Connectivity, Technology and Innovation

Q: Why was the Global Aftermarket Solutions Division (GASD) created at Caterpillar?

A: GASD was formed in early 2016 to better serve our customers around the world. By bringing together all our aftermarket experts and regional teams into one organization, we can provide a more complete service to our customers and better understand and respond to their needs. We are represented by three dealers in Mexico: MATCO, with headquarters in Sonora; MADISA in Monterrey; and TRACSA in Guadalajara. My role is to promote sales and help deliver value to Caterpillar customers in Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic and Ecuador. We provide unparalleled support to our customers through our dealer network, which was built on worldwide standards of excellence and has been in place and growing for over 100 years. Our beliefs and behaviors are guided by a common set of core values: to bring our customers the right products, with the best level of service; to build longstanding relationships; and customer success. Our dealer network is our primary strength and no competitor can offer the same level of service to the Mexican market.

Q: How is Caterpillar incorporating new technology into its designs?

A: Technology has always been a key point of focus for Caterpillar and is a vital component of this new age of equipment operation. All of our aftermarket support team, including dealers and Caterpillar technicians, is equipped with the latest digital tools to help provide the best service to our customer right at the mine site. We are also incorporating automation technology and Equipment Management Solutions (EMS) into our machinery. Through our connectivity solutions, the machines are connected to the dealers’ remote systems via antenna and we can monitor the performance of their fleet on a constant basis. This allows us to service their fleet more proactively and prepare for service events before the customer may even be aware there is an issue. We put a lot of effort into researching ways to improve performance, durability and the safety components of our designs.

Q: Which of your designs are leading the way in terms of innovation in the mining industry?

A: Caterpillar is delivering the first 794AC Trucks in Mexico, a 320 ton-capacity electric off-highway truck. This incorporates safety, serviceability and performance, with state-of-the-art High Voltage Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (HV-IGBT) for maximum AC efficiency, among other technical benefits. We also have the new Hydraulic Mining Shovel 6090. This is known as the Ultra Class of hydraulic mining shovels and is the world’s largest shovel in this category. It offers a standard bucket of 52m3, available in diesel or electric drive.

Q: What is Caterpillar’s approach to sustainability?

A: Sustainable development for Caterpillar means leveraging technology and innovation to increase efficiency and productivity with less impact on the environment and helping our customers do the same. By providing products, services and solutions that use resources more efficiently, we enable our customers to become more productive and efficient. We begin with our own operations and continue all the way to our products operating in the field, to bring sustainable solutions to our customers. Our new generation engines impose limits on the quantity of diesel used and we are constantly seeking out new ways to limit the CO2 output of our designs by replacing diesel-powered trucks with electric trucks, for example.

We also support community programs and reforestation plans because we believe it is vital to close the gap between the mining companies and local communities. We offer extensive training programs to the operators and we support dealers and mining customers to develop and recruit local community members if possible. Through educating communities, we hope to change the global image of mining as an exploitative industry and I believe that major companies like Caterpillar can have a big part to play in this process.