Case Study

Avon Earthworks in WA & his latest CAT 323 Next Gen Excavator

Anders McGuinness, owner and manager of Avon Earthworks in Western Australia shares his experience with his latest Cat® 323 Next Generation Excavator purchase.

“Over the last five years, the construction industry has been growing, our jobs have been getting bigger and machines needed to get bigger. When we were searching for a machine, we looked at every make and every model out there to see what would suit us best,” says McGuinness.

“When we talked to our dealer WesTrac, they showed us the 323 and with the technology in it, we just couldn’t go past it,” he says. “We weighed up every model but naturally we went with the 323 because it stood out amongst the rest.

“When we received the machine, I got it straight out in the paddock and working. Two hundred hours later, everyone pried me out of it and wanted to have a go at it themselves,” McGuinness says with a grin “We use this machine a lot more from start to finish now especially with the assist features and grading technology that’s in the machine. We can start the job and do the bulk excavation right down to the finish grade at the end. It just eliminates people, machines and excess time.

“The pre-starts in the morning are easier, you don’t even have to leave the ground.

You can just walk around and check the oil and coolant on each side and then start up the machine to warm it up. You’re straight into the day.

“All the controls are at your fingertips and you’ve got the touch screen that controls all the grade. You don’t have to get out of the machine to adjust anything. It’s just really easy and simple to work and operate,” he says. “The cab is amazing. You can sit in there for 12 hours a day and get out just as refreshed as when you go in.

“Safety is always an important factor and at the end of the day you want everyone to come home. There’s a great deal of visibility now. You can see a lot more compared to previous models and with the reverse cameras, you can always see what’s behind you fingertips and you’ve got the touch screen that controls all the grade. You don’t have to get out of the machine to adjust anything. It’s just really easy and simple to work and operate,” he says. “The cab is amazing. You can sit in there for 12 hours a day and get out just as refreshed as when you go in.

“The E-Fence that you can set around your machine makes it easier working on jobsites. When you’ve got power lines overhead, you’re able to set a ceiling.”

McGuinness closely monitors his owning and operating costs, and the 323 has proven to be a leader. “There’s a lot of makes, models and brands out there, but Caterpillar has always stood out for us. Everyone else seems to be using a Cat machine so we thought we’d jump onboard and join the club. At the end of the day, it really proves you get what you pay for.

The cost saving through the technology that it comes with and what it can provide you with, far outweighs the cost of purchasing the machine and I couldn’t be any happier with it and the support from WesTrac.”

“I love to see the look on the customer’s face when they’ve got a new machine and can do something today in half the time they could do it in yesterday. Also, especially when some of the problems they’ve had in the past have been solved with new technology,” says Mark Turkington, Construction Product Manager for WesTrac WA.

The Cat 323 delivers power, speed and high production performance. With more standard technology than previous models, the highest lift capacity in the line-up, plus reduced fuel and maintenance costs, the Cat 323 has all you need to take your business to the next level.

Standard Cat Connect Technology

Onboard Cat Connect Technology gives you the edge. Operators of all experience levels will dig, load and grade with more confidence, speed and accuracy. The result? Better productivity and lower costs.

Standard, Simple-To-Use Technologies Include:

Standard Cat Grade With 2D

Cat Grade with 2D helps operators reach grade faster. Operators cut and fill to exact specifications without overcutting. No grade checkers are needed so the work area is safer.

Standard Cat Payload

Cat Payload technology delivers precise load targets with on-the-go weighing, which helps prevent over/under-loading and maximises efficiency. Automated tracking helps manage production and lower cost.

Standard Cat Grade With Assist

Automated boom, stick and bucket movements deliver more accurate cuts with less effort. The operator simply sets the depth and slope into the monitor and activates single-lever digging.

Available Optional Upgrades

Cat Grade with Advanced 2D and Cat Grade with 3D increase productivity and expand grading capabilities. Grade with Advanced 2D adds in-field design capabilities through an additional 10-inch (254 mm) high-resolution touchscreen monitor. Grade with 3D adds GPS and GLONASS positioning for pinpoint accuracy.

[colored_box color=”yellow”]For more information visit https://www.cat.com/en_AU/ [/colored_box]

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