ENCISO, SPAINA 100-METER DAM SERVES 20,000 PEOPLE

CAT® H180ES HAMMERA ‘SOFT’ TOOL FOR A TOUGH JOB

A NEW BUSINESS SEGMENT FOR GROUND ENGAGING TOOLS

AFTERMARKET SOLUTIONS

ISSUE 2 2017 WWW.ZAHIDCAT.COM

FORWARD THINKING

16A POWERFUL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCEBuilding a solid customer relationship means more than delivering quality equipment.

22SPOTLIGHTSMining for unexploded devices, making Fortune magazine’s top 50 and a 40-machine Cat army at CONEXPO.

Inside

08

18

16

04

ON-SITE SUCCESS

04BUILDING THE ENCISO DAM IN SPAINCat® machines help ensure this massive project keeps moving forward.

08THE CAT H180ES HAMMER PROVES ITSELF IN NORWAYEfficiency, productivity and a ‘soft hammer’ impress Cat customer Park & Anlegg AS.

10CONSTRUCTING AN INNOVATIVE CAUSEWAYCat machines help build a safer, modern passage over the Indian Ocean on the island of Réunion.

INNOVATIONS IN MOTION

14A NEW, ULTRA-HIGH DEMOLITION MACHINEThe 340F UHD takes versatility to the next level after an absence in the demolition market.

18THE RIGHT CATERPILLAR TOOLS FOR THE JOBGround engaging tool conversions are a smart solution, even on the competitions’ machines.

COLOPHON:Above is just a taste of what’s in this issue – you’ll find plenty more news and views inside. If you have an idea for a story for a future issue, contact our publishers at catmagazine@cat.com.

Cat Magazine is distributed by Cat dealers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and CIS three times per year. Please send your editorial correspondence to Cat Magazine, Caterpillar S.A.R.L. 76, Route de Frontenex, PO box 6000, 1211 Geneva 6, Switzerland. catmagazine@cat.com.

All rights reserved. ©2017 Caterpillar. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow”, “Caterpillar Corporate Yellow”, the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

PUBLISHER: Natalie George, Caterpillar S.A.R.L. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Anneloes de Jong CHIEF WRITER: Trevor Baker ART DIRECTION: Tom Fincham, Maartje Hoppenbrouwers CONCEPT & REALIZATION: Centigrade for Caterpillar S.A.R.L. www.centigrade.com ZAHID TRACTOR CONTACT: inquiry@zahid.com

COVER PHOTO: Jørn Søderholm, Anleggsmaskinen AM.no.

Cat Magazine2

Cat dealers employ one and a half times more peoplethan Caterpillar itself. Together, that’s almost 300,000people, which makes us one of the largest employersin the heavy equipment industry. It is our collective purpose to assist and ensure that customers workmore efficiently – ultimately lowering their costs.This objective is one of the main factors that isdriving Caterpillar to create more digital solutions.

After we launched the age of ‘smart iron’ at BAUMA in 2016, we have adapted our processes and solutionsto enhance our digital portfolio. We’ll continue topursue digital solutions and discover new, growing

s that help lead our customers to opportunities ourse, we will always be mindful of success. Of co

ment to maintaining relationships with our commitms, which is largely thanks to our local our customersructure and the people who work withindealership stralerships.those Cat dea

es to this edition of Cat Magazine, onceWhen it comeagain, I am impressed with the people, projects andagain, I am immachines that fill its pages. Our main story takes usachines thto the small municipality of Enciso, Spain, where Cat the smmachines are helping build a new, 878.5-meter highach

dam. Equally as impressive, is the construction of a 12.5km highway over the Indian Ocean next to the remote island of La Réunion.

We also present you with the new Cat 340F UHDin a return to the demolition market along with agreat example of our evolving services in a storyabout aftermarket mining tools. Plus, the customer experience reaches new levels for Cat dealer Al-Bahar in the United Arab Emirates. And, don’t miss our Spotlights section for additional uniquely Caterpillar stories.

From new product introductions to amazing engineering challenges and aftermarket efforts, there seems to be no end to the kindsof innovative solutions we are providing for our diverse customer base. I hope you enjoythe stories in this edition as much as I did.

Markus Gebauer,Europe Region Manager

Javier Leon Vazquez, Enciso Water Dam

Over his 20 years at Barloworld

Finanzauto, Javier has held several

positions, including Product Manager

and Sales Manager. He has been

Marketing Manager since October

2011 and uses his knowledge of

the business and machinery to

ensure that he meets all of his

customers’ needs. Javier also likes

to stay active through a variety

of sports and with his family.

