A Machine for All Occasions

This article was published by Ben Hailes on 1 December, 2016

Proving why they are world leaders in the biggest and baddest machines in the world, Caterpillar presented perhaps the widest range of machines of any manufacturer at MINExpo 2016.

Punters in the know estimate that Cat's marketing machine spent USD26 million BIG ones on their display and they certainly didn't fail to impress.

Front and centre was their newly badged 794 AC mining dump truck, a colossal beast with 291 tonne (320 ton) capacity. While not as big as its 795F AC brother, it is fitted with the same C175-16 engine and Cat AC power train that has (reputedly) proven faster on grade than the competition.

Looking more like one of its Unit Rig cousins painted yellow, this truck we're told has achieved mechanical availability of 90 per cent or better in recent field testing, on a chassis we suspect has reliably completed many, many, many, more hours; an estimated 18 million to be exact (to the collective relief of all I am sure).

Love them or hate them, you've got to give it to Cat, they continue to evolve and like a modern day automotive company have spawned machines for every possible application.

This article was originally published by the ComponentsONLY team in the December 2016 issue of "@ The Coal Face" magazine.