MACHINERY giant Caterpillar has announced a raft of updates for its hydraulic excavator portfolio as part of its annual product update (APU) initiative.
The enhancements include Cat Grade technologies, a new User Interface for quick navigation, and an Advanced Payload option for Cat track excavators. These upgrades apply to small, medium, and large excavators, as well as material handlers, wheeled excavators, and forestry and specialty machines.
With 2025 model builds, Cat Grade with advanced 2D features and functions are now integrated into standard Cat Grade with 2D. Cat 2D tech is designed to empower operators to work more efficiently by delivering real-time guidance for accurate vertical and horizontal control. It helps ensure cuts and fills are made to exact specifications.
“Our 2D grading technology provides easy adjustments to target depth and slope using joystick commands, the touchscreen interface, or a jog dial,” explained Jason Ho, senior global product consultant – excavation. “It displays target grade with visual guidance plus height and depth. “To help ensure long life, the integrated components are protected from damage, and 2D works with multiple bucket types, including digging, cleaning, grading and tilting.”
For customers grading complex designs, Grade with 3D technology is now a factory-installed option that can be ordered for track and wheeled excavators. This includes all hardware required for the 3D system and aims to provide an easier upgrade path for customers who want to add Cat Grade with 3D after initial purchase.
Cat Payload for excavators and material handlers delivers bucket load information with on-the-go weighing to help prevent overloading or underloading. Operators can keep track of the amount of material moved and can split tasks between truck loading in Weigh Mode and moving material around the site in Stockpile Mode.
The manufacturer said the ability to input couplers and attachments into the system makes setting up work tool combinations ‘highly efficient’ by reducing calibration time.
All the latest APU 2025 features can be viewed on Cat Operator Training at www.catoperatortraining.com
