfill blade
The backfill blade on compact excavators are used for grading, leveling, backfilling, trenching, and general dozer work.  The blade can also be used to increase the dumping height and digging depth depending on it’s position in relation to the workgroup.

The most common place you’ll find compact excavators is in residential dwellings.  When digging phone lines or other things, these pieces of equipment are very common for getting between houses.  Due to their small size, they can fit almost anywhere.

Over the years, the capabilities for compact excavators have expanded far beyond the tasks of excavation.  With hydraulic powered attachments such as breakers, clamps, compactors and augers, the compact excavator is used with many other applications and serves as an effective attachment tool as well.  Serving many purposes, the compact excavator is a great addition to any job that requires the use of machinery.

They can either be controlled from an operator in a cab that travels along with the crane, by a push button pendant control station, or by radio type controls.  The crane operator is ultimately responsible for the safety of the crews and the crane.

Medieval cranes
Cranes of the Middle Ages were used to build the cathedrals of Europe.  The crane was fixed on top of a wall as it was being constructed and was  powered by men that ran inside of two large wheels on each side.  Cranes were also used in medieval ports and in shipyards.

Mobile cranes
The most basic type of crane consists of a steel truss or telescopic boom mounted on a mobile platform, which could be a rail, wheeled, or even on a cat truck.  The boom is hinged at the bottom and can be either raised or lowered by cables or hydraulic cylinders. 

Telescopic crane
This type of crane offers a boom that consists of a number of tubes fitted one inside of the other. A hydraulic mechanism extends or retracts the tubes to increase or decrease the length of the boom.

Tower crane
The tower crane is a modern form of a balance crane.  When fixed to the ground, tower cranes will often give the best combination of height and lifting capacity and are also used when constructing tall buildings.

Truck mounted crane
Cranes mounted on a rubber tire truck will providegreat mobility.  Outriggers that extend vertically or horizontally are used to level and stabilize the crane during hoisting.

Rough terrain crane
A crane that is mounted on an undercarriage with four rubber tires, designed for operations off road.  The outriggers extend vertically and horizontally to level and stabilize the crane when hoisting.  These types of cranes are single engine machines where the same engine is used for powering the undercarriage as it is for powering the crane.  In these types of cranes, the engine is normally mounted in the undercarriage rather than in the upper portion.

Loader crane
A loader crane is a hydraulically powered articulated arm fitted to a trailer, used to load equipment onto a trailer.  The numerous sections can be folded into a small space when the crane isn’t in use. 

Overhead crane
Also refered to as a suspended crane, this type is normally used in a factory, with some of them being able to lift very heavy loads. The hoist is set on a trolley which will move in one direction along one or two beams, which move at angles to that direction along elevated or ground level tracks, often mounted along the side of an assembly area.

In the excavation world, cranes are used to move equipment or machinery.  Cranes can quickly and easily move machinery into trenches or down steep hills, or even pipe.  There are many types of cranes available, serving everything from excavation to road work.

Cranes are also beneficial to building bridges or construction.  For many years, cranes have proven to be an asset to the industry of construction and excavating.  Crane operators make really good money, no matter what type of crane they are operating.