Neal Markham, Littoral Road

Neal began his career as an

AccuGrade Product Specialist at

Barloworld Finanzauto in Spain.

He is now a Strategy Manager

with Caterpillar in Johannesburg

and covers southern Africa,

Madagascar and the islands of

Mauritius and Reunion. Neal’s

hobbies include photography,

running, electronics (he’s a qualified

robotics engineer) and traveling,

including an eight-month journey

around the world with his wife.

Cedric Masson, 340F UHD

Cedric started working with

Caterpillar in 2002 as a Product

Specialist. Today, he is a Global

Product Specialist concentrating

on product development for

Caterpillar’s range of hydraulic

excavators. Cedric graduated from

the Haute École Léonard de Vinci in

Brussels where he earned a Master

of Science in Industrial Engineering.

He is a Six Sigma Black Belt and

fluent in French and English.

Shahul Hameed, Customer Excellence Al Bahar

Shahul is from India and has

worked with Cat dealer Mohamed

Abdulrahman Al-Bahar for the

last 18 years. Currently, he is the

Marketing Manager and Customer

Experience Champion where

he particularly enjoys numbers,

analysis and process improvements.

He also enjoys traveling, nature

and wildlife viewing.

WHAT INSPIRES OUR

Contributors

DEAR READER,

Cat Magazine 3

POW

Max

. hei

ght:

103.

12 m

eter

s

Max. width: 81.2 meters

Enciso

SPAIN

Reservoir: 160ha

Volume of water: 46.5hm³

This water dam will serve 20,000 people

Total volume of concrete: 700,000m³D

ista

nce

to s

ea le

vel:

878.

5 m

eter

s

ON-SITE SUCCESS

BUILDING REQUIRES WER AND PRECISION

THE ENCISO DAM IN SPAIN

In the small municipality of Enciso, Spain, a 100-meter dam is being built 30cm at a time. It is a massive project that covers more than 5,000ha in the southern part of the Rioja region and will help boost the economic and social development of the whole area.

Max. length: 375.6 meters

Placement peak: 95,000m³ per month and 4,850m³ per day

The Enciso Dam is located about 700m upstream from Enciso and rises 878.5m above sea level. When complete, the dam will regulate the Cidacos River and create a 160-hectare reservoir. It’s expected that about 46.5hm³ is to be used each year for irrigation and ecological uses, serving 20,000 people in the municipalities of Arnedillo, Santa Eulalia, Herce, Arnedo, Quel, Autol and Calahorra, as well as the municipalities of the Cidacos basins. The build cost is a little more than €61,500,000. Scheduled completion is at the end of April 2018.

THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE, EQUIPMENTIt goes without saying that the Enciso Dam is one of the largest projects taking place in this area of Spain. Outsourcing the job are construction company FCC and earthmoving company Dragados, which are acting as partners for the duration of the project. The task of completing the job has been entrusted to contractor Auxiliary Construction and Projects of the South (ACP). ACP, a civil engineering firm, has experience building these types of structures. They recently completed a large dam named La Breña II in Córdoba, Spain, with a compacted concrete volume of 1,300,000m³ in just a 17-month period.

“Yes, we have experience building large dams, however another reason we were chosen for this project is because we have a reputation for being reliable

“The right people with the right attitude operating the best equipment make all the difference.”Francisco Domenech, Manager at ACP

Cat machines onsite:•2 dozers: D5K, D5H•1 soil compactor: CS 563•1 motor grader: 12G•3 articulated trucks: 735B ADT

Cat Magazine6

Our people and machines are working 24-hours a day, except for scheduled technical stops. At one point, we had to work uninterrupted for more than 100 days and nights,” added Francisco.

Francisco and the family company certainly have the experience to face challenges like that. ACP has been working in civil engineering for more than 30 years. “We have overcome almost all the difficulties we have faced on this project. But, in my opinion, both this and any other professional challenge can be successfully overcome if we invest in enthusiasm and dedication,” he proclaimed. “The right people with the right attitude operating the best equipment make all the difference.”

After the financial crisis over the past years, Francisco feels grateful and fortunate that they can work on projects like these. “This is important work and it allows us to develop the types of work we love and know how to do,” he said. “Cat machines and our dealer Barloworld Finanzauto help us do that. Cat machines are reliable and they do their jobs well.

