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MAX OUT YOUR MINI WITH CAT ATTACHMENTS

Whether you work in plumbing, landscaping, residential or commercial building, agriculture or any range of other outdoor industries, chances are a Cat Mini Excavator could be one of your most valuable work tools.

Coupled with the right attachments, your Mini Excavator becomes even more useful. And for fast changes as you or your operators move from one task to the next, a Quick Coupler could help to maximise your investment, allowing rapid swapping from one attachment to another as the job dictates.

Many of these attachments are suitable for applications across other equipment you may have in your fleet, such as Skid Steer Loaders, Multi Terrain Loaders, Compact Track Loaders, Backhoe Loaders – and of course your Mini Excavator.

WesTrac has compiled details on some of the most popular and useful attachments to help you make the most of your Cat equipment.

WHAT ARE THE TOP MINI EXCAVATOR ATTACHMENTS?

1. HYDRAULIC THUMB

Cat Utility Thumbs increase machine productivity as they enable the machine operator to use the bucket and thumb like a hand. When not in use, the thumb folds back and can be easily and quickly activated. A shut-off valve enables the use of other hydro mechanical work tools while keeping the thumb retracted.

The Cat hydraulic pin-on thumb can maintain its relationship with the rotation of the bucket and is engineered to match the bucket tip radius, width and spacing of the teeth to enable it to mesh perfectly.

Cat Hydraulic Thumbs come in a two tine configuration and meshes with Cat mini excavator buckets 457mm & larger. All provide wide compatibility with machines, buckets and couplers.

Whether completing site clean-up, moving pipes, blocks, rocks or bricks into place, carting logs or any number of other tasks, Cat Utility Thumbs are versatile and highly practical for use in plumbing, landscaping, general construction, farming and a host of everyday Mini Excavator tasks.

2. AUGER

Cat® Augers are the perfect work tool for drilling holes for footings, fencing, signs, trees and shrubs in construction, agricultural and landscaping applications. They deliver the torque required for maximum productivity in a broad range of soil types. Quicker and safer than manual digging or using hand-held augers, the Cat Auger drives are designed with Cat machine weight, power, system pressure and flow rates matched to provide the best performance. The standard 2-inch hexagon shaft across all the drives uses six sides to drive the auger into the ground, providing more torque than a round shaft and improved wear life in tougher digging conditions. All Cat Auger drives have a two-year parts and labour warranty.*

3. TILT ROTATE COUPLER

We’ve already mentioned the benefits of Quick Couplers, but there’s no attachment that’s more versatile for a Mini Excavator than the Cat Tilt Rotate Coupler.

These are work tools designed to significantly reduce the time and need to constantly reposition the machine. The Tilt Rotate Coupler provides revolutionary 360 degrees of continuous rotation and 40 degrees of tilt. The The S-Type Tilt Rotate Coupler models can be fitted with the optional familiar red grapple while the Cat Pin-Grabber style Tilt Rotate Couplers will pick up all of the standard cat buckets & attachments without having to change pickups. Offering exceptional productivity, the Tilt Rotate coupler functionality is integrated into the Cat Next Gen Mini Excavator Advanced Display (no secondary screen required) to select and control the functions and features of the Cat TRS (Tilt Rotate System) while the optional RPS (Tilt Rotator Positioning Solution) for TRS6 and TRS8 provides high precision, exact positioning in real time from the coupler if you want to connect 2D or 3D systems.

4. STATIC WHEEL COMPACTOR

For plumbers, landscapers, earthworks contractors and anyone needing to backfill trenches or compact cohesive and clay soils, Cat® Compaction Wheels for Mini Excavators are a low-cost attachment option. They use the weight of the machine and applied downward force to compact soil, with 6-10 passes typically adequate to achieve compaction in normal soil conditions, dependent on the required compaction levels. Cat Compaction Wheels are a great choice for soils where vibration compactors may not achieve good compaction. The open rim design allows the wheel to penetrate through the fill and compact the soil from the bottom up.

5. HYDRUALIC VIBRATORY PLATE COMPACTOR 

Cat® Vibratory Plate Compactors are designed to be used for general construction duties, from compacting soil, sand and gravel in preparation for pouring concrete or laying asphalt, to slope compaction and other site preparation activities. Their low cost makes them a popular choice among pavers, general contractors and utility contractors in residential, commercial or industrial applications. The integrated pressure flow control – included in every Cat compaction plate as standard – protects the tool from rapid increase to pressure flow and enhances reliability. No case drain is required on the machine. It includes enhanced hose routing to minimise damage to the attachment’s hoses and bearings are designed to be lubricated in a continual oil bath.

OPERATING TIP: Use the compactor in 10-second bursts. The Cat® Vibratory Plate Compactor is not like a hammer and does not require much downward force to work effectively. The movement of the plate up and down provides sufficient compaction so the plate only needs to make contact with the ground. In fact, if excessive downward force is applied, the motor can experience higher than normal reaction forces as the plate does not have adequate room to move up and down. Comes with a two-year parts and labour warranty*.

6. GRAPPLE

Cat® Contractors’ Grapples for 7-9 ton Mini Excavators easily handle small and large material and debris. The two over three tine configuration gives these grapples a large enough surface area for material handling and demolition work. Interlocking tines grasp and hold more material securely when sorting or loading into a truck or at ground level. A slightly curved lower jaw profile is designed to optimise penetration and facilitate ease and speed when unloading the grapple. Long tine design and wide spacing increases visibility of the material while connectivity of the stiff arm to the machine is simplified using the existing thumb bracket on the Cat Mini Excavator stick.

7. HAMMER

Cat® Hammers are high performance breakers, designed for maximum performance on demolition, construction and road work. Whether you are breaking concrete slabs or driveways, pavements, roads, masonry or brickwork, breaking ground for utility repairs or just carrying out general site prep and landscaping, they are touch tough &, versatile work tools. The Cat B Series Silenced Hammers use a simple design that ensures reliability, versatility, ease of use and maintenance. As a package solution, the matching Caterpillar designed hydraulic kits are also supplied and the best fit for Cat® machines - providing customers a hammer package with superior design and benefits. All hammers come with a two-year parts and labour warranty*.

8. MULCHER

With heavy rains and bushfires a common issue in Australia, clearing land around properties is a priority.

he Cat HM210 Mulcher is designed for high-performance cutting and mulching of vegetation and undergrowth. These hydraulic mulchers reduce saplings, shrubs and trees into mulched material, making them ideal for environmental maintenance, such as creating firebreaks or removal of invasive plants. The first pass removes plant materials while a second pass, with the door closed mulches the material down from a maximum thickness of around 300mm to 50mm, enabling faster decomposition and providing a layer of protection to the ground to prevent drying out and erosion.

Pairing the mulcher with the Cat 309 Next Gen Mini Excavator, which has an attachment dedicated high-flow pump, enables stick/boom and travel movement without compromising flow to the mulcher. The most powerful and efficient combination is achieved using the stick steer travel, cruise control and continuous flow on the Cat 309 with the Cat HM210 Mulcher – it is a favourite of councils and landscaping contractors, often running rings around larger machines.

RUNNER UP - RIPPER

While it didn't make the top eight cut, there is one more work tool that’s well worth adding to your Mini Excavator toolkit and that's a Cat Ripper. These versatile tools are ideal for landscaping, land clearing, demolition, picking apart debris or lifting slabs and site preparation in hard soils or rock. Rippers can be used with a pin grabber coupler, paired in a coupler and thumb combination, or as a pin-on individual attachment.

THE BEST ATTACHMENTS FOR MINI EXCAVATORS ARE AVAILABLE FROM WESTRAC /P>

Cat® dozers come in many shapes and sizes. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, and depending on the work you plan to undertake, there’s bound to be a Cat dozer to suit your needs.

Cat® dozers are renowned all over the world for their quality, robustness, safety features and versatility.

WHICH DOZER IS RIGHT FOR YOUR OPERATION?

There’s a multitude of Cat dozers available and understanding just what size, model and configuration is right for your operation might be confusing at first. But with a little background knowledge – and the support of your WesTrac product support team – you’ll be far better equipped to make the right decision. Contact us using this form and we'll help you choose the right dozer!

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A DOZER

Buy new, used or rent?

What is the amount and frequency of work you'll be undertaking?

What range of tasks do you plan to utilise the dozer for?

What terrain types will the dozer be working on?

These are just some of the factors that come into play when determining what type of Cat dozer is the right fit for your operation. Making the right choice is vital to ensure the best safety, productivity and efficiency outcomes.

Cat® Dozers for all applications

Whether for mining, construction, agricultural or forestry applications, there’s a broad range of Cat® dozers suited to a wide array of tasks. Looking for a small dozer for occasional earthmoving jobs, a medium dozer that’s a good all-rounder for civil works, or a large dozer for a mining operation?

