Bloomfield Uses Cat Reman to Help Its Mine Run 24/7

The Proof is in Cat Reman Parts

The Bloomfield team knows that Cat machines, from trucks to graders to dozers, have parts that are designed to work together and wear as a system. This system design helps Bloomfield plan for maintenance, limit downtime and save on future repairs, replacements and rebuilds.

So, with all the parts options at their disposal, why does Bloomfield often choose Cat Reman? Well, Caterpillar remanufactures Cat Reman engines, parts, components and kits to perform like new –– and each of the 8,000+ remanufactured products in the Cat Reman line is available for a fraction of the cost of new when customers like Bloomfield return end-of-life parts (also known as “core”).

By purchasing remanufactured parts and returning core, Bloomfield supports a circular economy. Newsome says: “We know that by using Cat Reman, that iron is going to be in a circular economy where it's being reused … and we're getting the benefit with a like new product each and every time.”

Serving as affordable, high-quality repair options, Cat Reman products are drop-in ready solutions that are engineered and tested to meet Caterpillar performance specifications and fit perfectly into Cat equipment. To Nate Kumar, WesTrac Cat parts interpreter, Cat Reman is a good option for mining customers because “it's readily available, a cheaper option for mines and supports less downtime for their machines.”

Elyse Moore, a component clerk at Rix’s Creek, sees the value in Cat Reman firsthand: “Caterpillar has parts that are achieving multiple lives… It helps us with our cost and it helps us keep our components for longer and push them further.”

Built to Be Rebuilt

Because Bloomfield runs its operations 24/7/365, WesTrac Cat helps keep the mine site’s equipment working continuously. As a result, Bloomfield trusts the "built to be rebuilt” engineering of Cat equipment and the quality of Cat Reman products.

Moore explains: “Cat Reman is great for us. We try and use Cat Reman to push the components further without having to purchase new.” This is only possible because Cat equipment is designed to be repaired and rebuilt throughout its life cycle.

At Cat Reman facilities, each part is inspected, disassembled, cleaned and salvaged then remanufactured to meet Caterpillar’s original performance specifications. Julian Caruana, rebuild specialist at WesTrac Cat, attests to its quality, saying, “It’s been heavily tested to ensure that it meets requirements to get it through the second life.” And since these parts are backed by a same-as-new 12-month Caterpillar Limited Warranty¹, Bloomfield can work as confidently with Cat Reman parts as they would with genuine new Cat parts.

When it comes to overhauls and rebuilds, Moore says Bloomfield has some flexibility: “We can pick and choose whether we use new or Cat Reman; whatever’s going to get us the best cost and the best life out of the component.”

When installing Cat Reman for repairs, replacements or rebuilds, customers can choose to handle those within their own shops or rely on the facilities at their local Cat dealership. For more complex projects, like Cat Certified Rebuilds, Caruana explains, “you’re coming here to a state-of-the-art facility at WesTrac Cat which is up to Caterpillar standards… We’ve got a machine shop, hydraulic shop, we’re full service.”

These locations, known as Component Rebuild Centres (CRCs) are ideal environments to perform repairs in a contamination-controlled area, stocked with the parts and components that customers like Bloomfield need. CRC branch manager Aaron Whiles explains: “Anything from engines through to powertrain components, we work with that particular customer to ensure that we are building to the standard that they're looking for and providing the value that they're after.”

When equipment comes in, the CRC team disassembles the machine, removes the end-of-life components, installs the new or Cat Reman parts and reassembles and tests the equipment to make sure it performs like new. In Newsome’s experience, “The nucleus of the rebuild is around those Cat Reman components, and then the piece parts just support that.”

Whether it’s Cat Reman or genuine Cat parts, Caruana believes Caterpillar offers a unique level of aftermarket support: “There's a value in the fact that Caterpillar components are built to be rebuilt as well as the machines themselves.”

Unmatched Dealer Support

Along with reliable machine performance, The Bloomfield Group values WesTrac Cat’s support and expertise. With multiple branches across New South Wales and a parts delivery truck that runs twice a day, WesTrac Cat understands the demands of Bloomfield’s business and aims to be there when the Rix’s Creek mine needs them.

Jason Brown, Bloomfield open cut mine superintendent, says, “We have a good relationship with the dealer and the parts department. We work well with our product support rep on site to work specifically on new fleet introduction, in ensuring that we're up to date on the technology of a new fleet of trucks. They also assist in showing what's available in the technology for us to monitor and more benefit out of the machines.”

Have an end-of-life machine? Looking to save on parts without losing quality or time? Talk to your Cat dealer about the service, support, repair options and Cat Reman products available to you.

In the meantime, learn more about how Cat Reman can bring like new performance to your equipment.

^{1Warranty can vary by model and application, limitations apply. For complete details about the applicable Caterpillar Limited Warranty, contact an authorized Cat dealer.
*This article portrays opinions of featured customers, based on their experience with Cat Reman and their authorized Cat dealers. Not all examples used are representative of every customer in every geographic region.}