Cat has continued its dedication to delivering capable machinery to the world market with the release of the 988 GC Wheel Loader, designed specifically for quarry and mining applications
The latest loader has been produced to offer up to 5% less fuel consumption and up to 15% lower maintenance costs than the Cat 988K, with highly-durable structures built for multiple life cycles. Built on the common Cat Large Wheel Loader platform, its full box section rear frame resists torsional shock and twisting forces, while its front frame is redesigned to withstand larger loads and features a new lift arm design.
The 988 GC is optimised as a 45-tonne truck match loader with a 3,909 mm dump clearance delivering efficient loading up to the Cat 775G truck. With bucket payload matched to the 988K, the new 988 GC offers up to 670 tonnes per hour productivity in shot rock truck loading applications and up to 527 tonnes per hour for load-and-carry operations.
Alongside a C15 engine at its heart, the 988 GC boasts a cooling package to offer higher heat rejection with an on-demand fan strategy and two available fan speed settings for standard and high-ambient-temperature configurations. In addition, the Cat torque converter with standard lock-up clutch eliminates losses, lowers system heat, improves travel times and reduces recycle times in load-and-carry operations. The machine also features the Cat Advanced Power Electronic Control Strategy transmission.
To ensure lower maintenance costs, Cat has included features in the 988 GC design such as advanced filtration to extend performance and reliability of the hydraulic system; centralised ground level grease points plus ground level sight gauges to simplify daily greasing and oil level checks; on-board diagnostics to alert the operator of issues before system failure; and the support of Product Link alongside VisionLink to enhance preventative maintenance and servicing efficiency. There are also ground level or platform access for convenient servicing and access doors located on both sides of the engine compartment.
To support operators in their activities, Cat has included the Cat Comfort Series III seat with seat-mounted implement pod; an intuitive operator interface, touchscreen display and soft detent implement controls; machine vibration feedback; Steering and Integrated Control steering; and optional air cooled and heated seat available. Customers will also notice the Z-bar front lift arm design which provides enhanced visibility to the bucket edges and work area to simply operations. The bucket payload is also aligned with the 988K models with a range of Cat performance series buckets available with capacities from 6.3 cu/m to 7.6 cu/m.
More information about the new wheel loader can be found by contacting a Cat dealer or visiting the Cat website.
