Don't have an account?Don't have an account?The North American Caterpillar is credited back in the 1920s and 1930s with the development and popularization of the colossus crowler dozer or bulldozer.This type of machineries is still popular and predominant until today.According to the consultancy, Off-Highway Research, between 2018 and 2019 the world market reached a maximum of about 25,000 annual sales of bulldozers, of which 45% were sold in North America.China is the second largest market in the world, demanding about half of US sales."Despite being a relatively large and attractive market, there are not many manufacturers of these machines in the world," says Chris Sleight, Director of Off Highway Research.Case, Caterpillar and John Deere stand out as producers with American roots.While the main European manufacturers are Liebherr and LiuGong (through the Polish company Dressta).For its part, in Asia, Komatsu is the only Japanese manufacturer, while "BEML's reach does not extend much beyond its local market in India," the analyst said.Several Chinese manufacturers have emerged in the last two decades in the field of bulldozers, especially Shantui.Mind you, most of them are low-volume producers.But without a doubt, Caterpillar is still a key manufacturer, so the news that they are launching a new product is significant.According to the American manufacturer, the new CAT D7 bulldozer, of 29.7 tons, comes to replace the D7E, offering a high-traction undercarriage design, greater performance and a wide variety of technological innovations that facilitate operation.Additionally, it will be available worldwide with a fully automatic 4-speed transmission, helping to optimize fuel and dozing.According to Jean-François Villard, Caterpillar Product Applications Specialist, there are two types of technologies that increase productivity: one helps the operator to be more efficient and another that automates the machine during operation.“For example, a support feature such as the sheet load monitor provides real-time feedback on the machine's dozing efficiency;the operator can see this in a cursor on the main screen.Another system is AutoCarry, which automatically manages the load without the operator needing to use the lever.3D guidance technology that uses the GPS system is also available”.It is for this and other reasons that the D7 is capable of moving up to 8% more material per hour than its predecessor D7E, considering that it has 6% more weight and 12% more power.The juggernaut's drag capacity was increased by 10%;while improvements to the track undercarriage offer better handling and balance, as well as increased breakout force.On the other hand, another new launch in this sector was recently announced.Dressta's Poles are in the launch phase of the company's new TD-15M series-2 bulldozer.The TD-15M is said to have been designed with operator comfort in mind with a quiet, comfortable cab and easy-to-operate controls, radically improved operator interface, new ergonomic joysticks for precise control, high-visibility LCD screen on the cabin and Bluetooth, among other accessories.Because visibility is so important, the cabin has 33% more glass than its predecessor, a hood that helps eliminate certain blind spots, plus a rear-view camera and additional lighting.In mechanical terms, it has a Cummins B6.7 turbo engine with 232 horsepower, which meets EPA Tier 4 / EU Stage V emission standards, depending on where the regulation is established.It is also available under EPA Tier 3 / EU Stage IIIA standards of other markets with Cummins QSC8.3 engine.With the option of two preset modes, Dressta say it's easy for the operator to save fuel and stay focused by reducing repetitive gear changes.The operator simply chooses the mode to match the task: mode one is for faster cycle times in tough dozing conditions, while mode two is said to be ideal for lighter jobs using second gear forward and back.The larger the machinery, the greater the material pushing potential and therefore there should be an increase in productivity.If a machine pushes tons of earth a day, an increase in productivity of just, say, 5% equates to a lot of earth.Jon Jennings, marketing manager for Komatsu America, told International Construction what customers want from the brand's bulldozers.“They are looking for a combination of more productivity, more material drag;efficiency and more material movement per gallon of fuel;as well as lower operating costs.And of course they also want their operators to feel comfortable.”“Our new D71 is an example of a bulldozer that meets all those demands.It is a medium size with enough power for larger jobs.It delivers precision on the jobsite, from golf course construction to highway projects, because it's all-in-one performance,” Jennings said.The D71 features intelligent control that gives contractors the potential to significantly improve productivity, especially with less experienced operators.In all aspects of the construction industry, technology can provide quantum leaps in efficiency and productivity, and bulldozers are a good example,” he said.From the Japanese they are proud of their intelligent control systems, because "our technology has definitely focused on the control of the machine for earth grading and finishing."Komatsu has been a leader in machine control, since we first introduced Intelligent Machine Control in 2013. I am proud to say that we have just released our Control 2.0 for the D71 and across our entire line of Hydrostatic Transmission (HST) dozers. ”, said the executive.The update to Intelligent Machinery Control, known as iMC, brings new features such as precise hoist control.There's also pitch steering control, which automatically adjusts the shovel angle during heavy dozing to stay on course.Proactive grading also stands out, allowing machine intelligence to anticipate the amount of work from topsoil removal to final ground leveling.“Our iMC 2.0 also includes Quick Surface Creation.That is, operators can create a temporary design surface of the job with the push of a button.Additionally, combined with other iMC 2.0 features, dozer crews can start the surface part of jobs, using the automated setup that was previously set up.”All levels of technology“As technology evolves at a rapid rate, it becomes more relevant in the construction industry and bulldozers are no exception.While the adoption of 3D control systems has been significant over the past five years, there is still a place for the technology to continue to simplify tasks in terms of equipment control,” said Matt Goedert, John Deere solutions marketing manager. Construction & Forestry.The executive highlights the automation and management systems that this type of equipment has developed, because there are tasks that do not only involve loading, unloading and directional movements.“In the last year at John Deere we launched Slope Control on 700L and 750L tracks and we will be expanding to smaller models in the near future.Grade control fills the need for a less complex technology that doesn't use a 3D model or an external reference like a base station or laser.”The John Deere grade control system has two modes of operation: one target character and one manipulable or joystick.Each mode allows for simplified operation in many applications;that is, if the machine is operating in difficult areas or without access to GPS, the system can still work.The pandemic has forced us to function and be efficient with scarce money and resources.It has been a challenge to reinvent many procedures and processes.Among them, for example, machines capable of performing multiple tasks are more valued than ever.“Customers often look for versatility in equipment that can do many things.They must be able to dig without losing the agility needed to finish slopes;that has a big impact on customers,” said Deere's Goedert.“This is especially true when looking at highway construction and large site development projects.A perfect example of this is the 950K Track with Power-Angle-Tilt (PAT) Blade.John Deere was the first manufacturer to offer a larger PAT dozer like the 950K that has the ability to bridge the gap between mass excavation and finishing work.The 950K fits so many different customer segments, providing the production capacity of a large bulldozer with the versatility of a small finisher.”Technology is playing a key role in making bulldozers more productive and, crucially, more versatile than ever.This segment of equipment may be more specific than others on the job site, but the ability to perform a greater variety of tasks with more precision than ever before should hold you in good stead in the marketplace.