Small Dozers

Medium Dozers

Large Dozers

Keeping on top of maintenance tasks will ensure you can get the best from you Cat® Wheel Loader – and preventative maintenance is the best way to reduce unplanned downtime and keep your machine running efficiently and productively at all times.

Cat® Wheel Loaders are likely to be among the hardest working machines in your fleet and regular preventive maintenance is crucial for keeping these workhorses operating safely, productively and efficiently.

Staying proactive when it comes to maintenance is the best way to minimise risk of unplanned downtime and saves money in the long run because it’s typically more cost effective to prevent a problem than to fix one.

Understanding a few basics in regards to regular checks and maintenance routines will allow you to identify potential issues, make the most of planned work stoppages and keep operating optimally.

Regardless of what you run, a bit of basic knowhow will keep your machines running at their best, from the 906K Compact Wheel Loader to the mighty 994K largest wheel loader in the Cat® range.

Preventative maintenance is the cure

Knowing what’s required in the way of pre-and post-use daily inspections and preventative maintenance requirements will ensure your Cat® Wheel Loader stays at the top if its game. A great option is to take advantage of WesTrac’s service offerings, such as our FitFleet® Customer Value Agreements, which provide varying levels of support while you focus on getting the job done.

Significant maintenance savings

Next Gen Innovation

The innovative design of Cat Next Gen Wheel Loaders (like the 966 and 972) extends maintenance intervals. To achieve this, integrated (and optional) Autolube reduces daily maintenance and increases component service life. In addition to this, they come with convenient access to hydraulic and electric service areas, which makes servicing fast and easy. All these design updates reduce maintenance costs up to 15%.

XE Models Reduce Maintenance Costs Even More

XE model Cat Wheel Loaders reduce maintenance costs by up to 25%, whereas a standard non-XE Next Gen model reduces maintenance costs by up to 15%. XE models provide an added 10% benefit here that adds up over time. If you plan on utilising your Wheel Loader long-term, it makes sense to choose an XE model.

Protect your wheel loader's performance and value

WesTrac’s Terrain Dynamic Avoidance Zones technology is a solution that’s been developed in close consultation with customers to reduce risks to machine operators at coal and other bulk material handling plants. Customer Solutions Specialist RODNEY MUDFORD explains.

It seems a bit counter-intuitive that by reducing the alarms and alerts to machinery operators, you can reduce risks. But that’s exactly what WesTrac’s new Terrain Dynamic Avoidance Zones technology – or TDAZ as we affectionately call it – is designed to do.

Let’s start by looking back a few years to see what the specific problem involves.

It is to do with “bridging”. That’s when material gets stuck and forms an arch or bridge above feeder funnels or gantries. The bridge that forms can support a reasonable amount of weight so material builds up and covers the opening, leaving a void beneath it.

A few decades ago, there was a problem with dozers falling into those voids and there were unfortunately numerous fatalities, typically related to material ingress into the cab.

The initial response was to cover off some of the risks by fitting things like 30psi glass and self-rescuer units to give operators a chance of survival until they could be retrieved.

But the bigger issue, and better outcome, was coming up with a way to avoid the problem altogether of engulfment of dozers into valves at Coal Handling Preparation Plants (CHPP). It can also be a risk for iron ore load out facilities.

Dozers come with a standard level of smarts – things like in-cylinder sensors, blade control and various automation features – then we add a layer of technology over the top called Terrain, which is one of the pillars of the Cat MineStar solution, that provides high-precision GPS or guidance.

Terrain essentially provides information on where the machine is working, what height it’s working at, what material it’s moving and where. You can start to track material movements, work to a design and enter 3D objects into the avoidance zones.

Using it, we can set up geofencing around things like concrete bollards, overhead gantries and valves, and when an operator gets too close to that obstacle an alarm will sound in the cab to warn them.

But one of the unfortunate things about alarms is that if they go off too often and the operators become numb to them. The right solution is not to bombard them with too many alarms that are not a genuine risk.

That’s what TDAZ is all about. The technology talks between the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system in the CHPP and the onboard Terrain system, identifying when valves are open and closed.

When valves are closed, the risk of engulfment is reduced, and the alarms minimised or turned off.

If a valve opens again and the risk of bridging increases, the alarms become active again and if an operator comes into close proximity, they’ll receive an alert.

One of the things we’re very conscious of at WesTrac is to not just sell fancy widgets – we want to partner with our customers to help solve real world problems and save lives.

This kind of solution offers the opportunity to partner with our customers. Integration of various third-party and inhouse systems is necessary, means a high degree of trust and collaboration is required.

So where’s the value in the TDAZ system for you?

The value lies in gaining the most benefits from Terrain.

What we are ultimately doing is providing a layer between the operating system for the prep plant and the high-precision GPS onboard the dozer. This prevents operators from becoming numb to alarms. By reducing that risk, we are delivering enhanced safety performance.

TDAZ is available now – it’s been in development with a NSW coal mining customer for about 18 months and can now be rolled out and tailored for any site where it can offer benefits.

Removing dozer operators from high-risk environments was the sole driver behind Rio Tinto’s rollout of a remote dozing solution based on Cat® MineStar™ Command technology. And as the solution was deployed, any initial resistance to relocating from the cab to nearby remote operator stations was quickly overcome.

While safety performance is always a key consideration when new technology and work practices are implemented in the Australian mining industry, it is not always the primary driver.

But for Rio Tinto, WesTrac and Caterpillar®, a new tele-remote dozing system (TDS) at Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations in Western Australia is wholly focused on operator safety.

Utilising Cat MineStar Command for Dozing and a dedicated operator control centre, Rio Tinto’s solution allows for non-line of site operation of dozers working in high-risk areas.

Rio Tinto Superintendent Process and Technical Michelle Woolcock says the overarching brief was to effectively manage potential safety risks associated with dozers working in areas that were more susceptible to risk.

“The brief was to take the operator out of the line of fire,” Michelle said. “In particular, the focus was to reduce the risk of operators being in machines that faced a risk of slipping or stability issues, for example when they were working on stockpiles or close to steep walls.”

There are multiple layers of technology and control options involved in the solution, depending on client and site-specific requirements. Caterpillar Senior Service Engineer Steve Dougherty explains.

“To start, you need the base remote-control kit,” Steve says. “There are different kits available for each machine size. If you wanted to do some basic remote-control work, there’s a kit that includes a console receiver, which is a dedicated wireless link installed on top of the cab.

“There's a Remote Control Module (RCM) that gets installed under the seat and interfaces with all the base machine functions, and the associated wiring and Wi-Fi network to allow the various parts to communicate.”

The solution includes options for controlling machines within visual range, consisting of an over-the-shoulder console and a dedicated network, which Steve says is typically suited to operators needing to perform temporary or one-off, high-risk applications.

“You could run that way all day if you wanted to, but the units are set up with deadman switches so are really designed for things like machine recovery,” Steve explains.

“For more long-term applications, like the one that Rio Tinto is rolling out, we set up an operator station which looks very much like a simulator with all the in-cab controls replicated. It can still be run as a line-of-site solution, but more typically customers opt for the vision kit, which adds four cameras on board the dozer and utilises a customer-supplied Wi-Fi network to relay all of that machine information and the video feeds to the operator station, wherever it may be located.”

While Steve says the remote station solution can allow a single operator to control up to five machines at one time in some circumstances, such as strip mining operations, Rio Tinto’s solution is purely designed to move operators into a safer, more comfortable operating environment.

Rio Tinto Superintendent Operational Readiness Jamie Webster says the initial rollout of the TDS at the Cape Lambert Port facility north-east of Karratha is focused on high-risk operations on coarse ore stockpiles with steep gradients and “live” areas where ore is fed into underground tunnels.

“Safety is the number one priority at all Rio Tinto sites and for all employees,” Jamie says.

“The message at all levels is that safety always comes first. Every single person on site, from leaders to cleaners, are empowered to stop if they ever feel unsafe and we always look at ways to improve processes so that no one is in harm’s way.”

According to Jamie, the TDS project is one such area where process improvements were identified to reduce risk.

“These dozers are operating in quite a tight area around lots of fixed assets,” he explains. “That means work is quite intricate and the real benefits will be realised in pushing ore from the stockpiles into the live zones.

“The dozers are working at the top of a large stockpile and if a dozer slips it could go down a bank, or if it’s working while the apron feeder is operating, the ground could fall away from underneath it. Obviously, we already have processes in place and technology to mitigate such risks, but putting the operators into a station away from the danger zones eliminates any potential risk to them being harmed, no matter how small that risk might be.”

