For Release Worldwide: October 31, 2013
Release Number: 519PR13
Caterpillar is recognized for its innovative hydraulic hybrid technology, which dramatically increases fuel efficiency for the company’s excavator equipment customers.
PEORIA, Ill. – Oct. 31, 2013 – Caterpillar Inc. today announced its new Cat® 336E H Hybrid Excavator was selected by a panel of judges to receive a 2013 Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award. The 336E H, the industry’s first “hydraulic hybrid” machine, uniquely captures and reuses kinetic energy to help lower customers’ owning and operating costs. Its sustainability-related benefits include lower fuel use, reduced exhaust emissions and a smaller carbon footprint—all without any compromise in production, reliability or operability in all applications. Caterpillar was presented the award by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn as part of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center’s (ISTC) sustainability award ceremony and technical symposium held on Oct. 29 in East Peoria, Ill.
In receiving its award, the Cat 336E H was recognized as an outstanding innovation in the application of technology that will help Caterpillar customers succeed by lowering their fuel usage and operating costs. It also helps customers meet their sustainability goals. Customers can expect the 336E H to use up to 25 percent less fuel per hour than the standard 336E and up to 50 percent less fuel per ton of material moved than a 336D in a wide variety of operating conditions—with no sacrifice in performance.
This is the first time that Caterpillar has nominated a Cat product for—and won—an Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award. “Being recognized to receive this award by ISTC, the judging panel and Governor Quinn, whose office makes the final award decisions, is a major achievement for our company,” said Ken Gray, global product manager for large hydraulic excavators for Caterpillar’s Excavation Division. “Caterpillar is deeply honored to win this prestigious 2013 Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award in recognition of our significant achievements in hydraulic hybrid technology. The technology dramatically reduces fuel usage and exhaust emissions to reduce our customers’ carbon footprints, helping to protect and sustain our planet.”
Hydraulic hybrid technology represents one of the most significant technical achievements in Caterpillar’s history. In fact, more than 300 patents were filed on the new technologies incorporated in the 336E H. Yet, to achieve fuel savings its design is relatively straightforward, using three building block technologies: 1) the conservation of fuel with engine power management via the Cat Electronic Standardized Programmable (ESP) pump; 2) the optimization of performance using restriction management via the patented Cat Adaptive Control System (ACS) valve and 3) the reuse of energy via the hydraulic hybrid swing, which captures the excavator’s upper structure swing brake energy in accumulators, and then releases the energy during swing acceleration.
The Cat 336E H was unveiled in October 2012, and is now being sold and serviced exclusively through the Cat dealer network. Caterpillar validated its fuel efficiency and productivity claims for the 336E H through comprehensive production studies in multiple applications with operators from all over the world. uming today’s fuel prices and a high-production application, Caterpillar estimates customers will recover their incremental hybrid investment in as little as one year, with 18 months typical for most users.
In addition to this 2013 Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award, the 336E H has been honored in receiving a 2013 Silver Edison Award, Equipment World’s 2013 Innovation Award, Utility Contractor 2012 Top Products and “Contractor’s Top 50 New Products” award in the Earthmoving category by Equipment Today and ForConstructionPros.com. The 336E H has also been named a finalist for an International Construction Economic Forum (ICEF) Award for Construction Equipment Innovation and a Platts 2013 Global Energy Award, with the ultimate winner of both of those awards to be announced at conferences taking place later this year.
About Caterpillar
For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2012 sales and revenues of $65.875 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.caterpillar.com.
About the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award Program
Governor’s Sustainability Awards are presented by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), which is a unit of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois. Since 1987, ISTC has presented Governor’s awards to organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices that also save money and help the economy. Sustainable technology encompasses any technique or technology that reduces the amount of and/or toxicity of pollutants that would have otherwise been released into the environment. For more information about the ITSC and the Governor’s Sustainability Award program, as well as a full list of this year’s winners, visit http://www.istc.illinois.edu/info/govs_awards.cfm
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Caterpillar contact:
Barbara Cox
Global Government & Corporate Affairs
cox_barbara_i@cat.com
Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award Program contact:
Debra Jacobson
Technical Assistance Manager, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Prairie Research Institute
djacobso@illinois.edu