CAT'S QUANTUM LEAP PAYS OFF

Cat chose a 1.25 million tonnes per year Irish quarry to show how its Quantum wheeled loaders put lowest cost per tonne handling at the disposal of aggregates producers. Visitors were able to watch the 970F Quantum and 960F Quantum outgun the 966F and 950F Series 2 models in a production scenario designed to show the reasons behind the design philosophy. 'The reason for the two Quantum machines outperforming the Series 2 models is that the Quantums are purpose-designed to handle loose free-flowing materials. They are not configured for digging,' said Cat's wheel loader unit marketing manager Graham Lythgoe. He is based at Cat's facility at Gosselies, Belgium, so he's in a position to have Europe-wide overview of the market.

Lythgoe continues: 'We did a study which showed that the 12 EEC countries had more than 10,000 operating quarries producing more than 2.5 billion tonnes of aggregates each year. This in turn was generating around œ350 million of new mobile equipment sales of which some 70% was spent on wheel loaders. We also discovered that just 10% of wheel loaders (of more than 75kW) are specified for primary face (digging) work. Sixty per cent are destined for rehandling and around 30% for light utlity duties.'

As an experienced marketing company, Caterpillar decided to put some of its expertise to work on the 60% rehandling sector of the market. The Quantum machines are the result of that effort. And it was worth it. During close observation it was possible to ascertain that the Quantum concept machines offer savings averaging up to 15% lower cost per tonne in what was a typical stockpile rehandling and truckloading operation. The efficacy of Cat's PMS - Payload Measurement System - and ARC - Automatic Ride Control - was also easily affirmed by the results of tests involving the quarry's weighbridge and a calculator!

At the same time the ability of the Quantum machines' higher-lift loader capability to tackle easily the higher sided Euro trucks was very apparent. It was nice to see the results of CJ's Field Test on the 970F Quantum vs the 966F Series 2 being confirmed in the work situation (CJ, 7 October 1993). One question which remains unanswered, however, is: 'Given the superb Cat wheel loader cab environment, why haven't Quantums got the STIC steering/transmission control system as standard?' The productivity gains conferred by that configuration would be interesting indeed!

Time was also taken to examine in detail Cat's offerings in what is often a neglected area of loader operations - wearparts or Ground Engaging Tools - GET as Catspeak has it. With no fewer than four different bucket tooth offerings (including the unique abrasion-resistant material designed to help teeth or cutting edges become self-sharpening) and cutting edges and segments, 'there's a Caterpillar GET solution for just about every problem,' Cat's Jim Hawkins affirms.

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