First power train rebuild for Cat articulated truck in France
French company ECT (Enviro–Conseil–Travaux) have opted to take advantage of Caterpillar’s certified power train (CPT) rebuild service for two of their Cat 740 ejector articulated trucks. These are the first rebuilds worldwide for articulated trucks. Both were carried out by the Cat dealers Bergerat Monnoyeur.
Pascal Beslay, ECT Directeur d’Exploitation, explained the company’s choice of rebuilding over purchasing a new machine: ‘The Caterpillar CPT service offered by Bergerat Monnoyeur presented us with a more cost-effective option. It allows us to take advantage of a machine with a practically new engine, transmission and axles, and with external renovation, for around only 50 percent of the price of a new machine. That includes a three-year extended warranty on the complete power train. And we could also be certain that the experience and expertize of our Cat dealer’s technical staff would guarantee a first class renovation job.’
An initial study was undertaken to evaluate potential benefits, followed by detailed machine inspections and planning. Only then was the renovation process and thorough performance testing carried out. For each of the two machines, the total process – including dismantling renovation, painting and reassembly – took approximately 1,200h, and the two machines are now back at work.
ECT specialize in the storage of inert waste from building and civil engineering projects, and in its use for reclamating and restorating derelict land. Currently the company handles around seven million tonnes of material brought by contractors to 14 landfill sites in the Paris region and the south of France. These include two gypsum mines, where the mineral extracted is being replaced by waste material in order to stabilize the cavity and prevent collapse or subsidence. They were one of the first companies in Europe to buy 740 ejector articulated trucks in 2004.
Pascal Beslay said: ‘For us the 740 ejector is a perfect machine to match our application underground, where there are height, turning radius and visibility constraints. With its 38-tonne payload and long service intervals, the 740 ejector has proved to be just as productive for us underground as a normal 740 articulated truck would working on the surface. Using it, we can move up to 50,000 cubic metres of material per month working a single shift pattern.’
But even the toughest machines have limited lives, particularly when they work underground, subjected to high dust, vibration and shock. By 2009 it was evident that, with over 8,000 operating hours, ECT would soon have to consider replacing them.
ECT are a company whose primary concern is sustainability and whose whole business is related to conservation and restoration of the environment. It did not make sense, therefore, to scrap and replace a Cat machine when there is a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative available.
The Cat CPT programme comprises:
Pascal Beslay, ECT Directeur d’Exploitation, explained the company’s choice of rebuilding over purchasing a new machine: ‘The Caterpillar CPT service offered by Bergerat Monnoyeur presented us with a more cost-effective option. It allows us to take advantage of a machine with a practically new engine, transmission and axles, and with external renovation, for around only 50 percent of the price of a new machine. That includes a three-year extended warranty on the complete power train. And we could also be certain that the experience and expertize of our Cat dealer’s technical staff would guarantee a first class renovation job.’
An initial study was undertaken to evaluate potential benefits, followed by detailed machine inspections and planning. Only then was the renovation process and thorough performance testing carried out. For each of the two machines, the total process – including dismantling renovation, painting and reassembly – took approximately 1,200h, and the two machines are now back at work.
ECT specialize in the storage of inert waste from building and civil engineering projects, and in its use for reclamating and restorating derelict land. Currently the company handles around seven million tonnes of material brought by contractors to 14 landfill sites in the Paris region and the south of France. These include two gypsum mines, where the mineral extracted is being replaced by waste material in order to stabilize the cavity and prevent collapse or subsidence. They were one of the first companies in Europe to buy 740 ejector articulated trucks in 2004.
Pascal Beslay said: ‘For us the 740 ejector is a perfect machine to match our application underground, where there are height, turning radius and visibility constraints. With its 38-tonne payload and long service intervals, the 740 ejector has proved to be just as productive for us underground as a normal 740 articulated truck would working on the surface. Using it, we can move up to 50,000 cubic metres of material per month working a single shift pattern.’
But even the toughest machines have limited lives, particularly when they work underground, subjected to high dust, vibration and shock. By 2009 it was evident that, with over 8,000 operating hours, ECT would soon have to consider replacing them.
ECT are a company whose primary concern is sustainability and whose whole business is related to conservation and restoration of the environment. It did not make sense, therefore, to scrap and replace a Cat machine when there is a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative available.
The Cat CPT programme comprises:
- the restoration of the power train to like-new performance
- covers the radiator, engine, transmission, torque converter, final drive and axle
- approximately 200 tests and inspections of power train components
- replacement or reconditioning of approximately 3,000 parts, including power train electrical switches, sensors, sending units, electronic control modules, engine wiring harnesses, bearings, gaskets, seals and coolant hoses
- critical engineering improvements and updates
- extended power train coverage is available.