Our operators often comment that they are much easier to handle and have better response. Plus, we value our relationship with Barloworld Finanzauto very much. This is a complicated job. The people there work closely with us. They attend to any specific needs we have with our machines. And, above all, they help enhance the self-sufficiency and individuality of our great human team.” ■

Additional details at: www.cat.com

Cat RentalTo make sure they have the best equipment for the job, ACP turned to Cat dealer Barloworld Finanzauto and the Cat Rental Store to provide three 735B ADT articulated trucks. “Because our work continues 24-hours a day, there is no time for breakdowns,” stated Francisco. “Even maintenance time must be minimal. The people at Barloworld’s Cat Rental Store help alleviate those issues by providing us with highly capable machines, and technology that enhances production. But, all that wouldn’t matter without their speed and quality of service.”

and living up to our commitments. That’s also of great importance,” said Francisco Domenech, Manager at ACP.

And, of course, Cat machines are playing a leading role when it comes to meeting project deadlines and budgets by taking on jobs that require heavy lifting and precision. For example, some of the most important work performed by Cat machines is creating the wall of the Enciso Dam. To do this, two Cat tractors extend and create precise layers of concrete left behind by the articulated dump trucks. Then, the soil compactor rolls over the concrete to achieve the correct compaction rate. “It’s our mission to put ‘the icing on the cake’,” said Francisco. “More specifically, our job consists of the transportation, spreading and compaction of concrete. We do it in layers at a thickness of 30cm at a time until reaching a height of 100m. We’ll use an approximate volume of 700,000m³ of concrete.”

NON-STOP WORKFrancisco and his team face daily challenges, not just those that are a part of working with concrete, but also because of special demands on the equipment. “It’s difficult work and work without interruption.

ON-SITE SUCCESS

To link Oslo with the town of Ski, just southeast of the capital, the Norwegian National Rail Administration initiated the Follo Line high-speed railway project in 2016.

The worksite starts at the south section of the Follo Line tunnels, and ends just south of Ski, a distance of about 3.5km. To complete the project, hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of earth across more than 2km needs to be moved. That includes lowering terrain 15 to 20 meters, blasting 200,000m³ of mountain and transporting 800,000m³ of soil to create tunnel inlets and outlets for two 20km tunnels will be built.

To complete the job, Norwegian company Park & Anlegg AS has been awarded this major contract. “High production, optimal and safe working conditions, as well as efficient and profitable production, are what we are working toward. All that requires the best, most efficient equipment,” said Johann Bernhard Stenrød, Project Manager for Park & Anlegg AS. “That is

why we have invested in Cat equipment. Not only is this the first hammer in which we have invested, it is also the largest Cat hammer. And, we are certainly pleased with the service of Cat dealer Pon Norway.”

Completing the construction tasks is not easy. The terrain is steep and rugged. And, there is tremendous focus on reducing any environmental impact. Therefore, re-purposing materials is a major priority.

For example, rock that is blasted will be crushed and used for the new railway line, as soil for the tracks. And while Park & Anlegg uses a range of machines, rock crushing responsibilities belong to a new Cat 352F XE excavator, which was delivered last summer and came equipped with an H180Es, the largest Cat hammer. Thanks to a built-in CPM

PROJECT FACTSIt will provide the metropolitan area of Oslo with an alternative transportation service, helping reduce traffic and polluting vehicle emissions. It will shorten traveling time between Oslo and Ski to half – from 22 to 11 minutes – and, ultimately, will help modernize Norway’s railway infrastructure.

T li k O l ith th t f Ski j t th t f th

NORWAY

CAT EQUIPMENT HELPS HAMMER OUT A NEW RAILWAY

Cat Magazine8

ON-SITE SUCCESS

(Cat Production Measurement) weight system on the 352F, production data can be delivered to operators that helps them work more efficiently.

“With fuel consumption at 24 liters per hour, I am impressed with the low fuel burn, but even more so with the ‘soft’ hammer,” said Bernard Skåland, Machine Operator. What Bernard means, is that the H180Es is gentle on the machine and operator, while striking targets with extreme force. This is due, in part, to a hydraulic regulator that automatically stops the hammer when there is less, or no resistance. The result is significantly fewer false strikes, which helps prevent wear. Moreover, this limits the risk of stone fragments flying toward other equipment and features built-in noise reduction.

