Caterpillar has launched its heavy-duty 349D2 L model in the Middle East and Africa region.
With an operating weight ranging from 44,400kg to 47,300kg, the manufacturer’s latest D-Series hydraulic excavator has been built to deal with “the most severe applications”, according to its designers.
The machine’s 403hp Cat C13 ACERT engine combines with its precise hydraulic system to ensure a high level of consistency across multiple applications, whether working with a bucket or an alternative attachment.
The excavator’s long undercarriage allows for tracks that are 5.36m long and 3.34m wide (with 0.6m track shoes). The 349D2 L’s track chains are greased and sealed to minimise travel noise and to reduce internal pin and brushing wear.
The machine’s upper main frame is robotically welded and sports box-section main channels connected by a large tube at the boom foot for added strength and rigidity. Curved side rails in the outer frame resist bending and torsional loads, whilst pentagonal-section undercarriage track frames are fabricated from thick steel plate for optimum durability.
The 349D2 L’s 6.9m-reach boom is offered with a 3.35m-reach stick in the Middle East. The 6.55m mass-excavation boom is available with a 2.55m mass stick.
The pilot-operated hydraulic system, which offers low-effort, proportional control of the machine’s functions, employs two main pumps that use all of the Cat C13 ACERT’s power output for maximum efficiency. Oil-regeneration systems for the boom and stick circuits shorten cycle times, reduce the load on the main pumps, and help to conserve fuel.
The excavator’s routine maintenance points are easily accessed, and the unit has a remote dispenser on its main boom to deliver grease to hard-to-reach locations. Service intervals for engine oil and filters have been extended to 500 hours, and the radial-seal air filter system alerts the operator when restriction reaches a preset level. Both can be replaced without the use of tools.
