THE 40,000th Caterpillar large dozer has rolled off the production line in Illinois, USA.
The keys to the milestone machine – a D11T – were handed to Louis DeLuca, Teck director of supply management, during a ceremony to mark the occasion.
Caterpillar employees gathered in the facility where all 40,000 Cat D9, D10 and D11 dozer models have been manufactured. Teck has been one of the top customers for Cat large dozers over the past decade and will put the machine to work in the Elk Valley Region near Sparwood, British Columbia, where the company produces steelmaking coal.
Greg Hepler, Caterillar’s product manager for large dozers said, “Caterpillar transformed the track-type tractor with the introduction of the suspended undercarriage with elevated drive sprocket. This innovation, along with a long history of others, enabled Cat large dozers to set the standards for efficiency, productivity and durability. These iconic machines continue to define who we are and play a key role in building a better world.
“This milestone is important, not just because of the sheer number of Cat machines sold, but also because it represents the many long-lasting and mutually beneficial business relationships established with customers like Teck. We are honoured to celebrate this achievement with Teck, and we are grateful that their Elk Valley mines have counted on Caterpillar, Cat equipment and their dealer, Finning Canada, to help them reach their production goals since 1992.”
The D11T features a Cat C32 engine, producing 850 horsepower and is said to be capable of moving up to 900 loose cubic meters of material per hour.