Cat H180Es

Max impact energy 16,270 joulesOil flow 285 liters/minuteOil pressure 16,000 kPaWeight 4,500 kg

From left to right: Project Manager Johann Bernhard Stenrød and Machine Operator

Bernhard Skåland from Park & Anlegg AS, Product Manager Vilmundur Theodorsson and Salesman

Per Inge Strengen from Pon Equipment AS.

“I am proud to work for Park & Anlegg. It’s a company that is innovative and wants to invest in new equipment that sets the standard,” says Bernhard Skåland.

Vilmundur Theodorsson, Manager Core Products for Cat dealer Pon Norway also added that, “Moving more material with less fuel is a key customer requirement when using work tools. To determine which hammer is right for specific sites and machines depends on several factors. Pon Norway has more than 50 years of knowledge and knows Cat equipment and tools inside and out. We have one of the best quality hammers in the Cat H180Es, so choosing this tool for the railway job was obvious.” ■

Additional details at: www.cat.com

Photos: Jørn Søderholm, Anleggsmaskinen AM.no.

Cat Magazine 9

La Réunion

BUILDING A HIGHWAY ON THE INDIAN OCEANINNOVATION AND ENGINEERING MEAN SAFETY

Mauritius

La Possession

Saint Denis

Mada

gasc

ar

Mozambiq

ue

Even though it is part of France and the European Union, the island of La Réunion sits in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius. One of its main roads, known as the Route du Littoral, is 13km long and acts as a link between Saint Denis and La Possession, the island’s two biggest cities as well as the main port, Pointe des Galets.

The Route du Littoral wraps tightly against the coastline. And while about 80,000 travelers can enjoy the scenic view each day, the road is also subject to falling rocks and severe weather. As a result, not only can the road be extremely dangerous, it’s impassable about 40 days a year, restricting critical trade and transport.

The solution? La Nouvelle Route du Littoral, a new road with three lanes in each direction that will take drivers and their vehicles out over the Indian Ocean, safely away from falling rocks. Approved by the island’s Conseil Régional de la Réunion, the project is scheduled to be complete in 2022 at an initially estimated cost of about 1.6 billion euros. Once complete it will be the most expensive road (per kilometer) in the world. And, when it comes to weather, the 12.5km route will be able to withstand 10-meter waves, and hurricane-force winds up to 144km per hour.

“This is an extremely complicated and expensive project. Just the

fact that it was approved is exciting for the island of Reunion,” said Neal Markham, Strategy Manager at Caterpillar District Office in Johannesburg. “Reunion is a volcanic island, which means there is no reef or shallower waters surrounding it. The water gets very deep very quickly, and that just adds to the complexity of the build.”

CAT MACHINES ON SITEThis heavy-duty engineering and construction project requires heavy-duty machines which can stand up to the tight schedule and constant work of the overall project. More like a causeway than a traditional road, there are several Cat machines helping complete the job. For example, two long-reach Cat 390F dig up to 25 meters under the sea, establishing a solid base on which prefabricated viaduct supports will rest. When complete, there will be 36 main structures acting as the backbone for the structure. “The incredible engineering notwithstanding, the operators working the long-reach excavators can’t see what they are doing, so they have to go by feel. That takes skill,” added Olivier

Vadon, CEO of SCIMAT, Cat dealer for Mauritius and Reunion territories.

Helping place the viaduct pieces, which weigh 4,800 tons each, is a 108-meter long and 46-meter wide barge that’s continuously powered by four Cat 3508 marine engines. Each is connected to a propulsion drive to move the barge using precision GPS control. In addition, two 1,000 kVA generator sets power all the other devices on board.

It took an immense amount of logistics to get the machines onto the job site. It goes without saying that getting machines like these to the island was also not easy. It is not an easy or common shipping route from around the world. “Once we had the project start date, we had to work backwards from that. So the question was, how quickly can we deliver? Most of the equipment is not standard and requires specialist build times and shipping requirements. We had to take into consideration shipping, build time and machine availability so we knew exactly when the dealer needed to put in the orders,” said Neal.

“For me, working with a smaller, and very capable dealer in an interesting part of the world and seeing a project like this finished is certainly satisfying. Knowing our machines have helped to complete this incredible job and knowing I’ve been involved in something that helps keep people safe really makes me proud,” he added. ■

Additional details at: www.cat.com

Cat machines involved in the project include:• Two 390F excavators• A 6015B hydraulic shovel with

a long-reach configuration• Two 336F excavators• Three 740B articulated trucks• Two 988H wheel loaders• One D8 track-type tractor

Cat Magazine 11

ON-SITE SUCCESS

THE NEW CAT 340F UHD DEMOLISHES THE COMPETITION

After the phase-out of its 330D UHD more than 5 years ago, Caterpillar is back with the 340F UHD. Created for ultra-high level demolition, it is part of a revitalized global demolitions strategy.

