WITH RELIABLE CAT ENGINES, DIAMOND GRINDERS AND GROOVERS PAVE THE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Diamond Products has designed and built tools and machines for the construction industry for over 50 years. It's one of the world's leading mass producers of grinding and grooving equipment. While most of its business is in North America, Diamond Products is a global operation, providing equipment for South America, Australia, Japan, Korea, the UK, Western and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Around 2011, a customer asked if Diamond could supply a machine with a Cat engine. It’s been relying on power from Cat engines for equipment ever since. Diamond also uses Cat engines on walk-behind saws and other equipment.
GRINDERS AND GROOVERS
Grinders and groovers make roadways safer and easier to drive on. From highways and interstates to runways and bridge decks, grinders and groovers mill concrete and asphalt pavements with precision and purpose. There are machines capable of both grinding and grooving, but each application serves a different purpose:
Grinders — a diamond blade configuration produces a closely stacked pattern, used for removing unwanted material on a roadway to increase rideability. The PC6004EC Highway Grinder is equipped with a Cat C18 engine and C4.4 engine.
Groovers — provide traction for roadways to reduce skid accidents, increase directional stability and improve rainwater drainage. The PC1505XL Pavement Grinder & Groover is equipped with a Cat C7.1 engine.
NON-STOP PRODUCTION
Grinders and groovers do not “punch out” for lunch. The machines require a lot of horsepower, and during some applications, machines may run 24 hours a day. When a grinder or groover is on, it’s pushed hard. That kind of workload is going to require regular engine maintenance.
Diamond Products relies on the serviceability of Cat engines, as well as the wide array of Cat dealers around the world to provide assistance from convenient locations. There are a lot of operators all over the globe using Diamond machines, and, because of the expansive Cat dealer network, they have access to Cat parts and expertise.
“My history in this business, it’s always been about reliability and serviceability of the engine and being able to find a horsepower category that fits. Cat [engines] have always been synonymous with construction. It’s easier to sell a piece of equipment to a contractor when you tell them you’re using Cat power.” - Jeff Arnswald, Director Nampa Operations Diamond Products
POWERFUL TEAMWORK
Diamond Products has teamed with Western States since 2015. Product support and service are the crux of the relationship, but it goes deeper than answering phone calls on the first ring. When developing equipment, Diamond Products engineers collaborate with the Western States team to configure the right engines. An engine must provide the necessary power while also fitting in the right design package. Western States looks at Diamond Products’ “wish list” and configures a customizable plan to make it happen.
“Diamond Products is going to come up with the horsepower of an engine that it wants, and then we’re going to do some collaboration to see what could fit into the machine, customizing the package for the application.” - Andrew Erickson, Western States Sales Representative
When a new product is developed or upgraded, Cat will participate in application and installation (A&I) field testing. This collaboration makes it easier to assess changes that need to be made to any power configuration. The A&I field testing can occur right in Diamond Products’ backyard.
“We’ve done that many times. Diamond Products has a concrete parking lot that is running a little short of concrete. It’s been milled in multiple spots from testing. We’ve done A&I testing right here [at the Diamond Products manufacturing facility].” - Andrew Erickson, Western States Sales Representative
CONNECTING TO FUTURE SOLUTIONS
New technologies, like connectivity and telematics, are taking construction and grinding to the next level. Telematics allows operators to monitor machine engines remotely and collect information to ensure productivity and prevent performance issues. Connectivity links machines so an entire fleet or jobsite can be more easily monitored. Diamond Products is working closely with its customers and Western States to develop the right solutions for machine connectivity and telematics going forward.
