HEAVYWEIGHT Wheel tractor-scrapers have been updated over the years to meet the changing requirements of earthmoving projects
Earthmoving machinery and construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar’s Decatur, Illinois, facility, in the US, last month launched the facility’s latest wheel tractor-scraper, reaching a milestone total of 75 000 wheel tractor-scrapers that the facility has produced over the years.
The machine – an open-bowl, twin-engine 627K – is built to move high volumes of material quickly and economically with optimum fuel efficiency.
“Scraper sales have been rebounding steadily for the last couple of years and, with our new K-series machines, we are in a great position to win business outside North America as construction investment recovers,” says Caterpillar mining products VP Tom Bluth.
The company commends everybody who has helped with the design and manufacture of the 75 000 wheel tractor-scrapers over the years. “Employees, dealers, suppliers — past and present — we appreciate the role you played. “We also extend our thanks to the tens of thousands of Caterpillar customers who have put their trust in the scrapers for generations.”
Bluth says scrapers were one of the three product families, along with track-type tractors and motor graders, on which Caterpillar built its business following World War Two. As the US economy boomed and populations began migrating from cities to suburbs, housing and infrastructure construction exploded, spurring demand for high-volume earthmoving tools like the wheel tractor-scraper.
With growth becoming stronger worldwide as new global infrastructure began to take shape, Caterpillar responded by expanding its product line and investing in manufacturing capacity, which included the operation in Decatur.
“You can bet that Caterpillar scrapers played a role in just about any major infrastructure project undertaken in the past 70 years, any-where in the world,” says the Decatur plant’s wheel tractor-scraper product manager, Sankar Kurumbail.
He adds that the wheel tractor-scrapers are an economical option when it comes to high-speed, high-volume earthmoving. “They are some of the most durable products in our line too – it is not unusual to see a scraper from the 1970s still working hard today.”
While older models continue to deliver reliable performance, the line of wheel tractor-scrapers has been updated over the years to help customers meet the changing requirements of earthmoving projects. Today’s K-series models feature innovations such as automated cycle functions, high-pressure steering, engine-over-speed protection, fuel economy mode and payload monitoring, which all simplify operations, reduce mainte- nance time and boost the fuel efficiency of the scrapers.
“The K-series scrapers are part of a rich legacy we carry forward every day. This latest machine was built with the same goal as the first one: making our Caterpillar customers more successful,” says Kurumbail.