Editor at Large: Visiting the Cat BCP Facilities in Clayton, N.C. (Skid Steer/Track Loader Overview)

Caterpillar is the biggest manufacturer of earth moving equipment in the world. You can get a real feel for the scope and size of that statement when you visit its impressive Building Construction Products facilities (BCP) in Clayton, N.C. Compact Equipment is spending the next two days in Clayton, touring manufacturing sites, operating machines and learning about the expansive Cat product line.

Of course skid steers and track loaders are two of our favorite machines to detail and discuss. In 2007, we were impressed with the C-Series loaders that Cat launched, outfitted with (amongst other things) opulent cabs, impressive new controls, the Advanced Machine Information Control System (AMICS) and high-flow hydraulic systems across the lineup. This season Caterpillar is trumping that product with the D Series skid steer and compact track loaders, which feature more powerful engines (that are Tier 4 Interim compliant), stronger lift forces and even more high-flow capacity.

And (yep) these new models run even more powerful and productive work tools (from cold planers to brush cutters). Because like Kevin Coleman likes to say, “A skid steer without an attachment is like a hand without a thumb.”

Coleman is Cat’s senior marketing engineer for skid steers and track loaders, and he has plenty to say about these innovative new machines.   

“We’ve definitely got the tools to match to the machine’s performance,” he continues. “These are going to be high performance machines that are heavy lifting, high capacity and hard working, so we’ve provided our customers with high performance work tools that allow them to do things beyond picking and placing materials. We’ve got wheel saws, cold planers, brush cutters and beyond.”  

The new Cat 272D skid steer loader and 299D compact track loaders replace their C Series predecessors and are now joined by a pair of high-performance counterparts, the 272D XHP and 299D XHP, which are the largest, most powerful skid steer and compact track loaders Caterpillar has ever built.

“Customers have been asking for a lot of performance, which means bigger machines that run more high-powered tools,” says Coleman. “You need flow for speed and pressure for power in order to get the high performance out of those high production attachments. That’s what we’ve built.”

The new D Series models build on Cat as a premium brand — that means premium features, solid performance, quality and durability — says the company. First off, a more powerful engine, the Cat C3.8, meets Stage IIIB and Tier 4 Interim emissions standards. The electronically controlled Cat C3.8 engine, designed with a high-pressure common-rail fuel system for operating efficiency, is equipped with the Cat NOx Reduction System and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for emissions reduction. To offset the cost and complexity of these new engines (which carry a higher price tag), these new power plants have net-horsepower increases that range from 5 to 18 percent. Flywheel torque is increased from 13 to 27 percent. The new engines also use a redesigned air-intake flow path for added efficiency, and a dealer-installed pre-cleaner kit is available for dusty, dirty applications.

These engines certainly cost more, but that’s not all driven by mandated Tier 4 compliance.

“The engines are obviously more expensive, and that’s driven by emissions, but it’s also driven by the increased performance we’re providing,” explains Coleman. “So it’s not just emissions compliance — we’re passing on increased performance, capabilities and capacities to the customer too.”

That’s all very impressive and interesting, but what really caught our attention was the unique features Cat introduced — specifically the “Intelligent Leveling” system (ILEV). The ILEV enables three industry exclusive features: Electronic Dual Self Level, Work Tool Return to Dig and Work Tool Positioner.

The industry first Electronic Dual Self Level levels the load both when raising and lowering. The Work Tool Return-to-Dig feature automatically lowers the lift arms and returns the work tool to a preset angle, increasing productivity and decreasing cycle times. The Work Tool Positioner feature automatically returns the work tool to a preset angle, increasing productivity and quality by allowing the work tool (cold planer, forks, trencher, wheel saw, etc) to be returned to a preset angle, even after the machine has been repositioned. In the cab of D Series models is also a new dial-type hand throttle, and electronic throttle pedal that provides an industry exclusive “decel” feature when at high idle.

“All of those features are exclusive to the marketplace for skid steers and track loaders,” says Coleman. “We’re of course excited to provide compliance [to EPA mandated emissions regulations], but we’re also very excited to provide some of these high-performance features with our Intelligent Leveling system, and we’re the only ones doing it.” – Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment.