Cat Smart Iron Unveiled at BAUMA

Doug Oberhelman, Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc., unveiled “the Age of Smart Iron” at bauma 2016. The Age of Smart Iron describes Caterpillar’s strategy to be the industry leader bringing digital solutions designed to improve productivity, efficiency, safety and profitability for customers.

Together, Caterpillar and Zeppelin Cat had 12,000 square meters of exhibit space at bauma 16. Caterpillar featured more than 60 products, a large selection of work tools and a full slate of dealer-delivered support services.

“While we always love to showcase our machines and engines, we’re equally excited about what’s at the center of our exhibit: Caterpillar technology,” Caterpillar Group President Rob Charter said. “This…is technology that’s focused on solving, and even anticipating, customer problems. We’re taking the machines, locomotives, engines and parts we’re so well known for and making them smarter, while also equipping the people who operate them with data that makes them more productive, enhances safety and improves sustainability.”

Some main technology attractions

• Cat Connect Technology including: LINK, a solution that captures performance and product health data and makes that data available on the web to guide decision-making; GRADE and COMPACT, two productivity solutions that help operators move material with fewer passes; and PAYLOAD, an on-board system for trucks and loading tools that drives higher efficiency, shorter cycle times and lower cost per ton.
• Cat 360^° Advantage, a collaboration between Caterpillar and Cat dealers to deliver a full complement of expertise, technology-enabled equipment and support services that address customers’ jobsite challenges.
• Leverage Every Litre, an educational initiative with tools, tips and resources that help Caterpillar customers improve the fuel efficiency of their products and, as a result, increase its revenue from every liter of fuel burned.

At the news conference, Oberhelman outlined how Caterpillar is already focused on digital technology and connectivity. “We have approximately 400,000 connected assets and an installed base of three million machines and engines at work around the world today. That foundation gives us a head start, and we’re building on it.”

To summarize the Age of Smart Iron, Oberhelman said, “Our vision is that by enhancing our Cat Connect Technology and Services offerings, entire fleets and job sites—every machine, engine, truck, tablet, light tower, smart device and drone—will eventually share data on one common technology platform and speak the same language.”