Industrial Engine

2008 Caterpillar

Power

rePort

Vol.

10 3
CoVer StorY

No.

Page 2:

bad boY relieS oN Cat C1.1 aNd C1.6 eNgiNeS to Power PoPular dieSel mower SerieS

dieSel mowerS with aN

In thIs Issue

Weir Minerals Multiflo pumps dewater open-cut mines all around the world with the help of Cat engines.

oem Spotlight:

oem Solutions:

Vermeer Manufacturing turns to OEM Solutions and Cat engines in its chipper/grinder line.

oem Spotlight:

Global container terminal operations rely on Noell Straddle Carriers, powered by Cat C13 ACERT.

10 Product Support:

Vermeer Northeast provides single-source service to customers through the Caterpillar Industrial Service Distributor program.

Published on behalf of Caterpillar Inc. and your Caterpillar Dealer by Cygnus Business Media Inc., P.O. Box 803, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0803. Fall 2008, Vol. 10, No. 3. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, ACERT, "Caterpillar Yellow" and the Power Edge trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. Form Number: LEDH8971-00

oem SPotlight

bad boY relieS oN Cat C1.1 aNd C1.6 eNgiNeS to Power PoPular dieSel mower SerieS.

dieSel mowerS with aN

n 1998, Robert Foster, Phil Pulley and Chuck Callwell set out to build design engineer) worked with their research team with one goal in mind: to develop the strongest, most durable zeroturn mower on the market, and to deliver excellent quality of cut, reliability, productivity and comfort. Bad Boy Mowers have earned the reputation in the industry as a mower with an attitude. Each mower is constructed with a 1/4-in. steel deck, patented swing-away design for easy maintenance, heavy-duty hydraulic systems, comfortable EZ-Ride system and more engine power. With a steel chassis [made from four, 11-gauge, 2-in. by 2-in. steel rails] as strong as ours, we are able to offer a high-horsepower C1.6 diesel engine, says Foster.

a no-nonsense, heavy-duty mower at a competitive price. Frustrated with the fragility and performance of two different zeroturn mowers he owned, Foster turned to his business partner, Pulley, and they worked to make a different kind of mower. When an associate stepped off the first of these mowers, he declared, Thats a Bad Boy. The busines was born and the name stuck. In a short 10 years, Bad Boy Mowers has grown from a one-room garage (where that first mower was built) to a sophisticated 300,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility with 200 employees. Bad Boy Mowers are now manufac-

the Cat Power PreFereNCe

Bad Boy manufactures both gasoline and

tured, assembled and stored in Batesville, Ark., and are sold in more than 1,000 retail outlets across the nation.

built For the tough JobS

We wanted to build the heaviest, fastest mower on the planet, explains Bad Boy co-owner Robert Foster. Our goal is to be known as the Harley Davidson of mowers. Foster, Pulley and Callwell (Bad Boy

For just about a year, Toby Keith has been the face of Bad Boy Mowers. The country music star can be seen on the companys home page at www.badboymowers.com and throughout the companys website. Not only is Keith an endorser of the company, hes also an owner of a Bad Boy Mower.

tobY Keith iS the FaCe oF bad boY mowerS

diesel-powered mowers for industrial/commercial markets. The diesel line, called the AOSD Diesel Series, is powered exclusively by Cat C1.1 and C1.6 industrial engines. We started our business with gasoline-powered mowers, but the market soon demanded we make a diesel-powered mower, recalls Foster. I knew from the start that if we built our mowers with a Cat engine, we would have a leg up on everyone. After all, if were building the best

