CAT E-SERIES HAMMERS
The recent release of a range of new E series hydraulic
hammers to the Australian and New Zealand market represents a major milestone
in the evolution of Caterpillar’s extensive work tool offering. These E Series
(H75E – H180E) hammers are the first Cat hammers to be completely designed,
developed and manufactured in house. Hydraulic hammers built entirely by
Caterpillar for Caterpillar.
The history of Cat Hammers
Although new, the E Series is a culmination the knowledge
and experience of the hydraulic hammer Caterpillar gained during a long
partnership with Sandvik. The joint venture, which first began in 1998, saw
Sandvik produce hammers with design input and branding from Caterpillar (D
Series) and was very successful, resulting in the sale of over 30,000 units
globally. However as the business grew and product lines expanded, Caterpillar
recognised the need to have more control over hammer design and manufacture to
deliver fully on the promise of a complete machine and work tool solution with
the lowest overall owning and operating costs. In 2009 Caterpillar took the
decision to end the joint venture with Sandvik and commit fully to developing
the hydraulic hammer business. By early 2011 the doors were opening on a brand
new, purpose-built, state of the art hammer design and manufacturing facility
in Waco, Texas.
Caterpillar’s Work Tool Commitment
Caterpillar’s 88 years of enduring success is founded on
delivering a high quality product with the performance and durability customers
want. The E Series hammers feature a number of improvements designed to live up
to that promise. Most noticeable is the sleek, symmetrical housing which not
only reduces stress points but is also rotatable by 180 degrees to give a
second life. Inside the silenced E Series hammers a unique, interlocking
suspension system with top, side and lower buffers isolates and silences the
powercell as well as protecting the carrier machine from the stress waves
produced during hammer operation.
Reducing the stress transmitted back to the carrier machine
also has the additional benefit of a providing a substantially more comfortable
environment for the operator. The E Series hammers also feature ASO (Auto
shut-off); a feature which prevents blankfiring.
Blank-firing occurs when the operator activates the hammer
without the tool engaged with the material to be broken. In such an event, the
energy of the piston striking the tool has nowhere to go but back into the
hammer and the carrier machine. The effect of blank firing is increased wear on
both hammer and machine. With ASO oil flow is automatically diverted,
preventing firing, until the tool is engaged with the material.
With its investment in world-class facilities in Waco and
now with the introduction of E Series hammers Caterpillar has signalled its
intent to be in the hammer business for the long haul. Having a full hammer
line up all of which are optimised to complement the Cat product line up and sold
and serviced by the best dealer network puts Caterpillar in a unique position.
Put simply, the commitment backs up the claim. Cat Hammers are built for it.