The wheeled loader is the latest addition in a series of new Caterpillar assets added to Hanson’s fleet as part of a 31-machine deal struck in 2018. The machine will be in operation at Hingston Down Quarry in the county of Cornwall, southwest England.
The Cat 986K combines reliable, efficient loading with machine longevity, providing lower cost of ownership. Performance is optimised thanks to the power shift transmission, torque converter with lock-up clutch and axle shaft disc brakes.
Hanson’s loader is equipped with VisionLink which offers insight into the health, location and productivity of the machine, helping to increase productivity, control costs, improve operator performance and ensure safety on site. Cat Connect PAYLOAD technologies such as Cat Production Measurement provide on-the-go load weighing to assist operators with achieving precise targets every time, further optimising efficiency and increasing jobsite productivity.
The Cat 986K also boasts a redesigned state-of-the-art operator cab featuring STIC steering. STIC steer combines directional selection, gear selection and steering into a single joystick and Cat says the system requires less operator energy output compared to steering wheel-based control and thus reduces operator fatigue.
The cab also is equipped with a touchscreen display, improved access/egress and better cab visibility. Serviceability is improved with ground-level or platform access and grouped service points, and a suite of performance series buckets are available, too.
Sizing was an important determining factor in Hanson’s selection of the machine, explained Dave Jenkins, unit manager at Hanson UK. The 986K is larger than a 982M but more compact than a new Cat 988K. The recent reintroduction of the Cat 988K range saw machines larger than their predecessors, and so the Cat 986K was launched as a size replacement for the original Cat 988G.
The machine will be maintained through a customer service agreement whereby the Cat dealer Finning also provides technical support through its Finsight condition monitoring team, supplying Hanson with data on machine health. This data will provide accurate information to organise preventative maintenance operations, as well as information on uptime and machine productivity.
“This machine is matched perfectly with our face fleet, which includes a Cat 772G,” said Jenkins. “We have been operating our current Cat 988G face-loading shovel since its arrival in 2005 and it’s still running on its original powertrain.”