Cedric Masson, Global Product Application Specialist with Caterpillar played a key role in its development and launch. “I worked with the 340F UHD from its inception, about two years ago, through development and its debut as a prototype during Bauma in Germany.”

This machine replaces the 330D UHD in Europe and uses the same engine as the Cat 336F. In addition, Cedric says that customers can expect to burn even less fuel because the demolition applications for which the 340F UHD is built, are normally less demanding.

The biggest bragging point for the 340F UHD is its versatility, thanks to an auto-centering front cradle. “In fact, the front parts and tools on the machine can be changed in about 30 minutes,” said Cedric. “Historically, that takes a half day. Now customers can use the optimum configuration for each job. It adds a lot of versatility and helps maximize customers’ investment.”

For a durable, easy-to-operate 50-ton demolition workhorse, there’s no beating the 340F UHD. Cedric and the rest of his team are confident that this return to the demolition market will be a success. “We’re sure it will meet the same kind of durability, reliability and quality standards that anyone would expect from a Cat product,” Cedric concluded. ■

Additional details at: www.cat.com

TECHNOLOGYCat Product Link™ and VisionLink® enable owners access to location, hours, fuel consumption, idle time, events and diagnostic codes.

MONITORINGCat active stability monitoring system continuously informs operator of work tool position within the safe working range, and warns when approaching the stability limit.

DURABILITYGrease-lubricated track links prevent dirt and debris from entering.

SERVICEABILITYRoutine maintenance items can be reached at ground level. Safe access with ample handrails, anti-skid plate on steps and top deck platform.

FUEL CONSUMPTION• Engine speed control• Auto engine idle shutdown• Three power modes

VERSATILITYCat tool control remembers pressures and flows for up to 20 tools, allowing for quick changes.

INNOVATIONNew boom coupling system enables the operator to easily and quickly (30 min.) install or remove high reach and short boom and front tools. New hydraulic pin system safely locks the front parts together.

WeightsMachine Weight 50.9 tMax. weight @ stick nose 3.6 t

EngineEngine Model Cat C9.3 ACERT™Gross Power (SAE J1995) 238 kW (324 PS)Net Power (ISO 9249) 228 kW (310 PS)

Tool Capability & Working RangeLift capacity at stick nose up to 3,600 kgMaximum pin height 21.7 mMaximum recommended working height* 18.6 mMaximum horizontal reach with 3.6 t 14.0 m * According to the 1/2 safety line recommended by the EDA

CAT 340F UHD

Over the past several years, Caterpillar and its global network of dealers have renewed their focus on customer experience. The idea is to offer responsive services above and beyond customer expectations from the moment the machine is ordered to maintenance needs and customized solutions for their requirements.

Tell us about your entry.One of our entries was titled, The Right Service at the Right Time & Place. It focused on becoming more efficient and performing our jobs right the first time for our customers. After all, time is money.

First, we identified service gaps, such as technology limitations, unbalanced workloads, the need for more personalized customer service and a more streamlined technician allocation process. Following this, we developed strategies and initiatives to deliver more timely and effective service.

What were some of those initiatives?For example, to enhance our technological capabilities, we provided an Internet-enabled smartphone to every technician and equipped the phones with Cat Inspect. To balance workloads, we restructured our service teams, redefined team members’ roles and

Delivering an excellent customer experience has become so engrained in everything Caterpillar does, that ACAM Customer Excellence Awards was established.

These awards cover 68 dealers throughout Asia, CIS, Africa and the Middle East (ACAM). There are four categories with the purpose of recognizing dealers that are developing customer-focused initiatives to help meet or exceed customer expectations, improve customer experiences and increase sales. There are three judges per category. One from the ACAM division, one from Caterpillar global and a subject matter expert from an external company.

