Posted on June 29, 2017
By Janet Kirkton, CAT
Around the world, Cat® customers are hard at work protecting coastlines, deepening and widening ports, creating and maintaining ports and shipping channels, remediating contaminated rivers and restoring natural habitats and wetlands. This is critically important work and Caterpillar is very proud to be their partner in providing solutions for these considerable global challenges.
Caterpillar provides many of the machines and components required by the industry and utilized by port authorities, as well as dredging and marine construction contractors around the world.
Caterpillar offerings to the dredging industry include nearly everything from the smallest Cat skid steer loader and Perkins engine, to the largest Cat hydraulic mining shovel and MaK ship engine, to adjacent offerings of specialty and purpose built solutions.
The Cat D7E Dozer Dredging Arrangement is an excellent example of a purpose built offering for the dredging industry. This dozer was specifically designed for use in water fording and salt water applications and includes modifications such as: corrosion- resistant paint, specialized undercarriage, specialized engine enclosure door covers, removal of the radiator grill door, and a one-piece sprocket segment. The Cat D7E Dredging Arrangement is available from our Cat dealer network.
In order to further extend Caterpillar’s standard product and solutions offerings, the Caterpillar Industry Solutions team collaborates both internally and externally to develop specialty solutions for dredging projects, provides safety-related technology and consultative services, and interfaces with governmental agencies to promote legislation that supports the industry.
By leveraging other assets within Caterpillar, such as rental services and the Cat dealer network, Industry Solutions can more broadly serve the vast needs of this global industry and ensure customers gain the greatest combined value from their machines and customized jobsite solutions.
To support dredging contractors and this industry effort, Industry Solutions offers specialty application versions of many Cat machines. These include hydraulic excavators & hydraulic mining shovels, articulated trucks and dozers. The advantages to dealers and customers are many, including access to Caterpillar resources to assist in specialty application support and an improved focus from our dealers and external solutions providers.
In similar fashion to the frontless hydraulic excavators (Cat 311-390) launched in 2015, Industry Solutions also offers frontless hydraulic shovels ranging in size from the Cat 6015B to Cat 6060 in all regions.
As an example, a recent collaboration leveraged a partial Cat 6015B Frontless Hydraulic Shovel and a custom built long- reach front (34m) for use in a specialty dredging application.
Relative to dredge propulsion, prime and auxiliary power needs, Cat engines deliver reliable performance, high fuel efficiency and best-in-class power to the dredging industry. Caterpillar provides the industry’s widest range of engines, generator sets and power solutions. Backed by decades of experience and innovation, Cat engines set the standard for quality, performance and reliability.
In addition, Caterpillar offers a number of dual-fuel engine options that use Liquefied Natural Gas to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency in certain applications.
Caterpillar’s engagement within the dredging industry goes far beyond the use of Cat machines and engines, moving material and propelling vessels. Caterpillar works with a wide range of individuals and organizations to promote sustainability globally and continually explores new ways its core businesses can provide solutions to the world’s dredging challenges.
In November 2015, Caterpillar hosted a diverse set of thought leaders for the Restoring Natural Infrastructure Summit. Caterpillar has published a white paper detailing participant observations and recommendations for natural infrastructure restoration.
The white paper, titled Restoring Natural Infrastructure: Strategies for Thriving Communities, Businesses and Ecosystems, addresses the current state of the natural infrastructure restoration industry and measures that could catalyze its development and expansion. The white paper is available now at Caterpillar.com/sustainability.
Leveraging Caterpillar’s acute focus on natural infrastructure initiatives and the current demand for innovative dredging solutions, Industry Solutions is well positioned to engage with our customers on important environmental and infrastructure projects. Important projects, like India’s effort to clean the River Ganga or the United States Corps of Engineers’ effort to maintain an aged inland waterway that is critical to commercial trade.
In all cases, Industry Solutions intends to be the collaborator of choice for dredging and marine construction customers that are seeking innovative solutions for specialty applications.
For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With its global manufacturing footprint and a dealer network second to none, customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets.
Source: CAT
