Caterpillar in Australia is set to launch an annual product update for its large asphalt paver range. Industry Territory Manager Chris Powell reveals some of the new features and changes.
Caterpillar has had an impactful presence within Australia. The company’s product line, consisting of more than 300 machines, is constantly being modernised to fit the current needs of the industry.
As part of this modernisation, Caterpillar will soon release its annual product update (APU) for its large asphalt paver machinery range. As Caterpillar’s Industry Territory Manager Chris Powell explains, the APU supports timely release of the feature updates.
“The APU allows us to make product updates and improvements, incorporating customer and industry feedback to sustain the quality of Cat products,” he says.
The APU process, provides a “bundled” approach to updates, which can include improvements to the technical capabilities of the machine, or other functionality changes, Powell explains.
He says that direct feedback from customers has led to changes within the large asphalt paver range, including to the configuration of the machines themselves.
“A good example would be the changes made to the screed pendant control, which enhanced the user friendliness by adding additional one-touch functionality requested by customers,” Powell says. “In the past, we would have had to wait until the next large-scale release of the paver to make that change. Now, we can incorporate that customer feedback in our design a lot quicker.”
The new features
A major product update for the large asphalt paver fleet, Powell explains, are changes made to the front-mount screed.
Caterpillar is transitioning from using the support of manufacturers, which supplied front mount screeds on our Cat paver range. Instead, Caterpillar will now manufacture the front mount screeds internally.
Powell says the change will provide benefits to customers.
“The main reason we are doing this is for our customers, as it will be a Cat-on-Cat solution for both the tractor and the screed,” Powell says.
“This means that aspects such as warranty, parts and servicing is all integrated within the Caterpillar system. This will provide some great overall benefits for Caterpillar customers following this update.”
Optional features
Also, included in the updates will be optional technology features, aimed at increasing efficiency and ease of use for the large asphalt paver range.
“On the technology side, the update will see the introduction of thermal mapping to the large paver range. This option allows operators to map the thermal profile of the asphalt that they are laying. This allows them to assess thermal homogeneity, identify any cold spots and record that information for processing,” Powell says.
Another added feature will be the ‘pave start assist’, which enables operators to save their current settings, depending on the type of application they are working in. This allows adjustments to the implements on the paver, such as the tow point cylinders and the height of the auger to carry over multiple days of operation.
“For example, if the operator is working in a car park or a local road, they can save those settings for the next day of operation,” Powell says.
“This can make it easier for the operator to return to work the next day, restore the settings, and lay a consistent mat.”
Among other changes being introduced are adjustments to the hopper design to help reduce the frequency of spillages, as well as some general style changes.
Powell says all new equipment will have the APU features available as standard, following the updates’ release this year.
“The APU is set to release in April. Any new 8-foot (AP600/655) or 10-foot (AP1000/1055) paver will receive these updates straight from the factory,” Powell says.
This article was originally published in the April edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.
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