CAT 320D excavators played a pivotal role in the success of Modern Rock Mining Industries Success in quarrying relies heavily on the right kind of excavator. Nobody understands this better than Manesh Thomas, Owner of Modern Rock Mining Industries. "I entered the quarrying business in 1992 with Modern Rock Mining Industries. Prior to mechanization of the quarry operations, I had close to a hundred staff running the quarry," says Thomas. He has come a long way in the last 20 years. He now owns and operates five quarries in Kerala " Modern Rock Mining Industries - Pathanamthita (1992), Kannamthanam & Co - Trivandrum (2005), Southern Granite Industries - Ranni (2000), Southern Granite Industries - Trivandrum (2000), Karimala Granites & Aggregates Pvt Ltd - Kottayam (2006). The first choice Talking about his introduction to Cat excavators, Thomas was highly influenced by the positive word-of-mouth reviews from the people in the quarry industry. His decision to purchase a CAT excavator was swayed more by the performance of the product, than the brand name. He purchased his first Cat machine, the Cat 320 C, in the year 2007. According to Thomas, important aspects of performance like machine productivity, machine uptime and superior engine performance matters the most. "Right from the time I bought the first Cat excavator, I have seen a significant increase in the productivity at the quarry site, which in turn improved my turnover. Subsequently, I bought Cat excavators for all applications and it has worked splendidly for me," sums up Thomas. Currently his fleet comprises 16 X 320D, 2 X 320D L, 3 X 320D ME, 3 X 320D HD, 1 X 320C, which total up to 24 320D hydraulic excavators in all and 1 X 424B backhoe loader. New improved performance The new Cat D-Series' medium-sized hydraulic excavators offer customers increased reliability, versatility, performance, and comfort, combined with lower owning and operating costs. The 320D is a 20-21.5 tonne excavator that is well-suited for quarry, construction applications such as utility works, urban construction, demolition, water and sewage works and hire and rental markets. Increased hydraulic pressures give the D-Series excavators excellent lifting capacity, more drawbar pull and digging force, which create faster cycle times and superior productivity compared to C-Series models. Reliable machines minimise downtime and ensure low owning and operating costs. To improve reliability, the D-Series excavators now feature reinforced undercarriage recoil springs and ACERT™ engine technology. "The design of the bucket has improved the ease of operation in the various quarry applications and thereby maximised productivity. I use the Cat excavator along with a hammer exclusively for the rock breaker application since I feel that the build of the Cat machine is durable and is able to perform well in very tough applications," says Thomas. ACERT technology increases reliability and durability by decreasing internal wear. The ACERT offer two power options: standard power and economy power. The standard power mode is recommended for extreme duty, hard digging applications; while economy power mode is recommended for lighter duty applications and optimises fuel efficiency. Services on offer "Our operator feels confident using the 320D, for applications like overburden removals and truck loading. The 320D is highly productive and is able to meet the harshness of the application as well as the daily production demands," appreciates Thomas. The efficient Cat dealer system provides prompt service, thereby minimising downtime. "GMMCO conducts SOS test every 500 hours and they inspect all Cat machines on a monthly basis. We are satisfied with the overall development of a good business relationship. Also, parts are easily available and the dealer branch is located close to our site," says Thomas. Thomas proudly asserts, "The first Cat excavator clocked 19,000 hours without any major complaint. The life expectancy of the Cat excavator machine is 20,000 hours and the resale value is very good." Cat 320D excavators played a pivotal role in the success of Modern Rocks. Their strategic advantages influenced Manesh Thomas in choosing Cat excavators repeatedly, thereby making them a key ingredient of his growth story. (Communication by the management of the company)