During CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020, Caterpillar Inc. debuted several next generation excavators offering improved machine performance and ease of operation.
Increased efficiencies for 13-ton excavators
Two new 13-ton class Next Generation excavator models – the Cat 313 and 313 GC – with new features that elevate machine performance, increase efficiencies and lower owning and operating costs were launched at the show. The new 313 excavator boasts increased power and a range of standard Cat technologies designed to boost operator efficiencies by up to 45%. The new 313 GC model lowers maintenance costs by up to 25%, making it the right fit for rental, municipal, and general all-around excavating applications requiring dependable performance and low operating costs.
The new fuel-efficient Cat C3.6 engine powering these Next Gen excavators meets stringent U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage V emission standards, while offering up to 10% greater fuel economy than the previous Cat 313F and 313F GC models. New Smart Mode operation automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to working conditions for maximum productivity and ECO mode to save fuel in less-demanding applications. The engine’s cooling package delivers high ambient temperature capability of 125 F (52 C).
Balancing the need for power and efficiency to deliver precise digging, the responsive hydraulic system includes a new main control valve that eliminates the need for pilot lines, reduces pressure losses, and lowers fuel consumption. A 10% boost in swing torque elevates efficiency when working on slopes and moving around the jobsite. New Cat Advansys bucket tips on the 313 and 313 GC excavators deliver increased life, excellent retention, and fast changeover for maximum uptime on the jobsite.
All-new cab elevates comfort
Cat 313 and 313 GC operators will experience a new, larger cab designed with improved ingress/egress to boost comfort and productivity. The 313 GC is standard equipped with the Cat comfort cab, while the 313 offers the choice of comfort, deluxe, and premium cab options. The spacious cab offers a low-profile design plus large front, rear, and side windows with narrow cab pillars to offer 40% greater visibility compared to F Series excavators, enhancing safe operation.
Standard rearview and right-hand-sideview cameras further improve visibility of the operating environment. Owners of the Cat 313 model can upgrade to 360-degree visibility to easily see objects and personnel around the excavator in a single view. Improved sound suppression lowers interior noise levels to improve comfort. Operators can make hands-free calls through the new standard radio’s Bluetooth connectivity for personal devices.
A larger, 10-in. (254-mm) LCD monitor offers touchscreen capability for easy navigation and features intuitive controls integrated into the monitor. Advanced viscous mounts significantly reduce cab vibration compared to previous models, reducing operator fatigue. A 33% improvement in defrost capability means these excavators are ready for work quickly on cold winter mornings.
Cat 313 and 313 GC excavators feature a new, larger cab designed with improved ingress/egress to boost comfort and productivity.
Technology boosts 313 performance
Delivering superior performance and best-in-class productivity for 13-ton excavators, the new Cat 313 comes standard with a host of productivity enhancing technologies to increase operator efficiency by up to 45%. Standard Cat Payload provides on-the-go weighing and real-time payload estimates, so operators can deliver precise load targets every time to improve loading efficiency. Upgradable to Grade with Advanced 2D or Grade with 3D, standard Cat Grade with 2D automatically guides depth, slope and horizontal distance to grade for quickly and accurately reaching desired grade.
Standard Cat Product Link connects the jobsite to the office via VisionLink to report critical operating data such as fuel usage, payload summaries and fault codes to boost fleet management efficiency. Allowing dealer technicians to run diagnostic testing on the 313 to pinpoint potential issues, new Remote Troubleshoot analyzes real-time machine data captured by Product Link without impacting machine productivity and saving a service trip to the jobsite. New Remote Flash works around the machine’s production schedule to conveniently assure the 313 excavator is operating with the most current version of on-board software, so it delivers high performance, maximum efficiency and minimum downtime.
Lower Operating Costs
The 313 and 313 GC feature a host of design upgrades that simplify maintenance to deliver up to 25% lower costs than their F-series counterparts. The fuel-efficient Cat C3.6 engine meets stringent emission standards, and the 313 GC does so without the required on-going expenditures for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). The excavators’ new hydraulic oil filter delivers improved filtration and a 50% longer change interval at 3,000 hours. New anti-drain valves keep the hydraulic oil clean during filter replacement to improve system longevity.
