May 14, 2015 – Caterpillar Inc., at a special media event in Tinaja Hills, Ariz., rolled out new iron for the trade press to see and drive. Rock Products was represented at the event by Don Marsh, editor of sister publication Concrete Products. One machine unveiled was the 745C, a successor to its largest articulated truck, the 740B. The new model’s weight savings, fuel efficiency and productivity gains are part of a $120 million product-development program – one of the largest in recent company history.
Compared to the 740B, the 745C offers: 45.2- versus 43.5-ton rated payload; 1-ton vehicle weight savings; up to 10 percent fuel efficiency and 12 percent productivity gains, the latter owing to faster hauling of greater material volume per duty cycle. The 745C’s fuel, payload and productivity improvements over its successor offer operators what Caterpillar officials estimate is a 17 percent increase in profit potential.
The 745C improvements begin at the powertrain: a new C18 ACERT engine, replacing the 740B’s C15, coupled with a new CX38 High-Density PowerShift Transmission. A switch from steel to aluminum case cut the CX38 weight by 1,800 lbs.
Look for a full report soon on other equipment unveiled.