A CATERPILLAR AWARDS COMPTHAT BENEFITS DEALERS AND C

GAP IDENTIFICATION

Manual Technician Allocation Process

Technology limitations on mobility of information

Unbalanced work loads

Lacking personalized customer service

Improvement needed in training & technician career development

Roland RahmeCaterpillar Dubai

DSD, MSOR

Raymond ChanVice President,

ACAM

Shahul HameedMarketing Manager

Al-Bahar

Issam Al-BaharPresident, Dealer Principal, Al-Bahar

The awards recognize the originality of the initiative, execution of the concept, the strategy behind the concept, or the creation or adaptation of a complete new business model. Judges also look at the scalability and sustainability of projects as well as their impact.

The 2016 ACAM Customer Excellence Awards ‘Overall Winner’ went to Cat dealer Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar.

We spoke with Marketing Manager, Shahul Hameed from the United Arab Emirates.

responsibilities and introduced a dispatcher for each division. And, to improve customer experience, we established a dedicated technician for each customer for all their preventative maintenance needs.

Was customer feedback taken into consideration?Of course. We hear our customers through various channels, including our corporate website, Voice of the Customer and transaction surveys. In 2016 alone we received 4,470 pieces of customer feedback at various touch points such as sales, service, parts and finance. Feedback will remain ongoing.

Describe your goals after implementing these initiatives.Our goal was to provide the best experience to our customers. By reducing response time and working more effectively, we help our customers reduce down time, save money and increase productivity – especially in areas such as

CULTURALSYSTEM

OPERATINGSYSTEM

MANAGEMENTSYSTEM

PETITION CUSTOMERS

SOLUTION

System-wide integration of work order details, real-time asset management

Adapted technology to provide an Internet-enabled smartphone to every technician

Restructure, refine service team

Assign one technician for one customer methodology – preventative maintenance services

Create technician career development program and supervisory skills training for service

maintaining, repairing and delivering machines, or providing value-added services. As a dealer, we became more streamlined and efficient, and so did our customers. Moreover, we succeed when our customers succeed.

What are some results from your initiatives?The Right Service at the Right Time & Place program is at a 99 percent success rate and our service technician development and deployment has increased by 15 percent. Our service net loyalty score has improved by 12 percent, compared to last year, and it’s improving every day. Our field service rating has advanced from Bronze to Silver, indicating improving customer satisfaction.

What were the challenges to success?Change in itself is always a challenge. However, change is a constant that will help us achieve success. ■

Additional details at: www.cat.com

Cat Magazine 17

STREAMLINING CUSTOMER OPERATIONS WITH MIXED FLEET GET

SAME PRODUCT, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Many large mining companies have a mixed fleet of machines. That means they work with different suppliers, timelines and costs when it comes to replacing ground engaging tools, or GETs. Caterpillar, however, is now offering GET conversions that fit seamlessly onto competitors’ buckets, as well as their own. And, with few companies offering GET conversions, it is a new business segment for Caterpillar and its dealers with tremendous growth potential.

“While working towards our sales goals for 2020, we looked at the €1 billion opportunity in the large mining GET market. With our portfolio of GETs, we knew we could offer mixed-fleet conversions to gain market share,” said Sven Lemat, Strategy Manager with Caterpillar Global Aftermarket Solutions.

A TEAM EFFORTWith ambitious goals in mind and a build-up of excitement and positive momentum, the Caterpillar Global Aftermarket Solutions Division (GASD) team worked hand in hand with logistics, the district office, Work Tools and GET Product Group teams, as well as the specialists and sales teams from Cat dealer JA Delmas to prove that GET conversions is a viable opportunity. “It was truly a team effort,” stated Alain Montillet, Caterpillar Aftermarket Mining Wear Parts Specialist.

“During one of the discussions with our customer Bissa/Nordgold in Burkina Faso, Africa, we highlighted the focus of Caterpillar on the aftermarket business with the creation of GASD. We also presented the newly developed GET system for the Cat hydraulic mining shovel machines. That’s when the Bissa/Nordgold site manager challenged us to be his one-stop-shop for aftermarket consumables,” said

Nick Sleiman, Caterpillar Aftermarket Solutions Territory Manager for West Africa. “For him, it didn’t make sense to get Cat parts from Caterpillar, and non-Cat parts from another supplier. So, we jumped on the opportunity to demonstrate that a mixed-fleet solution would work.”

Gilles Grimault, Wear Parts Product Manager for JA Delmas, added, “We tested this program where logistics and technical resources are a major challenge – in the middle of West Africa. Since we were already supplying Cat parts for our customer Bissa/Nordgold, providing GET conversions for other machines came naturally. If our team can do it in Burkina Faso, Africa, any dealer can do it.”