Operators conveniently track filter life and maintenance intervals through the in-cab LCD monitor. All daily maintenance checkpoints, including engine oil, are easily accessible from ground level. A second engine oil dipstick gives service techs the option of checking and filling the engine oil on top of the machine. Cat S∙O∙SSM ports are accessed from ground level to allow for quick and easy extraction of fluid samples for analysis, simplifying maintenance.
New powertrain and technology features boost performance
Offering superior performance in a compact design, the new Cat 315 Next Gen excavator features a new powertrain, technology and simplified maintenance to boost performance, efficiency and productivity. Built with a spacious new cab design, the new excavator delivers a more comfortable working environment than the 315F L and 314F L (Japan) models it replaces. The compact design gives operators the confidence to dig, swing and dump in space-restricted jobsites.
A host of standard technologies now available on this new small excavator boosts productivity gains by up to 45 percent compared to traditional grading, making it the most productive Cat excavator ever in the 15-ton size class. The new Cat App, compatible with the 315, helps contractors to better manage the excavator’s location and maintenance schedules. Standard Product Link automatically collects excavator data to help improve fleet management.
Performance Gains
The advanced hydraulic system of the new 315 excavator provides the optimum balance of power and efficiency to increase productivity by up to 8% over the 315F L. Its new electronic hydraulic valve delivers significant efficiency gains, while offering the capability of future technology growth. A 10 percent higher swing torque makes working on slopes and around the jobsite much more efficient, and the drive system easily navigates tough ground conditions and slopes with 14% more drawbar pull. New Cat Advansys bucket tips deliver increased life, excellent retention, and fast changeover for maximum uptime on the jobsite.
The new 315’s more powerful Cat C3.6 engine meets stringent U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final, EU Stage V, and Japan 2014 (Tier 4 Final) emission standards, giving it the flexibility to work in many markets worldwide. Smart mode operation automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions to conserve fuel in less demanding applications. The engine is designed to work in a range of ambient temperatures, from 125 F (52 C) without de-rate to a cold-start capability of -13 F (-25 C). 
The new Cat 315 Next Gen excavator features a new powertrain, technology and simplified maintenance.
Expanded technology, more productive
Standard new technology elevating excavator productivity and efficiency includes Cat Grade with 2D system, which is upgradable to Grade with Advanced 2D or Grade with 3D. Grade with 2D automatically guides digging depth, slope and horizontal distance to quickly and accurately reach desired grade. Up to four different depth and slope targets can be established, saving time and money at the jobsite. Increasing safety when excavating in confined spaces, the new 2D E-fence keeps the front linkage within a predefined work area to avoid hazards on the jobsite as well as standard cab avoidance.
Standard Cat Payload helps operators to achieve precise load targets and increase efficiency by providing on-the-go weighing and real-time estimates of the payload without swinging. Payload can be combined with VisionLink to remotely manage production targets. Critical operating data such as fuel usage, payload summaries and fault codes are tracked by standard Cat Product Link to help boost fleet management efficiency.
New Remote Flash works around the production schedule to conveniently assure the 315 is operating with the most current version of on-board software, so it delivers high performance, maximum efficiency and minimum downtime. Allowing dealer technicians to remotely run diagnostics testing to pinpoint potential issues, new Remote Troubleshoot analyzes real-time machine data captured by Product Link without impacting machine productivity.
Simple and comfortable operation
With a choice between Comfort, Deluxe and Premium cab styles, a new 13% larger cab increases operator productivity and offers 60% greater vertical visibility to increase operating safety. Advanced viscous mounts significantly reduce excavator vibration feedback to the cab, while the tip-up left console allows operators to enter and exit the cab with ease. The new standard radio features USB ports for personal devices and Bluetooth connectivity, so operators can make hands-free calls.
