Caterpillar Unveils Five Mini Hydraulic Excavators

Caterpillar unveiled five new mini hydraulic excavators, all of which will benefit from a new hydraulic system and will be produced at the company’s new Athens, Georgia facility.

The redesigned cab of the E2 series mini hydraulic excavators features a wider opening and a more ergonomic control layout.

The new E2 Series machines include the 303.5E2, 304E2, 305E2, 305.5E2 and 308E2. Each of the new machines will feature Cat’s new High Definition Hydraulic System which allows operators to be more precise through load sensing and flow sharing capabilities.

The new system also boosts efficiency through a simplified valve architecture which reduces heat and hydraulic instability.

Each of the new E2 models feature a redesigned cab with a wider opening, suspension seat, adjustable arm rests and a more ergonomic control layout. The machines also feature a new interlocking front window system and an update to the machine’s control interface.

Cat has also added its Smart engine technology to the 303.5E2′s 23.5-horsepower engine. Cat says the 303.5E2 is now 8 percent more fuel efficient and 7 percent more efficient than its E series predecessor.

The machines also feature a blade float function as well as automatic two-speed which allows the operator to place the machine into “high speed” without having to worry about manually kicking back down to low gear when turning, digging, or roading in tough conditions.

All E2 series models also feature Cat’s Complete Operation, Maintenance, Performance, and Security System (COMPASS) monitor for mini excavators. The monitor features an anti-theft system which requires a password to start a machine, an automatic idle control and an adjustable auxiliary-flow control for work tools.

Editor’s Note: Wayne Grayson is the online editor for sister magazine Equipment World.