www.badboymowers.com

2 IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

mower, we want to put the best engine on it. The 3-cylinder Cat C1.1 operates at 3,400 rpm in the Bad Boy Model 6000 AOSD (60-in. deck) and Model 7200 AOSD (72-in. deck). Both mower models are also offered with a 4-cylinder Cat C1.6 that operates at 3,000 rpm. We tested several different engines for our diesel mowers and chose Cat engines because not only do they match our horsepower and torque requirements, but they are also designed for the turf market, Foster explains. Caterpillar took the time to design a lighter weight engine specifically for our market. They removed the weight from the block lighter mowers are important because they dont crush the grass. The local Cat dealer, Holt Power Systems in Irving, Texas, has been a huge plus, notes Foster. Holt and Paul Cosper, Industrial and Petroleum sales manager, have been an unbelievable help to us before, during and after the development of our diesel line, says Foster. Our dealer is a true one-stop shop and they have helped us get in touch with suppliers that fit best with our engine, he notes. Holt Power Systems has been an integral part of our design team, and I think that because they have been so involved we have been able to prevent problems with our mowers. We really dont have issues with our engines, he adds. Anybody that deals with Caterpillar will always deal with them, he stresses. in this town, Foster adds. We are fortunate to have a large market of talented professionals to choose from. We realize our employees make our company and Bad Boy wouldnt exist without our team, which is what we prefer to call our employees.

willie NelSoN Video FeatureS a-liSt CelebS aNd bad boY mowerS
Bad Boy high-performance, zero-turn riding mowers play a major role in the Willie Nelson music video, You Dont Think Im Funny Any More. The mowers featured in the video are Bad Boy Model 6000 AOSD Diesel mowers powered by a 28-hp, 3-cylinder Cat 1.1 engine. The association between Nelson and Bad Boy Mowers came about quite simply. Nelson says, When I received my first Bad Boy mower, I immediately fell in love with this product and wanted to meet the folks from Arkansas that make these things. You cant believe how much fun they are to ride. Soon after meeting them, a friendship formed that led to Willies video idea. The video is set in Luck, Texas, a small Western town that Nelson built around his ranch for the 1975 blockbuster, Red Headed Stranger. Along with Nelson, the video features such A-Listers as Jessica Simpson, Woody Harrelson, Owen and Luke Wilson, country music legend Ray Price and former CBS news anchor Dan Rather. In the video Willie wagers his star-studded pals $10,000 that Jessica Simpson could win a mower race against the men. The video premiered worldwide in late February. MTVs Johnny Knoxville hosted a special 30-minute behind-the-scenes making of the music video that culminated with the premier of You Dont Think Im Funny Any More.

if we are building the best mower, we want to put the best engine in it.
robert Foster, bad boy inc.

maNuFaCturiNg StreNgth
We do things differently here, explains Foster. We are very modern for such a small company. Bad Boys state-of-the-art manufacturing facility utilizes three TRUMPF lasers and five integrated robot welders with automation technology, as well as a completely automated paint booth system. The Batesville area also sports a top-notch racing school, welding school and airplane/ jet maintenance school. There is a lot of talent

double-digit growth
When asked what the future holds for his business, Foster states simply, Were going to continue to do what weve always done. Well just expand into areas that we arent already in. Those areas include overseas markets. Bad Boy currently distributes its mowers overseas via a dealer network. (The company has a dealer network in the United States as well.)

Responding to rising fuel costs, Foster explains that it has had less effect on his companys diesel line. Our diesel mowers get 30% better fuel economy than our gasoline-powered mowers, he concludes. And since they are fueled with off-road diesel fuel, our diesel line is growing rapidly.

IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

oem SPotlight

global miNe dewateriNg

From water to Silt or SlurrY, weir miNeralS multiFlo PumPS dewater oPeN-Cut miNeS arouNd the world with the helP oF Cat eNgiNeS.

hether in the jungles of Kalimantan-Borneo, Indonesia

We provide our customers with a customized solution for specialized opencut mining applications, says Peter Smit, general manager of sales

and Papua New Guinea, or

on the snow-covered mountains of western Iran, Multiflo pumps can be found removing water, silt and slurry containing small rocks from open-cut mines. Australian-based Weir Minerals Multiflo (Weir Minerals is a division of The Weir Group PLC) provides mine dewatering solutions, including both skid- and pontoon-mounted pump units, underground pumping systems and machinery fuel filling control systems, to open-cut mines all around the world. The company also provides solutions closer to home in areas like Central Queensland and the Pilbara. Weir Minerals Multiflo is headquar-

and engineering at Weir Minerals Multiflo. He explains: In an open-cut mine environment, pumps are often towed around the site for kilometers on end by dozers [typically Caterpillar] or pushed around by excavators [typically Caterpillar]. The pumps may even operate near or in the firing line of the blasts so our mine dewatering pumps require a heavy-duty construction to survive in the mining environment.