The new 315 Deluxe and Premium cab options include a larger, 10-in. (254-mm) high-resolution touchscreen monitor for easy navigation of the intuitive operator controls, while the Comfort cab is equipped with an 8-in. (203-mm) touchscreen. Joystick controls are ergonomically located to reduce operator fatigue, while joystick settings and preferred power mode are quickly set to a specific user ID via the monitor.
Standard rearview and right-side cameras further improve visibility of the work area. The available 360-degree camera system offers excellent visibility to see objects and personnel completely around the excavator in a single view. Improved cab sound suppression lowers interior noise levels to improve comfort. To get to work quicker on cold mornings, the HVAC system offers a 33% improvement in defrost capability.
Less Maintenance
Design changes to the new Cat 315 excavator lowers maintenance costs by up to 25% compared to the 315F L. Change intervals for the fuel filters are 500 operating hours, while the excavators’ new hydraulic oil filter improves filtration and increases changes intervals by 50% to 3,000 hours. New anti-drain valves keep the hydraulic oil clean during filter replacement to improve system longevity. The cab’s new air filter provides a two-times longer cleaning interval as the previous model.
Filter life and maintenance intervals are tracked through the in-cab high-resolution monitor. All daily maintenance checkpoints are easily accessible from ground level, and two dipstick locations allow for ground- or top-level checking of the engine oil. Cat S∙O∙SSM ports are now accessed from ground level to allow for quick and easy fluid sample extraction for analysis, simplifying maintenance.
Compact design aids use in confined working spaces
The new Cat 325 hydraulic excavator features a compact radius design, making it ideal for working in tight spaces. It delivers premium performance with integrated simple-to-use technologies to reduce operator fatigue and boost efficiencies up to 45% compared to previous models. The new excavator also offers reduced fuel consumption, lower maintenance costs, and improved operator comfort at a low cost-per-hour performance.
The 325 introduces many new features designed to improve versatility. Due to the ever-growing restrictions on transport requirements, two new counterweights are now available. An 8.3 ton, designed to maximize lifting performance, and a 4.9 ton, designed to contain the overall machine weight where more stringent transport limits are in place. In Japan, the standard length undercarriage is available, allowing for even smaller and compact machines, as well as the previously available long undercarriage. Additionally, an optional blade is available from the factory, making cleaning jobs easier while acting as a stabilizer to improve lifting capability.
Reach or Variable Angle boom, a variety of hydraulic tool controls, and a choice of couplers and buckets all make the new 325 a versatile machine.
Extensively tested on the job, the Cat C4.4 engine meets the latest emission standards and efficiently powers the new 325 excavator in the toughest conditions, reducing fuel consumption up to 25% compared to the 325F. The aftertreatment system requires no maintenance or downtime. The new Cat model features three selectable power modes to match the excavator to the application for increased fuel efficiency. The excavator has a standard high-ambient operating temperature capability of 122 F (50 C) and standard cold start capability of 0 F (-18 C).
Operating simplicity is key to the design of this new machine. Operators can program and store joystick and power mode settings using an operator ID. Navigate quickly and access the operator’s manual using the high-resolution touchscreen monitor. The new excavator features a keyless push-button engine start, using operator ID codes to limit and track machine access.
High-performance digging and lifting
The advanced hydraulic system of the new Cat 325 excavator provides the optimum balance of power and efficiency while giving the operator complete control of excavating precision. Working on slopes is made easier with 10 percent improved swing torque. Smart mode offers an additional 5 percent fuel savings without productivity loss by automatically adjusting engine speed and hydraulic power to digging conditions.
Optional Smartboom allows the boom to travel up and down freely without using pump flow, reducing operator stress and fuel consumption. Cat Advansys bucket tips can be changed quickly with a simple lug wrench instead of a hammer or special tool, improving safety and uptime. The new excavator also features auxiliary hydraulic options for using a wide range of Cat attachments. 
Caterpillar's 325 hydraulic excavator features a compact radius design, making it ideal for working in tight spaces.
