Caterpillar’s hallmark has been to stake its brand value on the ability to improve on products already considered very good. So it was with some pride that the global group unveiled its new 313F L GC tracked excavator during a dealer and media demonstration conference in Malaga, southern Spain in early March.
The 313’s close cousin is the 312E, a high-use machine designed to put in long hours to maximise the owner’s productivity over the machine’s life cycle. The machine’s owner likely gets paid by the hour.
Comparing the two machines, the 313 has the same working envelope, same buckets and work tools and the same breakout force. It also has the same swing torque. The drawbar is similar, within 4%, as well lift capacity, within 1-2%, according to178 Caterpillar.
But the 313 has been made specifically for the owner who will need the tracked excavator’s ability but not continually. It is designed for relatively low use. Caterpillar estimates that the 313 will be used when and as needed because the owner likely gets paid by the job, not the hour.
Importantly, the 313’s 52kW engine has extremely low fuel consumption meaning low cost per hour operation.
The Cat C3.4B engine that meets US EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IIIB emission standards and has no need for diesel exhaust fluid. It has a proven one-pump hydraulic system that makes light of everyday tasks such as small excavating, spreading top soil, setting utilities and fine grading floors.
An engine idle shutdown stops the engine after a preset idling interval, which helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions and also extends service intervals.
Power for digging, lifting and attachment use is aided by a load-sense pump and main control valves that calculate exact work demands - all to deliver the stick and bucket force needed to get work done with low owning and operating costs. The 313F L GC can be equipped with high- and medium-pressure hydraulic circuits along with a quick coupler to handle a range of Cat buckets and work tools.
An easy-to-read monitor – programmable in 42 languages -- remembers hydraulic settings for up to 10 work tools. An automatic climate control system maintains constant temperatures and airflow.
Improving serviceability is a pilot manifold in the valve block to eliminate the need for a pilot pump, filter or lines. The fuel system and manual priming pump also reduce the need for multiple filters and the engine’s diesel particulate filter is compact and maintenance free.
Creature comfort is provided by a sealed and insulated cab mounted with viscous pads to reduce noise. A bolt-on falling-objects guard – FOGS – is available. The seat is mechanical suspension with full adjustability. Joystick controllers are adjustable and provide controls for auxiliary hydraulics.
Also being demonstrated at Caterpillar’s Training and Learning Centre was the new M318F wheeled excavator.
Power comes from a 126kW Cat C7.1 ACERT engine which meets USA EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IV emissions standards. The M318 has Caterpillar’s proven Smartboom as well as ride control, load-sensing hydraulics, dedicated swing pump, a hydraulically driven cooling fan and a large working envelope.
The exterior of the M318 and its slightly larger sister, the M320F, have been completely restyled. The cabin, with an interior sound level of just 71 dB(A), features higher pressurisation, a larger door with added glass, a new windshield with parallel wipers, new mirrors – with a heated option – new rain visor and light protectors, and a larger skylight.
As standard, a rear view camera is housed in the redesigned counterweight and a camera with a separate in-cab monitor is mounted on the right side. A counterweight light enhances the rear view camera function at night.
The engine now integrates an emissions aftertreatment system that requires only periodically replenishing the diesel-exhaust-fluid (DEF) tank. Emissions technology includes the Cat NOx-reduction system, selective catalytic reduction, diesel oxidation catalyst, diesel particulate filter (DPF) and high-pressure/common-rail fuel system. The DPF passively regenerates – burns away collected soot – meaning it needs no intervention by the operator.
The optional Cat Bio HYDO advanced hydraulic oil and bio-diesel, up to 20% mixed with Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel, can be used without reducing the life of the systems.
As with the 313, an engine-idle shutdown system kicks in when the engine has been idling for a preset period. Also, improved Eco Modes reduce engine speed with no reduction in power.
Both the M318F and M320F have a PIN-code anti-theft system. During short breaks in production, the system remembers the last code entered before engine shutdown and allows that code to remain active for a period of time.