tered in the city of Caloundra, which is located in the Australian state of Queensland. Aptly named the Sunshine Coast due to the extended periods of clear blue sky, the region stretches for more than 50 kilometers from Caloundra in the South to Noosa in the North.

built JuSt For miNiNg

Multiflo pumps are built specifically for the open-cut mining environment, both in their construction and their operation. Unlike clean-water pumps, Multiflo pumps are capable of pumping water, slurry and even small 2-in. rocks against high-head situations out of the bottom

dewateriNg SolutioNS
Wherever coal and minerals are mined, washed or treated, Multiflo pumps are at the heart of the process.

4 IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

Multiflo pumps can be trailer,- skid- or pontoon-mounted like the main and lower photos or stationary like the MF-420 (far left lower photo).

servicing pumps or engines they just want to mine. They choose our pumps because they can rely on them, put them in the bottom of the pit, turn them on and know the pumps will remove the water. In addition to the Caterpillar brand of engine, the most common fuel choice for Multiflo pumps is diesel. Diesel engines allow us to vary the speed of our pumps to match the pumping duty required, says Smit. We run from idle all the way up to maximum rpm day in and day out, pumping water, silt and slurry. Many open-cut mining applications operating at depths less than 100 meters usually requires one pump to deliver the water to the top of the pit. However, for deeper mines (one in Indonesia will eventually reach 1,000 meters in depth), Weir Minerals offers pumping solutions with multiple pumps in series. of open-cut mines. The Multiflo line of dieselpowered vacuum-primed pumps range from a minimum flow of 475 gpm (30 l/s) to 4,755 gpm (300 l/s), and are customized from nine different base models. In open-cut mining, Smit explains, water collects at the bottom in catchall areas. It doesnt matter if its rainwater or groundwater seeping through the side of the pit; the water, silt and slurry must be removed for successful mining. Dewatering is a continuous process which makes a reliable power source a critical component in any mining dewatering pump. customers who tell us which model of engine to put in the pump, says Smit. Most customers prefer Caterpillar engines. They are already familiar with Caterpillar equipment because thats what they are using at the mine site. A Cat engine is a natural choice. For those customers that dont have an engine preference, Weir Minerals Multiflo usually recommends Cat diesel power. Smit explains: We select Cat engines because they are reliable, our customers are familiar with the Cat brand, and we know that we/our customers will receive fast, efficient service from the worldwide network of Cat dealers. We were acquired about a year ago by The Weir Group PLC, which launched us into the global market, explains Smit. We rely on Cat dealers around the world to support the engines we choose for our pumps. Its been a win/win relationship for us and our customers. Our customers know that wherever they are, they can call on their Cat dealer for service, he adds. These guys arent interested in
IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

Were very much about offering complete dewatering solutions, Smit adds. We listen to our customers and develop a comprehensive dewatering solution to fit their specific needs.

the Future iS Cat Power

Weir Minerals plans to continue purchasing and installing Caterpillar engines in its Multiflo pumps. The company also plans to continue delivering those pumps to customers all across the globe. In addition to its Australian headquarters, the company also operates an Indonesian branch in Balikpapan. A recent order from an Indonesian-based mining company calls for eight Multiflo 420E pumps (a new model) powered by Cat C27 ACERT. We expect to use at least 30 more Cat C27 ACERT engines in 2009, Smit concludes. We also plan to continue using all the other Cat engines we currently use.

the Cat braNd iS Familiar

Weve been using Caterpillar engines in our dewatering pump solutions for about 30 years, says Smit. More than 85% of our pump units are fitted with Cat engines. The Cat engines in Multiflo pumps range in size from a Cat C2.2 to a Cat C27 ACERT. Because we build customized pumping solutions for most of our customers, its our

