CATERPILLAR : to Unveil the Next Generation of Mining Trucks
09/19/2008| 10:00am US/Eastern
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PEORIA, Ill., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Caterpillar Inc.
(NYSE: CAT) is unveiling the next generation of mining trucks at MINExpo 2008
in Las Vegas, NV. Along with improved safety features, Tier 2 compliant
engines and new integrated technologies in the existing Cat mining fleet, the
company has developed electric drive mining trucks that will debut at the expo
September 22-24, 2008.
"When our customers asked us for improvements to our mining trucks, we
responded by making a record investment in every single truck in our line, as
well as the increased capacity to produce more of them," said Caterpillar
Group President Stu Levenick. "New technologies have allowed us to make trucks
more reliable, easier to maintain and more friendly to the operator and to the
environment".
While Caterpillar believes mechanical drive is the best solution for the
vast majority of situations, the company listened to its customers and
explored the situations and conditions where electric drive would be the
preferred option. As the only manufacturer of 200-ton and above mining trucks
with both drives, Cat is able to offer trucks that address all of its
customers' preferences.
"Cat will produce mining trucks for every application -- uphill, downhill,
flat or extreme conditions -- and now with electric as well as mechanical
drive," said Chris Curfman, president of Cat Global Mining & vice president of
Caterpillar Inc.
At MINExpo 2008 Caterpillar will introduce four new trucks. The 793 series
in the 240- to 250-ton class will be available in both mechanical (793F) and
electric (793F AC) versions. The 345-ton 795F AC, a new size for Caterpillar,
will be available in electric drive only, while the flagship 797B is replaced
by the new 797F mechanical drive, maintaining its 380- to 400-ton target
payload. The 797F and 795F AC, along with the recently introduced 777F, will
be displayed on the exhibit floor. Completing Caterpillar's new mining truck
line will be new versions of the 785 and 789 mechanical drive trucks, upgraded
to meet customer requirements for safety, serviceability, operator comfort and
emission standards.
"The breadth of our product line puts our customers in a unique position
to evaluate and select the best fit for their operations," said Curfman.
"Every machine is designed, built, serviced and supported by Caterpillar and
the Cat dealer network, so customers get higher availability and a lower cost
per ton -- from one reliable source."
In the late 1960s Caterpillar was one of the first manufacturers to
commercialize electric-drive trucks but elected to focus its design and
development efforts on mechanical drive. With advances in AC drive technology,
coupled with proven components and technologies from existing Caterpillar
products, the company concluded it was the appropriate time to make electric
drive available to its customers as a complement to its highly successful
mechanical drive.
The next generation of trucks will be phased into production over the next
two years, with the Cat AC drive models expected to go into production in late
2010.
About Caterpillar:
For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible
and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2007
sales and revenues of $44.958 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading
manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas
engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services
provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing
Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More
information is available at: http://www.cat.com/.
SAFE HARBOR
Certain statements in this release relate to future events and
expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements involving known
and unknown factors that may cause actual results of Caterpillar Inc. to be
different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.
In this context, words such as "will", "expect", "anticipate" or other similar
words and phrases often identify forward-looking statements made on behalf of
Caterpillar. It is important to note that actual results of the company may
differ materially from those described or implied in such forward-looking
statements based on a number of factors and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to, changes in economic conditions; currency exchange or interest
rates; political stability; market acceptance of the company's products and
services; significant changes in the competitive environment; epidemic
diseases; changes in law, regulations and tax rates; and other general
economic, business and financing conditions and factors described in more
detail in the company's Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 1, 2008. This filing is available on our website at
http://www.cat.com/secfilings. We do not undertake to update our
forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.
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