Also, a new blade for the M318F and M320F has a redesigned profile, allowing the blade to remain parallel to the ground at any height and assisting material to roll more easily in front of the blade.
The 313’s close cousin is the 312E, a high-use machine designed to put in long hours to maximise the owner’s productivity over the machine’s life cycle. The machine’s owner likely gets paid by the hour.
Comparing the two machines, the 313 has the same working envelope, same buckets and work tools and the same breakout force. It also has the same swing torque. The drawbar is similar, within 4%, as well lift capacity, within 1-2%, according to
But the 313 has been made specifically for the owner who will need the tracked excavator’s ability but not continually. It is designed for relatively low use. Caterpillar estimates that the 313 will be used when and as needed because the owner likely gets paid by the job, not the hour.
Importantly, the 313’s 52kW engine has extremely low fuel consumption meaning low cost per hour operation.
The Cat C3.4B engine that meets US EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IIIB emission standards and has no need for diesel exhaust fluid. It has a proven one-pump hydraulic system that makes light of everyday tasks such as small excavating, spreading top soil, setting utilities and fine grading floors.
An engine idle shutdown stops the engine after a preset idling interval, which helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions and also extends service intervals.
Power for digging, lifting and attachment use is aided by a load-sense pump and main control valves that calculate exact work demands - all to deliver the stick and bucket force needed to get work done with low owning and operating costs. The 313F L GC can be equipped with high- and medium-pressure hydraulic circuits along with a quick coupler to handle a range of Cat buckets and work tools.
An easy-to-read monitor – programmable in 42 languages -- remembers hydraulic settings for up to 10 work tools. An automatic climate control system maintains constant temperatures and airflow.
Improving serviceability is a pilot manifold in the valve block to eliminate the need for a pilot pump, filter or lines. The fuel system and manual priming pump also reduce the need for multiple filters and the engine’s diesel particulate filter is compact and maintenance free.
Creature comfort is provided by a sealed and insulated cab mounted with viscous pads to reduce noise. A bolt-on falling-objects guard – FOGS – is available. The seat is mechanical suspension with full adjustability. Joystick controllers are adjustable and provide controls for auxiliary hydraulics.
Also being demonstrated at Caterpillar’s Training and Learning Centre was the new M318F wheeled excavator.
Power comes from a 126kW Cat C7.1 ACERT engine which meets USA EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IV emissions standards. The M318 has Caterpillar’s proven Smartboom as well as ride control, load-sensing hydraulics, dedicated swing pump, a hydraulically driven cooling fan and a large working envelope.
The exterior of the M318 and its slightly larger sister, the M320F, have been completely restyled. The cabin, with an interior sound level of just 71 dB(A), features higher pressurisation, a larger door with added glass, a new windshield with parallel wipers, new mirrors – with a heated option – new rain visor and light protectors, and a larger skylight.
As standard, a rear view camera is housed in the redesigned counterweight and a camera with a separate in-cab monitor is mounted on the right side. A counterweight light enhances the rear view camera function at night.
The engine now integrates an emissions aftertreatment system that requires only periodically replenishing the diesel-exhaust-fluid (DEF) tank. Emissions technology includes the Cat NOx-reduction system, selective catalytic reduction, diesel oxidation catalyst, diesel particulate filter (DPF) and high-pressure/common-rail fuel system. The DPF passively regenerates – burns away collected soot – meaning it needs no intervention by the operator.
The optional Cat Bio HYDO advanced hydraulic oil and bio-diesel, up to 20% mixed with Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel, can be used without reducing the life of the systems.
As with the 313, an engine-idle shutdown system kicks in when the engine has been idling for a preset period. Also, improved Eco Modes reduce engine speed with no reduction in power.
Both the M318F and M320F have a PIN-code anti-theft system. During short breaks in production, the system remembers the last code entered before engine shutdown and allows that code to remain active for a period of time.
Also, a new blade for the M318F and M320F has a redesigned profile, allowing the blade to remain parallel to the ground at any height and assisting material to roll more easily in front of the blade.