oem SolutioNS

FiNd a Need

F
F

oem SolutioNS ProVideS ComPreheNSiVe, iNtegrated SYStemS SolutioNS For oemS iNCludiNg Vermeer maNuFaCturiNg.
ind a need. Fill that need with a product built to last. And simply build the best! This quote from Gary Vermeer, founder the Caterpillar OEM Solutions Group. Our ties with the Caterpillar OEM Solutions Group mostly involve the purchase of Cat industrial engines, but we also purchase Caterpillar track chain for our trenchers, a complete Cat 304 lower undercarriage for our BC1400TX grinder, as well as numerous other design components, says Byram. engine program. Their involvement ranges from design through the installation testing process and review, explains Byram.Our relationship also goes beyond the components and systems we purchase from Caterpillar. Weve gone to Ziegler several times for their design expertise for our undercarriages. We provide input on application speeds, weights and other technical requirements, and they help us determine the best undercarriages for our applications. He adds,As emissions standards change and tighten in the future with the upcoming Tier IV regulations, were already working with Cat and Ziegler to better understand what this will mean for the engines and our machines. Our relationship with Ziegler Cat is a good one; the people there have always been a good source for information and service.

aNd Fill
loNg-term relatioNShiP
The relationship between Caterpillar and Vermeer began more than 20 years ago and continues to remain strong today. Ziegler Power Systems, the local Cat dealer, has been an integral player in the engine installation and design of Vermeer equipment with Cat engines and components. Ziegler Cat has been very involved with our

it

of Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella, Iowa, describes not only how this well-known OEM works with its worldwide customers, but also how it works with its suppliers. Based on this philosophy,Vermeer provides equipment through an independent, authorized dealer network offering sales, support, service and parts, explains Mike Byram, senior director of Vermeers Environmental Business segment.The company is committed to its vision of taking care of customers worldwide with better solutions and with the help of quality suppliers. One of those suppliers is Caterpillar and

6 IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

OEM SOLUTIONS: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

As a supplier to a variety of different OEM customers, Caterpillar OEM Solutions Group provides excellent support capabilities worldwide, competitive price levels, extensive technical and engineering services, direct factory contact and support, flexible developmental schedules and warranty coverage equal with others who market to OEMs. Within numerous key business segments, Caterpillar OEM solutions range from com-

left: the BC1400tX brush chipper uses a Cat 3054 engine and a complete Cat 304 lower undercarriage. above: the tg9000 tub grinder is powered by a Cat C27 aCErt engine for large-scale wood waste recycling applications.

Vermeer track trenchers rely on Caterpillar components. They use Cat D6 through D8 chain on the track trencher line as digging chain and D8 chain on its undercarriage. Vermeer SC602 and SC60TX stump grinders use 60-hp Cat 3024 engines (transitioning to Cat C2.2 engines). The Vermeer BC1400TX brush chipper uses 122-hp Cat 3054 engines (transitioning to Cat C3.4 engines) and a complete Cat 304 lower undercarriage. The flexible Cat track undercarriage allows operators to steer the mid-sized chipper through areas where a tow vehicle may not be able to maneuver due to uneven terrain, confined working areas or forestry applications, explains Byram. The track design also offers lower ground pressure over a trailered machine, helping to reduce ground disturbance.

plete systems to high-quality components. For example: Simple systems provide fit and compatibility by integrating Cat components that match a specific application. Multiple integrated subsystems deliver appropriate connectivity between mechanical, electronic and hydraulic systems as well as fit and compatibility. Complex drive trains or machines requiring total connectivity consolidate suppliers and maximize the products life cycle value. OEMs worldwide are relying on the Caterpillar OEM Solutions Group to easily integrate systems and components like these into their products: Axles Transmissions Excavator Lowers Gears Partial Wheel and Track Vehicles Duo-Cone Seals Oil coolers Hydraulic Systems including hydraulic hose, pumps, cylinders and controls Electronics & Electrical Systems Additionally, design and engineering services available through the renowned Caterpillar research and development center are marketed through OEM Solutions Group. From a blank sheet to a complete product, Caterpillar OEM Solutions Group is an integrator and problem solver. OEM Solutions Group is dedicated to providing superior products that meet the needs of OEM manufacturers while maintaining Caterpillar high quality standards.

