Caterpillar has announced a series of updates for its range of Cat hydraulic excavators.
As part of its 2025 annual product update, Caterpillar has revealed key product updates will be rolled out to its excavator line-up.
The wide-ranging updates are designed to help improve machine efficiency and performance in daily operations. Among the updates are enhancements to Cat Grade technologies, a new user interface, and an advanced payload option for Cat track excavator users. The updates will be applied to Cat small, medium, and large excavators, plus material handlers, wheeled excavators and Cat specialty machines. Caterpillar senior global product consultant for excavation Jason Ho said the updates will help operators do more work without delays.
One of the headline updates from the 2025 APU announcement confirmed that Cat Grade with Advanced 2D features and functions are now integrated into standard Cat Grade with 2D for 2025 model builds.
Cat 2D technology enables the operators to access real-time guidance for accurate vertical and horizontal control. Ho said this helps ensure cuts and fills are made to exact specifications, without undercutting or overcutting, and can eliminate the need for ground stakes in most applications.
“Our 2D grading technology provides easy adjustments to target depth and slope using joystick commands, the touchscreen interface, or a jog dial. It displays target grade with visual guidance plus height and depth,” Ho said.
“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.”
“Our Cat Grade with 2D for excavators is an indicative system that helps operators reach grade faster when compared with traditional grading methods. Simply select your target depth and slope and watch the Grade with 2D system use on-board processors and sensors to provide real-time guidance on the distance to grade.”
for its range of hydraulic excavators. Image: Caterpillar
The manufacturer has also made Grade with 3D technology available as a factory-installed option available with track and wheeled excavators. The new option means that all the hardware required for the 3D system will be installed and tested in the factory and means that customers who want to add Cat Grade with 3D after their purchase can easily upgrade.
“Cat Grade with 3D for excavators helps operators grade more quickly, accurately and efficiently, improving productivity when compared to traditional grading methods.
“It incorporates GNSS technology and RTK positioning guidance to streamline the grading process for complex designs commonly encountered on large infrastructure and commercial projects.
“This system allows operators to work confidently, eliminating guesswork while cutting and filling to precise specifications.”
New user interface unveiled
The new Caterpillar display user interface (UI) will enable operators to easily set-up machines and access important information. Caterpillar has reconfigured the UI so that accessing features like reordering work tool lists to creating new work tool combinations is easier. The ability for operators to input work tools, including couplers and attachments, reduces calibration time and means more time is spent on important tasks.
Cat Payload, when used with Cat excavators and material handlers, can provide operators with precise bucket load information with on-the-go weighing.
This means the changes of overloading, underloading or misloading materials can be avoided.
Weigh mode and stockpile mode ensure operators can keep track of the amount of material moved between truck loading and moved around the site.
“One of the main things your operators are going to see is how quickly the monitor starts back up and the improved interface. The icons are now clearly laid out and they are easy to navigate,” Ho said.
“The latest operator-oriented UI has been redesigned to maximise uptime by allowing operators to easily reorder work tool lists and quickly create new work tool combinations. It also eliminates the need to measure up again when changing Cat work tool attachments and makes it more manageable for a single person to check and adjust for bucket wear.
“While Cat Payload helps operators to accurately hit load targets and avoid underloading, overloading or misloading materials customers with track excavators can upgrade the system to Advanced Payload for expanded capabilities such as custom tags, daily totals and electronic ticketing. When combined with VisionLink Advanced Payload enables customers to analyse job sites and individual assets for remote management of production targets and key metrics.”
the cabin so they can make real-time decisions. Image: Caterpillar
Cat Advanced Payload helps customers to:
- Lower costs: by saving time, labor and fuel consumption.
- Improve accuracy: with precise payload targets that help eliminate over and underloading.
- Increase efficiency: helping new operators to get up to speed faster and experienced operators work more accurately.
- Monitor safety: by helping to prevent truck overloading, which results in heavier and more unstable loads.
“Cat Advanced Payload is basically a system upgrade that offers expanded features and capabilities, including custom tags, daily totals, and electronic ticketing. It’s a no brainer,” Ho said.
“When you combine Payload with VisionLink Productivity, you can analyse jobsites and individual assets for remote management of production targets and key metrics.”
Caterpillar has a several specialists as part of its equipment training solutions team who have developed resources to help train and develop operators and jobsite supervisors on Cat machinery. The training programs span a variety of methods, including eLearning, instructor-led, simulators, and custom training programs, to ensure operators can work safely while maximising their production rates.
These programs are also designed to help operators effectively use Cat’s advanced features including Cat Grade 3D Ready, Cat Payload and Cat Advanced Payload.
Ho said the new updates will help operators become more efficient in their daily tasks and master operating Cat’s machinery.
“With advancements in machine setup simplification, the latest operator-oriented user interface, Cat Grade 3D Ready, Cat Payload, and Advanced Payload, these updates help you make the most of every second of your shift,” he said.
“For anyone who is curious about what these updates can do for your business, I encourage you to jump into one of our Cat hydraulic excavators to see these updates for yourself.” •
*NOTE: Cat Payload for excavators is not legal
for trade. VisionLink subscription required. Availability may vary by region, consult your
Cat dealer for more details.
For more information, visit cat.com
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