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Backhoe design helps township work faster
The Cat® 432 Side Shift Backhoe Loader comes up big in tight spaces.
For those looking to escape the rigors of urban living in Newark and New York City, Cedar Grove Township became one of many destination suburbs in northern New Jersey during the 1950s and ‘60s. Named for the eastern red cedar trees that once covered its valley and hillsides, Cedar Grove Township (pop. 13,314) is a family-oriented community with good schools, stable taxes and a solid public works department.
Last year, the township acquired a new Cat® 432 Side Shift Backhoe Loader, primarily for conducting water and sewer projects.
“We were seeking a side shift machine and had been looking at another brand,” said Pete DiGeronimo, the head mechanic for the Cedar Grove Public Works Department. “I wasn’t aware that Caterpillar had a machine like this, and in talking to our dealer rep at Foley Cat, he told me that they were popular machines in Europe. We looked at the ratings and the favorable pricing through cooperative purchasing, and it turned out to be a very good fit.”
Caterpillar recently reintroduced three side shift backhoes to the North American market. The side shift backhoe is designed for versatility and increased efficiency when working in tight spaces. A carrier frame is mounted on the rear of the loader. The backhoe’s kingpost is mounted to the carrier frame, enabling it to slide back and forth along the rear of the machine while still being able to pivot side to side. On the Cat 428, 432, and 434 models, this sliding mechanism is activated from the cab by pressing a button.
A Smaller Footprint
DiGeronimo says the biggest advantage of the Cat Side Shift Backhoe is the machine’s smaller footprint, enabling it to perform road jobs with less impact on traffic flow.
“The side shift is fantastic for utility work,” DiGeronimo says. “It has a narrow footprint when you’re working in the roadway. It minimizes traffic disruption, which is our number one priority,” DiGeronimo said. “And it saved money for the township.”
Instead of having to reposition the machine, which would be necessary with a traditional center pivot backhoe, the side shift enables the boom to slide left or right and be repositioned while the machine remains in a fixed position.
“It’s a game-changer for what we do,” adds Cedar Grove sewer mechanic Dave Burdett, who has 40 years of experience operating equipment. “If you’re in a tight spot and need to dig under either side of water mains or sewer lines or any type of pipe or obstacle, you have to pick up and move a standard backhoe to the right or left.”
“The side shift is fantastic for utility work. It has a narrow footprint when you’re working in the roadway. It minimizes traffic disruption, which is our number one priority.”
– PETE DIGERONIMO, Head Mechanic, Cedar Grove Public Works Department
Better Visibility
Increased visibility is another advantage, says David Young, a product application specialist with Caterpillar Building and Construction Products.
“Any operator who runs a center pivot backhoe is always looking around the boom,” Young says. “However, on the side shift backhoe, the boom can be shifted to either side so the operator has better visibility to the work area.”
Young says that, as municipalities move machines from one location to the next, the Cat Side Shift Backhoes are more effective for roading. The mass of the hoe tucks behind the cab and does not hang farther away from the machine as it does with center pivot machines..
It’s a game-changer for what we do. When we’re working in the road, I don’t have to take up more than one lane with it—it’s invaluable for that.”
– DAVE BURDETT, Operator, Cedar Grove Public Works Department
Ease of Operation
A dual-mode function enables the operator to spin around in the seat when working forward with a wide bucket, or behind with the backhoe. The LCD display comes standard as a soft key display, or can be upgraded to function as a touchscreen. Through the interactive display, the operator can set up various performance parameters depending on the configuration. This helps match machine performance to operator preference, further increasing productivity and efficiency. The seat-mounted control setup is a new offering for Cat Backhoe Loader owners available on the 432 side shift and on center pivot models (420XE, 440 and 450), the latest generation standard backhoe models. To reduce operator fatigue and increase efficiency, the air-ride suspension seat comes standard with switches and controls ergonomically located within easy reach of the operator. With electro-hydraulic controls, the operator can customize both the modulation and response rate of the joysticks to achieve the perfect feeling of control. DiGeronimo says. “With this Cat machine being hydraulic, we don’t have to stick a machine out into traffic. Almost all our work involves roads, so taking up as little space as possible is key.” During the winter months, Cedar Grove utilizes a 10-foot snow pusher attachment for clearing snow. It also utilizes an H65 Hammer for breaking concrete. “We’re responsible for clearing a couple of big parking lots, and it used to take a few hours to plow them,” DiGeronimo says. “Now it takes half an hour, and the lots are cleared.”” “It’s a game-changer for what we do. When we’re working in the road, I don’t have to take up more than one lane with it.” – DAVE BURDETT, Operator, Cedar Grove Public Works Department |
Built to Last
Burdett and DiGeronimo agree that the 432 Side Shift Backhoe is both durable and dependable, resulting in little to no downtime.
“Being in government, we’re focused on making sure taxpayers get the most value for their dollar,” DiGeronimo says. “The 432 is a quality machine that’s built to last for the 25 years we’re expecting to use it—and that makes it sustainable. It’s been a great machine for us.”
For more information, or to set up a demo, please contact our dealership.
