Caterpillar has unveiled the new Cat 745 articulated truck at the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 event in Las Vegas.
The company says the truck features a new cab design that has been completely re-engineered from the inside out based on global customer feedback.
The cab has reinforced infrared glass that reduces solar heating inside the cab, and a new ‘spinal’ ROPS structure removes the rear structural pillar to give the operator improved visibility. The side windows can also slide open to both the left and right, improving ventilation.
Cat says the door on the 745 is both lighter and stronger than previous models and has a ‘shut assist’ feature to help seal the cab against dust and reduce sound levels inside. When the door is opened, a new ‘wake up’ feature initiates machine displays immediately.
The 745 has a new combined transmission and hoist lever that gives the operator a single-lever control over truck speed and body hoisting functions, automating repetitive actions and minimising operator effort.
By flicking a switch, an operator can switch between manual or fully automatic hoisting control. Automatic hoisting control applies the waiting break, sets the transmission in neutral and hoists the body to maximum angle at high RPM.
The Cat 745 is powered a 375kW Tier 4 Final Cat ACERT diesel engine that features an ‘economy’ mode that Cat says can reduce fuel consumption by up to five percent in applications that don’t require the truck to run at full capacity.
The 745 weighs in at around 74 tonnes and has rated payload capacity of 41 tonnes and a volume capacity of around 25 cubic metres.
Another feature directly resulting from customer feedback is the new lower portion of the front fender, which is now made from a heavy-duty rubber sheet material. This change helps to reduce maintenance and repair costs on sites where mud accumulating around the fenders could damage the lower section of the truck.