While removing operators from high-risk zones is driving the rollout of the solution, Michelle says it does not mean removing operators from site.

She says remote operators still need to be “close to the action” and have detailed site knowledge to function most effectively and efficiently. “As much as ‘non-line-of-site’ operation sounds like it could be carried out from anywhere, the reality is that these operators are multi-tasking in their roles,” Michelle says.

“It will depend on the state of the coarse ore stockpile and what's coming in and going out. They need to be able to visually inspect and determine what needs to be done. They might spend an hour or two dozing then move on to other tasks while they wait for the stockpiles to be replenished.

“When you need dozer operators, you typically need all hands on deck, and when you don't need them, if they're sitting in a control centre hundreds of kilometres away, it’s far more difficult to stay on top of other tasks they might carry out on site.”

Michelle and Jamie admit there was some resistance among the first operators to be trained in TDS, but as they became more familiar with the solution, the operators embraced it.

“A lot of operators quite literally work the dozers through their seats,” Jamie says. “They might have worked for decades and are accustomed to feeling the movement. So they're having to relearn how to drive the dozer without that sense of movement, and they're relying entirely on the visual feed of information rather than the other senses from being in the mobile rig.”

According to Michelle, the key to operator acceptance has been allowing them time to use the system and understand the difference the cutting-edge technology will make.

“With the on-the-job trainers (OJTs), they were excited initially to have the chance to learn something novel,” Michelle says.

“Once the training commenced, a lot of them got quite downhearted because as experienced dozer operators, they had the sense they were going right back to relearning all the knowledge they’d built up over years of manual operation. So they felt like they were starting the first day of school again.

“But it was very much a case of them moving through the classic stages of learning until they had a feel for it and got to that level of conscious competence.

“The transition from resistance to acceptance to championing the new way of working was amazing and I think it was because the OJTs realised they were pioneering new technology.”

Michelle says two or three operators across each of the Cape Lambert work crews will ultimately be trained in the TDS operations, while the technology is being progressively rolled out across other Rio Tinto sites.

For WesTrac Technology General Manager Alister MacPherson, the progressive rollout has necessitated a range of adjustments within the mining technology team and rollout methodologies. With multiple deployments, WesTrac aims to identify the repeatable parts of the process and ensure adequate resourcing to fulfil the relevant roles and responsibilities.

“We want as much as possible to roll this out as a programme of work rather than a series of individual projects,” Alister says.

“That means firstly ensuring we have completed the right training in areas including product management, project engineering and technical support, then developing a collaborative approach between WesTrac and Rio Tinto to ensure the program is rolled out smoothly.”

WesTrac Product Manager – Mining Technology Gary Scott says the Cape Lambert project provided an ideal proving ground to develop the rollout strategies that can be extended to other sites.

“Every site and situation is obviously going to have some unique aspects to it, but there is a set of core requirements that will apply across all implementations,” Gary said.

“It starts with an audit on the available machines to understand the current capabilities, then we can spec up the technology requirements to be fitted to those machines.

“Across an operation like Rio Tinto’s, we’d typically expect to see a fair bit of consistency but there may still be differences based on the age of the site and the asset maintenance and replacement schedules.

“Then when we know what has to be done, we can carry out the installation of the various control modules, the remote operator station and ensure the hardware and software is all communicating. It’s quite straightforward as far as system implementations go, but the complexities come with the detail of configuration and constraint management.”

“The system readily interacts with other Cat control systems including MineStar Terrain, so we can set up working parameters including geofencing and avoidance zones. Essentially, those things are the same whether a dozer is being controlled from in the cab or a remote operating station.”

Those operating parameters and control solutions will be vital as the TDS technology is rolled out across Rio Tinto’s mine sites, including its new Gudai-Darri mine. When production commences this year, the site will be one of the most technologically advanced mines in the world and will feature a large fleet of autonomous haul trucks, water carts and drill rigs. In such environments, any manually controlled equipment, whether in-cab or remotely operated, must be equipped to interact with autonomous machines.

While every aspect of the TDS technology and the way it interacts with other equipment is safety focused, Jamie expects that in time the operations will see productivity gains too.

“There’s still a lot to understand about how we can be the most productive with this system,” he says.

Hard on the heels of the heavy round of mining industry cuts, Kerry Stokes’ mine services operator WesTrac is to cut about 350 jobs across New South Wales and the ACT.

The company, a division of Seven Group Holdings, provides Caterpillar machinery, such…