Cat eNgiNe SolutioNS

Cat engines are the exclusive power option for all Vermeer equipment applications above 300 horsepower. The global presence and popularity of Cat engines in industrial settings led our company to select Cat engines for our equipment requiring 300 hp or more, Byram says.Customers want a commonality of engines with their other equipment. Cat engines are definitely their preference. Weve used other brands years ago, but now weve decided to stay with Cat engines as a response to customer input. Current models using Cat engines include the C13 ACERT (440 hp) and C15 ACERT (540 hp) in tub grinders and the C18 ACERT (630 hp) in horizontal grinders. We provide Cat engines to Vermeer for a variety of applications and today Cat engines power 20 Vermeer products, Ralph Dupslaff, sales engineer at Ziegler Cats Power Systems division. On the small end of the spectrum are stump cutters currently using the 3024 engine and transitioning to the C2.2 model. On the larger end of the Vermeer recycling product range is the 3412 engine, which is being transitioned to the 1,050-hp C27 ACERT model.

arouNd-the-world SerViCe
Vermeer plans to continue its total solutions approach in the future. Byram notes that international sales are up substantially, and theyre projected to grow, with Cat engines being the primary engine in new models built for the international market. The worldwide Cat service network makes them an obvious choice for equipment distributed around the world, he says. Byram concludes,Vermeer has some exciting products coming, and we are relying on Cat integrated systems and Cat engines as our power plant choice for these products. Just as ACERT engines are a long-term solution for meeting emissions technology, our new Vermeer machines will continue to offer our customers innovative solutions with equipment that lasts.

Cat oem SolutioNS

To date, Vermeer purchases not only Cat engines but also Cat undercarriage components, digger chain, seals and other design components.

IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

oem SPotlight

CarrYiNg ValueS
global CoNtaiNer termiNal oPeratioNS relY oN Noell Straddle CarrierS, Powered bY Cat C13 aCert.

ontainer handling can be a tough business. Operational demands at worldwide ports

and terminals grow stronger every day, generating more and more pressure on manufacturers to provide reliable and superior equipment on a 24/7 basis. Like any company, container terminal operations strive for the lowest operational costs. This can be achieved by minimizing the number of moving and serviceable parts, as well as introducing intelligent power management. Noell Mobile Systems GmbH provides transport and lifting equipment solutions to help terminal operations achieve the desired low operational costs.

CuStomiZed SolutioNS
Noell Mobile Systems was founded in 1824 in Wuerzburg, Germany, as a forge and foundry works company, specializing in mail coaches, freight wagons and transport cranes. Almost two centuries later, Noell is a market leader in the delivery and service of straddle carriers for container handling. Straddle carriers carry one or two containers, with a load up to 60 tons. They are used in container terminals all over the world to transport and stack ingoing and outgoing containers in fleets up to 250 units.

8 IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

The NSC E Straddle Carriers robotically precise operation is achieved by its 4-quadrant aC drive and hoist system, which is powered by a Cat C13 ACERT.

Forty years after the first straddle carrier was built, Noell is now delivering its 2000th straddle carrier. Our customers are global container terminals, such as Hamburg, Antwerp and Rotterdam in Europe; Melbourne and Auckland in Australia and New Zealand; as well as Norfolk, Newark and Tacoma in the USA, explains Gerold Keune, managing director for Noell Mobile Systems. The worldwide nature of our business requires us to look for suppliers that can service our customers global needs. This challenge is transferred to the Caterpillar service organization.

this nsC 634 E straddle Carrier, powered by a Cat C13 ACERT, is one of 33 diesel-electric straddle carriers to be delivered to the Virginia Port authority.

Emission standards, as well as all other environmental aspects like fuel consumption, are becoming more of a crucial criterion for terminal operators, explains Hubert Foltys, director product management for Noell. Port equipment like straddle carriers have to match the highest requirements and standards, which also have to be fulfilled by the engine supplier like Caterpillar, he adds. We are currently in the process of preparing ourselves for upcoming emission levels, which involves a To date, approximately 750 Noell Straddle Carriers equipped with Caterpillar engines are operating in terminal operations around the world. Earlier this year, the Virginia Port Authority signed a contract for the delivery of 33 diesel-electric NSC 634 E Straddle Carriers powered by Cat C13 ACERT. This has been the single largest contract signed by Noell Mobile Systems. As an innovative company and technical market leader for straddle carriers, whatever components we include in our machines have to be top quality, confirms Foltys. Cat engines can power through the tough demands placed on our straddle carriers, which can include 6,000 to 7,000 hours of operation per year. thorough analysis of the solutions provided by various engine manufacturers, including Caterpillar, Foltys says.

