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Cat eyes market with new D-series

Caterpillar’s new series promises to enhance customer satisfaction on several fronts – be it performance, productivity, comfort or owning and operating costs.

01 March 2007

Leading construction equipment and engines manufacturer Caterpillar has recently introduced its new D-series of 13 to 22-tonne wheeled excavator models, replacing the current C-series models.

Besides the well-known C-series features that make the wheeled excavator a top-seller in the industry, the new D-series offers several new features that increase the fuel efficiency, performance, versatility and operator comfort while lowering owning and operating costs, says a spokesman for the company.
The new enhanced D-series – comprising the M313D, M315D, M316D, M318D and M322D – offers numerous benefits.

Increased horsepower
In the D-series wheeled excavators, special attention has been paid to increase performance. Through increased horsepower, it is now possible to achieve up to 37 km/hour, which is 10 percent more than the C-series.
“A new electronic engine management has been developed specifically for the wheeled excavators series to optimise the performance of the new Cat C4.4 or C6.6 Acert engines in combination with the hydraulic system, resulting in a better fuel economy especially during travel,” says the spokesman. “A hydraulic on-demand fan automatically adjusts fan speed to provide optimum cooling performance, lower sound levels and improved fuel economy. With constant net horsepower, the engine automatically detects the load of the fan and adjusts engine power to maintain peak performance.”
For increased lifting and digging performance the D-series come standard with a heavy-lift mode, providing up to seven per cent more lift capacity at the touch of a button, without slowing the implements down.
Enhanced operator comfort
The completely redesigned operator station further maximises operator comfort while increasing safety. Improved visibility and ergonomics are some of the new operator station features for the D-series.
“As an option, the new deluxe seat, equipped with an active seat climate system, provides maximum comfort for the operator. Cooled air flowing through the seat cushions reduces body perspiration. On cold days, a two-step seat heater keeps the operator warm and comfortable. Furthermore, the large seat with adjustable lumbar support automatically adjusts to the driver’s weight providing a more relaxed and comfortable environment,” he says.
The new monitor enhances viewing while displaying a variety of language-based information that is easy to read and understand. Information is displayed in local language on the full-colour, full graphics screen. To make the machine easy to operate, the menu structure has been completely redesigned and five ‘Quick Access’ buttons can be set to retrieve various options using one touch. An optional rear view camera is available to improve rear visibility, providing a full colour image on the machine monitor. To further increase visibility, electrically heated mirrors are available as an option.
The D-series also features an automatic transmission gearshift. When automatic gear shifting is selected on the soft switch panel, the machine will automatically select the most optimal gear, depending on the speed and torque demand.
“The optional ride control system, which is unique in the industry, improves operator comfort and allows faster travel over rough terrain with improved ride quality for the operator. The accumulator installed at the boom cylinders act as a shock absorber, allowing the boom cylinders to retract and dampening their motion as the machine hits a bump during travel. A new feature for the D-series is the option adjustable travel alarm, which sounds when moving the machine forward or reverse,” he says.

Versatility
“The well-appreciated unique tool control system in the C-series has been improved further in the D-series: the number of pre-programmable work tools has been increased to 10 and both the medium-pressure and high-pressure auxiliary hydraulic functions have full proportional control through the sliding switches on the joysticks,” he continues. “The famous SmartBoom, already available on Caterpillar track-type excavators, is now also available on the new-wheeled excavators. This attachment improves machine performance and eases operations in many applications such as digging, grading and hammering.”
A new feature for the D-series is the optional second high-pressure valve. In combination with the tool control/multi-combined valve, it enables operation of the machine with work tools or in applications requiring a third auxiliary hydraulic function, such as a tilting/rotating quick coupler. The tilting/rotating quick coupler provides the ability to both tilt and rotate the tool to the desired angle.

Lower costs
The D-series wheeled excavators incorporate either Cat C4.4 or C6.6 Acert engines that meet EU Stage IIIA emissions requirements and EU Sound Stage II regulations. “Both engines feature a new cross-flow cylinder head design, with four valves per cylinder, and the latest port geometry, to provide improved airflow and more efficient combustion,” the spokesman says. “The four-cylinder C4.4 and six-cylinder C6.6 engines utilise the Adem A4 advanced electronic controller for precise fuel delivery, resulting in outstanding lugging performance and lower emissions.”
The Caterpillar C4.4 and C6.6 Acert engines have been designed to maintain a 500-hour engine oil change interval. Service and maintenance intervals have been extended to reduce machine service time, increase machine availability and reduce operating costs. Using scheduled oil sampling analysis, hydraulic oil change intervals can be extended up to 4.000 hours. Engine coolant change intervals are 12,000 hours with Cat extended life coolant.

Waste-handling
The waste-handling package has been specifically developed for working in waste transfer stations or other extremely dusty applications. This option consists of an automatic, hydraulic reversing fan that reverses airflow after a set interval, manually adjustable between five and 60 minutes by a switch located inside the cab. It further reduces clogging of the radiator by providing a cooling system hood that has a special dense wire mesh and it also includes two cyclone filters to provide clean filtered air to the engine compartment, air cleaner, air-to-air after cooler and air conditioner condenser.
Also a new feature on the D-series is the option of LED rear lights. Besides a modern high-tech look, these lights offer better visibility, higher durability and increased lifetime, he says.