Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.
Issue link: http://concrete.epubxp.com/i/442865
www.concreteproducts.com January 2015 • 73 INNOVATIONS REPORT TRUCKS technology and proven aftertreatment. A compacted graphite iron block reduces engine weight by as much as 200 lb. com- pared to standard iron. A single Electronic Control Module and streamlined electrical connections help reduce diagnostic and maintenance time, while a fluid-free head gasket eliminates the risk of coolant leak- ing into engine oil or exhaust gases enter- ing the cooling system. Performance-matched with the engine is the optional Cat CX31 Automatic Trans- mission. With six forward speeds and one reverse, it is built to complement CT Series engines' torque output. The CX31 features what company engineers note is the indus- try's highest power-to-weight ratio, full power shifting, and quick acceleration. Oth- er options for the CT681 include a variety of manual transmissions and the Eaton Ultra- shift Plus. Standard on the CT681 is Product Link, a proprietary Cat telematics system that collects data from on-board systems and transmits it via satellite and cellular net- works to a secure Internet site. Using Prod- uct Link and its easy-to-use web interface, VisionLink, truck owners and fleet manag- ers can access accurate, timely data about how, when and where trucks are being used. Like the CT660, the new model is backed by bumper-to-bumper service at 400-plus Cat dealer locations with over 2,300 service bays in North America. — www.drivecat.com Global On-Highway Truck Product Manag- er Dave Schmitz is no stranger to concrete, growing up in a family with deep ties to the Milwaukee ready mixed market. The truck's 114-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab pro- vides more room and fexibility to install bodies behind the cab, and an optional Front Frame Ex- tension. Mixer installation is also simple, thanks to vertical tie-in plates mounted behind the cab. Under the hood, the CT681 is powered by a Cat CT Series Vocational Truck Engine with horsepower rat- ings from 365 to 430 and peak torque ratings from 1,250 to 1,550 lb.-ft. Caterpillar has equipped the power package with Selective Catalytic Reduction solution for diesel emissions treatment. Multiple transmission options are available, including the Cat CX31 Automatic Transmission—a reliable per- former in global vocational applications since 2004.