by Richard Cosgrove | Wed 02 Apr 2025
Finning Tech Expo highlights latest machine innovations
Finning customers were given an insight into some of the latest Caterpillar® advancements during the company’s recent Tech Expo - as well as getting the chance to try out the latest industry-leading autonomous machine technology.
The day-long event was spread over three days and took place at the Caterpillar® customer centre in Desford and saw Finning UK & Ireland welcome 150 attendees including public and private project owners, and customers from infrastructure and civil engineering, quarrying, demolition and waste sectors.
Each day saw 50 Finning customers, including representatives from Aggregate Industries, Breedon, Heidelberg and Tarmac, given an insight into a range of topics including how to optimise the latest drive efficiencies, and the role automation will play in driving productivity while also ensuring on-site safety.
Customers received presentations from Finning experts on how customers can better utilise data-driven insight to deliver efficiencies across their operation. This included an in-depth look at the range of analysis and monitoring capabilities available to customers through VisionLink®, which can remotely monitor machine performance.
Finning team members gave talks on the longevity Cat® machines offer through rebuild programmes, highlighting the commercial proposition of rebuilds versus purchasing new, and discussing the future of the rebuilding process.
Cat Compaction Control was another area of focus and customers had the chance to witness a Cat soil compactor and its technologies that measure, map & record the ground stiffness in real time. This intelligent system allows customers to monitor what is happening in their site. Identifying when the ground is saturated and will not compact any further, saving on pass counts or potentially spotting problem areas (over or under compaction) and make changes to save time on costly rework down the line.
In addition, there was a demonstration of the use of remote-control technologies with Cat Command. A Cat 320 excavator was remotely operated during a demonstration, highlighting the benefits of Cat technology to reduce people plant interface onsite, mitigating potential risks and enhancing operator safety.
Mauro Escorcia, Head of ETS, Technology and Strategic Infrastructure at Finning UK & Ireland said: “Cat Command stations are the future in terms of enhancing safety in hazardous work environments. We also see several benefits in certain applications with high idle times, where we expect to see reductions in fuel and emissions as operators can shut down the machines, and potentially commence operations with a different machine.
“Understanding technology features and benefits, and how they contribute to operator efficiency and lower fuel consumption is essential to planning and achieving a significant reduction of carbon emissions.”
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