Get Onboard with Some of Our Latest Technology

When you purchase a machine from Caterpillar, you're buying into an ethos built on years of expertise and an endless drive to be better. Today's Next Generation machines are a perfect example. 

A range of extraordinary machines packed with the kind of technology that makes doing your job easier, faster and cheaper. And yet, “A lot of other customers are simply not aware of all the technology options that we offer. Or aren't using them to their full extent,” says Rick Verstegen, System Application Specialist, Caterpillar. So, rather than explain the benefits himself, Rick reached out to a Cat® customer to share their experience.

Jimmick is an agricultural, construction and earthmoving contractor and third-generation, family-run business in the Netherlands that has been around for 80 years. Gerard Jimmink is the current owner, and Frank Zwaan is his right-hand man and lead project manager.

“I used to ride the Paris-Dakar Rally, and you can only ride it if you have good equipment. It is the same with my business operations. We only choose the best equipment, and Caterpillar makes reliable high-quality machines,” explains Gerard. 

“We also employ two guys who have done all the 3D technology courses. They have deep-dived into learning more and more, and now if other operators have questions about the technology, they ask them. Of course, our operators know how to operate machines, but the technology makes a difference.”

Take Grade with 3D, which adds GNSS technology and RTK positioning guidance to simplify the grading process of complex designs. Gerard is a huge fan, “This gives great returns and opportunities to your company. So much so that we now always run 3D because everything is right the first time. With only one pass needed. We don't need workers on the ground anymore.”

And then there's Payload which provides on-the-go weighing to help operators hit exact targets every time and avoid overloading, underloading, or misloading materials.

“Payload is fantastic! We also have tippers that can weigh. And if you have to move soil, then both the tipper and the excavator indicate the correct weight. So every day we know exactly what we've transported. This is important to us because we're paid per cubic meter we process,” Franks adds. “It's also an extra check. It means we never overload our trucks or get a fine.”

Finally, E-fence, which keeps the front linkage within a predefined work area to avoid hazards like traffic and uses data from position sensors to automatically stop motion when the front linkage reaches the defined boundaries, making sites safer. 

For Gerard, this is very important. “We work under power cables on several jobs right now. So, we always have our height restriction on. That's really great for safety. Actually, they should make this mandatory when you work under power cables.”

With testimonials like that, there's nothing more to say.