Cat upgrades wheeled excavators

Caterpillar's two M300D Series wheeled excavators, the 15 tonne M313D and 17 tonne M315D, have been upgraded to provide a more flexible design, improved operator comfort, optimised serviceability and more effective asset management.

The machines feature a new welded undercarriage that allows a dozer blade to be used front or rear with outriggers fitted at the non -bladed end, or with outriggers front and rear, allowing the machines to be tailored for specific applications. Improvements in the cab include the use of the same in-cab monitor as used on Cat's six cylinder wheeled excavators, with a 40% larger display for greater resolution.

In order to make maintenance easier, coolant lines have ben been rerouted to provide unhindered access to service pints and an easy-to-use shunt tank with a redesigned filler neck and cap. New electrical connectors are used for the proportional pilot valves and the hydraulic tank incorporate new pressure and temperature sensors as well as a new drain valve.

Both machines can be fitted with the Cat Product Link system that allows remote monitoring of machine functions and alerts as well as the physical location of the machine. Available as standard in North America and Europe is the Cat Machine Security System (MSS), which prevents anyone from using the machine other than authorised personnel through the use of special keys with an electronic chip.