Technology drives efficiency
Boost operating efficiency up to 45% with standard Cat technologies that lower operator fatigue and operating costs, including fuel consumption and daily maintenance. Program up to four target depth and slope offsets with standard Cat Grade with 2D to reach grade faster and save time on the jobsite. Contractors can upgrade the standard 2D system to Cat Grade with Advanced 2D or 3D to fit different applications.
Standard Grade Assist allows the operator to stay on grade simply and effortlessly with single-lever digging, while Bucket Assist automatically maintains the angle in sloping, leveling, fine grading, and trenching applications. Innovative Swing Assist reduces effort and fuel consumption by automatically stopping excavator swing at predefined set points for truck loading and trenching, and Boom Assist keeps the tracks on the ground in lifting and hard digging applications.
Cat Payload technology delivers precise load targets with on-the-go weighing to prevent over/underloading and to maximize efficiency. VisionLink allows companies to access information and production targets through data gathered by Payload remotely and download production data to a USB stick.
Unparalleled comfort and safety
The next generation Cat 325 excavator offers three all-new cab designs—Comfort, Deluxe, and Premium. The ISO-certified ROPS cab is sound suppressed and sealed and features automatic climate control, protecting the operator as much as possible from the fatigue, stresses, sounds, and temperatures of rugged and challenging job conditions.
The new Cat model also features a Bluetooth integrated radio as well as USB ports for charging and mobile phone connectivity. With ample rear, overhead, and console storage, operators can safely store their belongings while they work.
Standard rear and sideview cameras, windows, and lower front profile offer outstanding visibility to the work area, keeping operators aware of their surroundings at all times, while an optional 360-degree visibility feature is also available. Lift Assist helps avoid tipping, with visual and auditory alerts when load is within the excavator’s safe working range limits.
Synchronized maintenance intervals
The next generation Cat 325 excavator reduces maintenance costs by up to 20% compared to the 325F due to extended and more synchronized maintenance intervals. All maintenance checkpoints are accessible at ground level, resulting in faster, easier, and safer daily maintenance checks. Operators can conveniently monitor filter life and maintenance intervals via the in-cab monitor.
Consolidated filter locations reduce service time while hydraulic, air, and fuel tank filters have increased capacity and longer life. The new excavator also features an advanced air filter with double the dust-holding capacity of the previous filter.
Increased performance and reduced maintenance enhance productivity
The Next Generation Cat 395 excavator offers contractors up to 10% more production, two times more structural durability, and up to 20% less maintenance costs than the industry leader it replaces, the 390F.
“We increased swing torque and stick force by 10%,” says Brian Abbott, Worldwide Product Manager for Caterpillar Large Excavators. “These increases enable contractors to use larger buckets for much greater productivity.”
A key driver to the 395’s production is a new dedicated hydrostatic swing circuit — a feature found only on larger Cat mining shovels like the 6015B.
“The circuit enables the excavator to regenerate swing brake energy and independently manage cylinder oil flow,” says Abbott. “What that means for owners and operators is greater fuel efficiency along with smoother, more predictable performance when multitasking with the machine.”
Three modes of operation are available: Power, Smart, and ECO. Power mode is maximum power at all times; ECO mode lowers engine speed and cycle times while maintaining breakout force. Smart mode takes the guesswork out by automatically matching engine and hydraulic power to the actual digging conditions — all to reduce fuel consumption and optimize performance.
The cooling system features a new on-demand fan that’s designed to operate only when required, which helps save fuel. An available auto reverse function assists with cleaning debris from the cooling cores, which enhances operating efficiency.
Standard technology aids efficiency and safety
Simple, easy-to-use technology helps operators and owners get the most out of their Cat excavator.
“The 395 has the industry’s most comprehensive offering of factory-installed technology in its size class,” says Abbott. “Our goal is take an owner’s operating efficiency to a much higher level.”