TIMELINEThe first competitor bucket to be fitted with the Cat conversion took about nine months from bucket measurements to shipping the new lip, assembly and welding the lip on the bucket. “But now with the experience we have, we can do the same thing under three months in Africa. And, for places like South Africa and soon Australia, the timeframe will be even shorter,” says Sven.

Helping the JA Delmas bucket conversion team were two top welders from Caterpillar headquarters in

Cat Magazine18

Caterpillar mixed-fleet GET program has already secured five bucket conversions in Burkina Faso:• Cat 6018 HMS to Cat C70• Three Komatsu PC2000 to Cat C85• Cat 6030 to Cat C95

Peoria, IL, USA. Not only did they provide training, the welders also supervised the first conversion and prepared a checklist of all the equipment that would be needed for future conversions.

“The guys coming from the US were unsure what they would find in Burkina Faso. But, in the end, it was a great experience. We have excellent welders here too, and sharing experiences was very interesting,” Gilles said with a smile.

Pierre Fonkenell, Country Manager for Burkina Equipements, which is part of the JA Delmas network, went on to say that, “There is real opportunity here. We are providing a complete bucket refurbishment, not just selling new conversions. Our business plan includes investing in workshops, service and stock.”

With delivery times greatly reduced, and the potential for bucket tip replacements every two days, the expected incremental GET turnover per machine is significant. “It’s still early to see a true return on investment, but the forecast is promising,” he said with confidence.

PRODUCTIVITYProductivity is an important part of the equation, too. “We have a quality Cat product at a reasonable price,” said Sylvain Millet, Mining Manager for Aftersales with JA Delmas. “Through testing, we found that our product is better than the competition, in terms of cost per hour and cost per ton. But, now we can take advantage of the opportunity to discuss with our customers bucket management, inventory, logistics, bucket refurbishment and more. It’s important they receive a full solution from us as a Cat dealer.”

Even though the GET conversion program has only been in development for a few years, the cross-functional team for Caterpillar is excited about the future. It is further evidence of how the company is dedicated to working together to support both Cat dealers and customers. ■

Additional details at: www.cat.com and www.jadelmas.com

Cat Magazine 19

A FORTUNE ‘MOST ADMIRED’ COMPANYCaterpillar has been named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies® 2017. This year, Caterpillar ranks 47 and has been named in the Top 50 All-Stars list for 16 consecutive years.

Fortune also ranked Caterpillar as the number one most admired company in the Construction and Farm Machinery category, where the company has appeared every year since 1998. This is the third year in a row Caterpillar has been ranked number one. ■

Learn more about Caterpillar: www.caterpillar.com/news.

At CONEXPO 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Caterpillar showcased more than 40 machines in exhibits that covered 60,000 square feet. “We’re welcoming customers to an entirely new age, an age where machines talk to machines, and where those ‘voices’ bring greater productivity than ever before. We’re welcoming them to the Age of Smart Iron,” said Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby.

For decades, Caterpillar has been the right choice for contractors. And, with 14 Cat machines either making their public debut or first appearance at CONEXPO, the display included excavators, wheel loaders, a dozer, an articulated truck, a telehandler and cold planers. Caterpillar also introduced remote control and connectivity technologies. ■

Learn more about Caterpillar: www.cat.com/conexpo.

A BIG SHOWING AT CONEXPO

Using a donated Caterpillar excavator, Swiss-based Digger Foundation has transformed a Cat 319 into a potentially life-saving robot. The non-profit group specializes in the development of robotics to remove unexploded devices in urban areas from war-torn regions around the world.

The Foundation’s entry was one of 10 finalists (of 1,017 entries from 165 countries) in a prestigious, international robotics competition held in Dubai, UAE, February 17-18, 2017. The collaboration began in 2016, after Caterpillar Vice President Nigel Lewis gave the Geneva team a social

A DIFFERENT KIND OF MINING

responsibility challenge: find projects that illustrate the company’s brand and values.

The excavator became the centerpiece for the foundation’s Digger Operating and Management Environment (DOME). The prototype machine is remotely operated with the help of cameras, controllers and virtual reality goggles. A million-dollar prize was offered by the UAE government. Ultimately, the Digger Foundation’s DOME system entry placed sixth overall. The 319 is

expected to be used in Iraq as part of the humanitarian efforts there. ■

Learn more about Caterpillar: www.caterpillar.com/news.

Cat Magazine22

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