MAKING A NEW INDIA

AMIT BANSAL, Director Sales & Marketing, India Region-Building Construction Products, Caterpillar India, shares Caterpillar confidence about growing demand for compact machines like its 216B3 Skid Steer Loader. Caterpillar welcomes various government initiatives towards ease of doing business. These initiatives will spur growth in various segments of infrastructure like ports, airports, roads and highways, and projects such as Swachch Bharat (Clean India), Namami Gange (Clean Ganga) and Make in India. The company can contribute to each and every initiative with Cat equipment and advanced technological solutions. Mechanisation is occurring at a brisk pace driven by factors such cost of operation, quality of work and safety. In this back drop, patronage for compact machines like skid steer loaders has been growing in recent times. Skid steer loaders are widely used in general construction such as residential and commercial buildings, industrial applications but lately, it is also being used in heavy construction such as metro rail construction application, elevated roads and bridges. Make in India Caterpillar is a market leader in the skid steer loader product range in many countries. Cat 216B3 Skid Steer Loaders are manufactured at the Caterpillar India Skid Steer Loader facility in Thiruvallur, which is about 60 km from Chennai. Operational since 2014, this is the only Skid Steer Loader facility the company has outside of the US. The company launched the skid steer loader 216B3 for the India market in 2015; a proven product which has earned a reputation for quality, low Owning and Operating costs and performance all over the world. Cat 216B3: Key features A few key features are listed below: Operator station and controls: With a spacious cabin, the model comes with pilot operated joystick levers as standard, which makes it easy to learn. The left lever controls the steering and the right lever controls the loader or bucket. Also, a foot throttle pedal helps the operator to accelerate the speed of engine whenever there is a need, without having to take his hands off the lever during implement operation. Engine: It is fitted with the Cat C2.2 engine producing a gross power of 51 hp. This enables the dealer to provide complete warranty and service to the machine. Hydraulics: Hydraulic oil tank is designed to eliminate cavitation. The Side by side flip up cooling package with hydraulically driven fan is a patented design which is highly efficient. Anti-Stall System: This ensures the engine does not get stalled when the load is high and ensures the hydraulic power requirement does not exceed the engine power. The swash plate in the pump adjusts itself accordingly by reducing the flow but maintaining the torque to match the operator command. Safety Safety features includes the arm rest bar, which unless it is pulled down, the engine cannot be started. Also, the spring activated hydraulically released brakes ensure effective and fail safe braking. Operator presence seat mounted censors automatically engage the parking brake if it does not sense a minimum of 22 kg after a few seconds. Dead engine lower valve helps in bringing down the loader arm in the event of engine shutting and hydraulic system malfunction. Moreover, emergency exits are present in the rear. Machine with all-round capabilities The key aspect about the Skid Steer Loader 216B3 is the all-round capabilities of the machine, very low owning and operating cost and its ability to work in confined spaces. The machine comes with standard auxiliary hydraulics and mechanical quick disconnect which allows work tools to be easily connected. There are more than 20 different kinds of attachment that can be fitted on to the machine depending upon the application. The customers of today are no longer looking at products as mere products but as solutions for their worksite requirements. Caterpillar is confident about the growth potential of the country for construction equipment and more specifically skid steer loaders. It is better placed to meet the demands of the customers with its world class product solutions ably supported by its dealer partners GMMCO and TIPL having more than 168 dealer outlets spanning across the country. (Communication by the management of the company)