Cat Payload helps operators increase loading efficiency with on-the-go weighing; real-time payload estimates can be calculated without swinging to help prevent overloading and underloading trucks. The monitor’s USP port lets operators download results from a single shift all the way up to 30 days of work with no need for an internet connection or VisionLink subscription.
Cat Grade with 2D gives operators visual guidance to grade via the standard touchscreen monitor so they can make more accurate cuts. The system is readily upgradable to Cat Grade with Advanced 2D or Cat Grade with 3D for enhanced accuracy. Advanced 2D includes an additional touchscreen monitor to enable in-field design. 3D adds GPS and GLONASS positioning for pinpoint accuracy. The 395’s built-in communication technology makes it easier than ever to connect to 3D services like Trimble Connected Community or Virtual Reference Station.
Lift Assist is a new safety feature that helps prevent the excavator from tipping. It quickly calculates the weight of the actual load being lifted and compares it to the excavator’s rated capability. Visual and auditory alerts show and tell the operator if the excavator is within a safe working range.
Whether equipped with a bucket or hammer, standard 2D E-Fence prevents the excavator from moving outside operator-defined points. This helps protect the machine and other objects from damage and reduces the risk of fines related to zoning or underground and aboveground utility damage. It also helps prevent operator fatigue by reducing overswinging and digging.
Auto Hammer Stop prevents unnecessary wear and tear on the attachment and machine. A warning message appears on the monitor after 15 seconds of continuous firing; the hammer will automatically stop after 30 seconds of continuous firing.
Cat Product Link makes managing the machine easy. It provides a constant stream of wireless information available via the online VisionLink® interface, allowing machine managers in the office to quickly evaluate critical operating information.
Optional Work Tool Recognition saves time and energy when changing attachments. A simple shake of an attached tool confirms its identity and automatically adjusts the hydraulic system to the parameters the operator set for that specific tool.
The optional Cat PL161 Attachment Locator is a Bluetooth device that makes finding attachments and other gear quick and easy. The excavator’s onboard Bluetooth reader or Cat App on a smart phone will locate the device automatically up to 300 ft. (91 m) away.
The Next Generation Cat 395 excavator offers contractors up to 10% more production.
More built-in durability
The 395 will take on demanding work. Booms, sticks, and frames are twice as strong as those on the previous model — all to give owners reliable performance for the life of the machine.
Booms have increased top and bottom plate thickness; sticks have increased side, bottom, and bracket plate thickness; and frames have increased base frame and counterweight mounting plate thickness.
The reinforced car body, track link, track rollers, and boom, stick, and bucket cylinders ensure long-term, trouble-free performance.
Reduced maintenance
Extended and synchronized maintenance intervals contribute to the 395’s lower long-term costs.
- The new Cat air filter with an integrated precleaner and primary and secondary filters provides double the dust-holding capacity of the previous design.
- The new Cat hydraulic return filter has a 3,000-hour service life — a 50% increase over previous filters.
- Fuel system filters are synchronized for service at 1,000 hours — a 100% increase over the previous filters.
The fuel system’s water and sediment drains and hydraulic system’s oil level check are positioned close together at ground level, making routine maintenance faster, easier, and safer.
Operator-oriented cab
The 395 offers a choice between a Deluxe and Premium cab. Performance-enhancing features like the front-facing control panel, keyless pushbutton start, and large touchscreen monitor with jog dial keys come standard.
Following are other cab amenities that are sure to please operators:
- Tilt-up console that allows easy cab entry and exit
- Advanced viscous cab mounts that reduce vibration as much as 50% compared with previous models
- Bluetooth integrated radio with USB ports for connecting and charging phones
- Automatic climate control that maintains temperature settings regardless of ambient temperatures
- Programmable joystick buttons that allow setting control patterns and hydraulic response rates for individual preferences
- Large front, rear, and side windows along with standard rearview and right-hand-sideview cameras to enhance visibility
- An optional 360-degree-visibility package that combines images from multiple cameras to enhance the operator’s sight lines in all directions
“In this size class, production is the most critical contractor requirement,” concludes Abbott. “The 395 delivers that and so much more.”
