Caterpillar

In October of 2023, Caterpillar released the all-new, next-generation Cat 255 and

265 compact track loaders, both of which feature a ground-up redesign.

The Cat 255 and 265 are powered by a 74.3 hp engine and feature bigger cabs, lower engine mounting for improved visibility, easy entry and exit, stiffer undercarriage for greater stability and reduced pitching when the bucket is being filled with material, standard five-inch (127 mm) LCD monitor or eight-inch (203 mm) advanced touch-screen monitor, depending which technology package the customer choses.

Both CTLs are capable of using Cat Smart Attachments, including grader and dozer blades and backhoe, says Scott Britton, global attachments marketing manager for Caterpillar. Cat has been on a mission to expand the use of its smart technology in general. Earlier this year, the company introduced an external control kit that enables more existing Cat CTLs to be kitted out with smart grader blade capability.

“We have a smart backhoe. We have a smart grader blade—which is by far our most popular one. It’s very intuitive. And we have a smart dozer blade. We’ve got smart technology for our cold planers and wheel saws as well,” says Britton.

A new 3D GPS/GNSS grade control for smart dozer blades helps CTL operators precisely grade slopes, contours, planes, and complex curves, while providing blade horizontal positioning and vertical height guidance.

Smart blades aren’t the only hightech tool Cat has embraced; last year the company introduced a series of next generation mini-excavators fitted with a Tilt Rotate System (TRS). The company’s TRS4, TRS8 and updated TRS6 models are equipped with a TRS system that allow attached work tools to rotate 360 degrees.

The tools can also tilt 40 degrees sideto-side for additional functionality, allowing the mini-excavators to reach more areas on a worksite from the same position while easily maneuvering tools past obstructions during excavation work, grading ditches or placing pipes.

With TRS “you can be much more efficient,” notes Britton.

Volvo

Volvo Construction Equipment has released a new online tool designed to make it easier to configure purchases of electric compact excavators and wheel loaders.

Available via the Volvo CE website, the configurator tool, as the company calls it, provides consumers the ability to check out such options as cab versus canopy, and charger and attachment selections, on various models.

The tool is designed “to make [purchases] easier for people who don’t have experience” with compact electric machines, says Ashton. “I don’t foresee us actually rolling out to the diesel equivalents unless the demand changes a bit,” he adds.

While its focus is currently on making it easier to purchase from its electric lineup, the company continues to emphasize safety features in all of its construction equipment. These include relatively