Caterpillar has a busy few months lined up on the conference circuit, with major product releases, service options and technologies to be highlighted at the SME MINEXCHANGE 2023 event in Denver, Colorado, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Focusing beyond the iron, the Caterpillar MINEXCHANGE 2023 exhibit will highlight the company’s innovation, technological advancements, and how Caterpillar is solving mining challenges today and innovating for the future. With its “Big Difference” theme, the company will showcase how it positively impacts miners and offers a range of careers within the mining industry at the event, which runs from February 26-March 1.

This includes:

• Big Innovation – details how Caterpillar commits significant R&D investment to technology and automation that help mining customers succeed and contribute to a better, more sustainable world; and
• Big Opportunities – covers career opportunities at Caterpillar for creating high-tech solutions.

Inside the Cat exhibit, a Cat D8 simulator will allow conference attendees to experience operating the dozer in a virtual environment. A video wall features the themed “Big” messages that include more details on Caterpillar and its mining solutions, autonomy leadership, a real-world sustainability journey and testimonials from Cat employees. Subject matter experts will be on hand to discuss Caterpillar’s latest technology, autonomy and equipment solutions for the mining industry. In addition, seven Caterpillar subject matter experts have been selected to present eight technical abstracts at MINEXCHANGE covering diversity in the workplace to technology and automation to implementing change management.

In Las Vegas at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 from March 14-18, meanwhile, Caterpillar will highlight its latest products, services and technologies while paying tribute to those who build the world’s infrastructure in what is its largest exhibit to date at the event.

The company’s 6,500 sq.m outdoor demonstration arena will anchor the massive display known as Operator Stadium (visualisation pictured below)

New Caterpillar Technology, Services and Sustainability hubs provide visitors the opportunity to look for ways to increase operating efficiencies and improve machine uptime, while new and current models and battery-electric machine prototypes will be highlighted.

The extensive Cat® equipment display in the Festival Lot is set to include more than 30 machines, including model unveilings and battery-electric model prototypes with charging stations. Visitors will see two main equipment demonstrations each day; one focused on the latest Cat technology, and one that will spotlight the company’s full equipment line up. Additionally, Caterpillar will be providing daily spotlight demonstrations that will take a deep dive into key industry topics including improving fuel efficiency and job site efficiency, the evolution of technology, and convenient, scalable solutions for all customers.

The new Cat 950 medium wheel loader on display offers, Cat says, premium performance and simple-to-use technologies to help boost operator efficiency and increase productivity, while extended service intervals help lower maintenance costs. Visitors will be treated to a preview of the Next Generation Cat 926, 930 and 938 small wheel loaders – slated for production in late 2023 – which feature new technologies designed to make work easier, a reimagined operator environment and extended service intervals.

Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems Division, meanwhile, will exhibit a wide and rapidly growing portfolio of high-efficiency Cat industrial power solutions. The exhibit includes the unveiling of a new high power internal combustion engine, as well as lithium-ion battery technologies under development. Engines on display, such as the C3.6 IPU, C7.1 and C9.3B, meet EU Stage V, U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards and are compatible with biodiesel up to B20 and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to EN15940. The booth will also showcase Caterpillar’s technical services and market expertise leveraged by the global Cat dealer network to maximise the efficiency and extend the lifecycles of off-highway equipment, including Cat remanufactured and service replacement engines.

Caterpillar says it offers a range of service options that are easy, convenient, flexible and sustainable, and will be featured in the Services Hub at the event. The new Cat Central app is the latest tool for convenient access to genuine Cat parts and support. Another new service-related solution is the new Cat SIS2GO app which, Caterpillar says, takes the guesswork out of maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing Cat equipment. Both apps are available on Windows, iOS and Android platforms.

Team members from Cat Financial will also be available to discuss the latest leasing and financing programs.

The Caterpillar Technology Hub will offer attendees the ability to experience a range of new and existing Cat technologies – VisionLink, Cat Command, VisionLink Productivity, Cat Detect, Cat Grade and Cat Payload. Caterpillar SMEs will be on hand to assist each customer in finding a scalable solution designed to fit the business’s needs and budget.

Its centerpiece exhibit, the “Looking Glass” cube, displays and interactively showcases the five key capabilities of the new Cat VisionLink® application – Geofence & Location, Fuel Theft Alerts, Diagnostics, Idle Time/Fuel Burn, and Maintenance. An interactive wall will invite visitors to explore the full suite of VisionLink capabilities for both Cat and non-Cat equipment and non-machine assets.

The hub’s multiple Cat Command stations allow attendees to remotely operate Cat machines located more than 640 km away at the Tinaja Hills Demonstration and Learning Center. They are positioned to allow attendees to better experience and learn more about the Command for Dozing, Excavating and Loading technologies.

The Caterpillar Sustainability Hub will spotlight fuel efficiency and alternative power sources; technologies to fit every operation and budget; and parts and service designed to make uptime fast and easy, the company says. Plus, customers will learn about sustainability benefits they can choose today and plan for tomorrow.

Outside the Sustainability Hub, exhibit attendees can view components of Caterpillar’s total site solution for the energy transition, including four battery-electric machine prototypes – the Cat 301.9 mini excavator, 320 medium excavator, 950 GC medium wheel loader and 906 compact wheel loader – in addition to AC and DC charging solutions. The Caterpillar-designed batteries powering these battery-electric machines are built on lithium-ion Cat technology with a modular design that offers flexible configurations across multiple applications.