global iN Nature
We have been relying on Cat engines to power our straddle carriers since 2003, explains Hubert Foltys, director product management for Noell. Due to our standardization practices, Caterpillar is the only engine brand we have used lately in all our diesel-electric and dieselhydraulic driven straddle carriers. By utilizing this standardization strategy, rather than installing a variety of engine brands following customers preferences, we ensure that we provide only proven systems to the market. Cat C13 ACERT engines are the power of choice in Noell NSC E (diesel electric) and NSC H (hydrostatic) straddle carriers. The engine provides 475 hp (354 kW) at 2,100 rpm for a maximum traveling speed of 30 km/h; a maximum hoisting speed of 24 miles per minute and a maximum lifting capacity of 60 tons. Depending on the type of straddle carrier, the engine is connected either to a group of hydraulic pumps or to an AC generator, transforming the combustion power of the engine either into hydraulic or electric energy. The Cat engine is the core of our machines, providing the power required to pick, lift, transport and place heavy ISO containers in ports, says Foltys.

Cat C13 ACERT

reliabilitY iS No. 1
Besides the emission standards, of course, the most important factors for our straddle carriers are performance, efficiency and reliability, stresses Kuene. With regard to main components like the engine, Noell only involves renowned, highly qualified and reliable companies, says Foltys. Caterpillar underwent a comprehensive technical assessment process prior to being included into Noells vendor list. It is the goal of our company to build long-term partnerships with its suppliers and to further improve and develop the machines together. We have received good and professional support during the process of integrating the first Cat engine into our machines, which made us feel confident to purchase engines from Caterpillar. We view Caterpillar as more of a partner than a supplier, and that is the basis of our considerations for the future. Bearing in mind, this partnership includes a mutual development process from technical, commercial and service aspects, Keune concludes.

the emiSSioNS FaCtor

The first Cat engines installed on Noell straddle carriers were Cat C-12 engines. Since 2005 the company has been using Cat C13 ACERT to fulfill higher emission standards. Our machines are also optionally equipped with additional soot particle filters to further purify exhaust gases, says Foltys. For the majority of our machines, we also enclose the engine in a soundproof cover to reduce noise emissions.

IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

ProduCt SuPPort

the StreNgth oF a Cat iSd

Vermeer NortheaSt ProVideS SiNgle-SourCe SerViCe to CuStomerS through the CaterPillar iNduStrial SerViCe diStributor Program.
ermeer Northeast is a full-service equipment dealer for Vermeer (Authorized Marine Dealers). Caterpillar marine and on-highway markets have a similar program of an extended network of Cat dealers called TEPS. Vermeer started as a Level 1 dealer and really liked the program. They have since been promoted to a Level 2 dealer, which allows them to work on the Cat engine electronics and fuel systems they are authorized for, Patch adds. With three locations in Albany, N.Y., Hopkinton, Mass. and Seymour, Conn., Vermeer Northeast provides service to customers in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Covering such a vast territory, Vermeer Northeast has seen a lot of benefits by becoming a Caterpillar ISD. Before we became an ISD, the largest customer satisfaction issue we heard was about engine warranty, explains Bill King, general manager for Vermeer Northeast. Our customers didnt understand why, if they had an engine issue [which didnt happen often], they had to bring their machine to a Cat dealer for service when they purchased the machine from us. Now that we are an ISD, our customers can simply bring their machine to us for warranty maintenance service of the Cat engine as well as the Vermeer machine, confirms Pat Atwood, Vermeer Northeast product support manager.We are our customers one-stop service shop. Tom Gill, service manager for Vermeer

Corporation, the leading agricul-

tural, construction, environmental and industrial equipment manufacturing company headquartered in Pella, Iowa. Vermeer Northeast, located in Albany, N.Y., is also a Level 2 Caterpillar Industrial Service Distributor (ISD). What does this mean for Vermeer Northeast customers? It means that these customers will now have every component of their Vermeer machine, including the Cat engine, maintained and serviced by a single source Vermeer Northeast. As part of the new Caterpillar ISD program, Vermeer Northeast is staffed with specially trained technicians and stocked with an inventory of Caterpillar

parts to provide timely, quality service for their customers entire machines.

