Load and Haul Cat Product Specialist Noel Sabandal highlights the features of the Cat 988 XE Wheel Loader that help achieve greater productivity and profit margins.
Move more material in less time at a low cost per tonne with the Cat 988 XE wheel loader, resulting in greater productivity, fuel savings, and safety.
The electric-drive 988 XE is faster and more efficient than the powershift 988 in applications that demand high performance and production.
“Customers will be happy to know that the Cat 988 XE wheel loader is designed to operate on any job site,” Noel said.
Powered by a robust Cat C18 engine, the loader also comes with a Switched Reluctance (SR) generator and motor with solid-state, fully sealed, and liquid-cooled power inverter that has been proven to withstand harsh conditions.
Aside from a durable structure and powertrain, the model comes standard with an engine designed to be rebuilt to deliver more value from more than just one lifecycle.
“With a tried-and-tested SR electric drive system, customers can look forward to greater fuel savings,” Noel said.
“Additionally, at the job site, operators can choose to switch the operating mode to economy to intelligently adjust the engine’s RPM according to operating needs. This machine also comes with the engine idle shutdown feature to conserve more fuel while idle.”
Noel said a wheel loader that is equipped with an electric drive system helps customers benefit from more than just fuel savings.
“Thanks to its electric drive system, the Cat 988 XE wheel loader has fewer moving parts, which helps to reduce operating costs over the machine’s life,” he said.
As a fresh feature on this loader, the machine overload prevention system will let operators know when the target payload in the bucket has been exceeded.
Customers can also enjoy extended life for consumables as oil and fuel waste are reduced.
Within the cabin, there are also indicators that calculate the useful and remaining life of the engine oil and filters. These gauges alert the operator when servicing is required, which helps better in scheduling and managing downtime.
The Cat 988 XE wheel loader also boasts features that grant operators enhanced control over the machine. The wheel loader has Steering and Integrated Control (STIC™), which can maximise the responsiveness of the electric-hydraulic controls.
“When paired with the positive flow control hydraulic system, operators can enjoy a better bucket feel when the machine is in motion, boosting precision and productivity,” Noel said.
Aside from that, the Cat 988 XE allows new operators to leverage the suite of operator assist features.
“The standard tyre slip prevention feature utilises multiple sensor inputs from the machine to assist novice operators in eliminating tire slip on less-than-ideal surfaces,” he said.
“With tyre slip prevention, the 988 XE can enjoy reduced tyre wear and better traction to always get the job done”.
The operator assist mode also sees the auto set tyres feature built into the machine, which works hand-in-hand with the tire slip prevention system.
When the auto set tyre feature is engaged, pressure is added to the front axle to reduce tire slip and unnecessary wear.
The operator assist mode comes with a lift stall prevention function. With the operator assist feature present to support novice and experienced operators, the Cat 988 XE can help operators ensure consistency in productivity while reducing operating costs.
With optional operator coaching, operator efficiency and bucket fill factor can be increased. Operator assist features help optimise the dig portion of every cycle with improvements, all designed to help the operator excel.
“You can be assured that the Cat 988 XE wheel loader is built around safety for operators and workers on-site,” Noel said.
“Operators can enjoy better visibility from the cabin with larger window panels that give them a better view of the front tyres.
“In addition, the Cat 988 XE can be fitted with a rear object detection system, which will alarm the operator when an object is within the safety proximity zone, thus enhancing blind spot awareness and safety.”
There is an operator presence feature onboard, which will automatically engage the parking brakes if no operator is detected in the seat.
Visibility around the 988 XE at night will also be improved as LED lights will replace the halogen lights that were used on the previous model.
As an added safety feature, the information display will have a slope indication for enhanced machine safety as the pitch and roll of the machine will be shown to the operator in real-time.
To make fleet management a worry-free affair, the Cat 988 XE wheel loader will also come standard with VisionLink® technology onboard.
VisionLink allows end users to have an overview of all the machines within the fleet, granting visibility on the machines’ locations and recommending required preventive maintenance to reduce unwanted downtime.
It also provides in-depth insights on each machine to help customers identify productivity issues within the job site.
“Overall, the Cat 988 XE wheel loader can be described as a productivity-centered machine that delivers savings with every use,” Noel said.
“With a suite of industry-leading technology onboard delivering productivity, efficiency, and safety, it is safe to say that this machine is an investment that will be sure to pay massive returns.”