September 2011, Vol. 66 No. 9

New Products

Caterpillar 349E hydraulic excavator

The new Cat 349E hydraulic excavator features a 396 net hp Cat C13 ACERT engine that meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 Interim emissions standards.

The 349E delivers more engine and hydraulic horsepower than its 345D predecessor does while consistently averaging five percent improved fuel efficiency in typical applications. Among the 349E’s new fuel-saving features is the Engine Idle Shutdown Setting, which allows selecting how long the machine is permitted to idle before shutting down.

Working with this system is a “one touch” idle control feature, which reduces engine speed to low idle with the touch of a button; a second touch or joystick movement puts the engine back into high speed, allowing the machine to go right back to work. Isochronous speed control—a system that maintains constant engine speed, regardless of load—further conserves fuel, as does the 349E’s “economy” power mode when used during less-demanding applications. cat.com

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