Pilot Program ProVeN

Vermeer Northeast is one of the first dealers to participate in the Caterpillar ISD pilot program last year, explains Lucas Patch, ISD manager for Milton CAT. Each Cat dealer is responsible for training ISDs in their territory. Patchs job focuses strictly on working with industrial ISDs and marine AMDs

the sC602 stump grinder relies on a Cat 3024 engine.

10

IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

Northeasts Hopkinton location, speaks for the dealerships service staff when he states,We can offer more well-rounded service to customers now that we are a Cat ISD. Our service technicians can not only spot an engine issue, but they can service it too. All ISDs including Vermeer Northeast are thoroughly trained to the level of ISD service they provide. As a Level 2 Full Maintenance Service dealer, Vermeer Northeast is authorized to perform basic maintenance service plus diagnosis, inspection service and certain warranty and repair work (see sidebar at right).

support; faster, more responsive service; and improved productivity due to reduced downtime. Being an ISD puts us in control of the service so we can manage downtime, explains King. When we have questions, we simply call Milton CAT and they guide us through repairs.

GROWTH IN THE CAT ISD PROGRAM

Since its launch in the industrial market last year, the Industrial Service Distributor (ISD) program has been growing at a rapid pace. As of this writing, there are now 100 ISD locations working in partnership with 30 Caterpillar dealers in North America (see map above). The ISD program is an extended network of support specialists authorized to service a wide range of Cat industrial engine models. The program offers the customer a one-stop shop for both Cat engine and OEM equipment, and consists of three levels of service capability: Level 1 Basic Maintenance Service. These ISDs have the ability to change oil, filters, belts, coolant and perform other basic maintenance as required by the Cat Maintenance Guide. They can perform warranty and minor repairs and replacement of peripheral components and rotating electronics and water pump with standard tooling as well as market selected Cat parts over a parts counter. Level 2 Full Maintenance Service. These ISDs are authorized to perform basic maintenance service plus electronic diagnosis capability, inspection service and certain warranty and repair work on peripheral parts and noncore components. They will utilize some specialized tooling, as well as market a larger selection of Cat parts over a parts counter. Level 3 Full Service. These ISDs are authorized to perform complete engine repair and overhaul service and warranty work as specified in the Cat Service Warranty Guide with specialized tooling. They will also market a larger selection of Cat parts over a parts counter.

a StreamliNed ProCeSS
As engine equipment becomes more sophisticated, the integration of the operation of the machine and the engine becomes more critical, explains King. Before the ISD program, we didnt have the proper background on engine performance to troubleshoot properly, says Gill. The ISD program has provided us with the knowledge and tools to properly diagnose, and service, Cat engines. The process is much more seamless when the technician working on a Vermeer machine powered by a Cat engine has been trained by both Vermeer and Caterpillar. As a Vermeer dealer, Vermeer Northeast sells the equipment specified by Vermeer. We would love it if all Vermeer equipment were powered by Cat engines, concludes King. We would also prefer if all engine manufacturers had a program like the Caterpillar ISD program. Its been tremendous for us and keeps our customers very happy.

a oNe-StoP SerViCe ShoP

The ISD program allows Vermeers customers to have their entire machine serviced at Vermeers shop, explains Patch. This keeps the customer from having to make two separate trips, one to a Milton CAT shop for engine service and another trip to a Vermeer shop for machine service. The benefits to a customer are numerous: the convenience of a local, single-stop

IndustrIal EngInE PowEr rEPort Fall 2008

11

THIS IS OUR TURF.

Cat Diesel Engines the Natural Choice.

For fuel efciency and biodiesel exibility, Cat engines are the natural choice for your turf and landscape equipment. Backed by the most responsive global support network in the world, Caterpillar approved engines deliver outstanding performance and reliability. Learn more about how Cat diesel power can help lower your cost of ownership. Call your Cat dealer or visit www.cat-industrial.com today.

C1.1

C1.5

C2.2

2008 Caterpillar. All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, Caterpillar Yellow and the POWER EDGE trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

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