Construction

An updated H120 GC hammer. (Image source: Cat)

Caterpillar has updated several of its GC hammers, turning them into more durable and high-performance pieces of equipment

The versatile GC hammers are designed with large hammer tool diameters and deliver high-impact power in order to quickly break through tough materials encountered in a range of application such as road construction, trenching and demolition. The updated Cat H130 GC, H140 GC, H160 GC and H180 GC hammers feature powerful hydraulics and quick access to maintenance areas to increase productivity, improve uptime and reduce costs, according to Cat.

“Earlier this year, we updated the H110 GC and H120 GC models, and they have been well received by our customers,” explained Tom Munch, senior product consultant. “Expanding these feature upgrades to the H130 GC through H180 GC models gives customers a full range of durable and reliable hammer work tool solutions fully validated and matched to machines from the 10- to 55-ton class sizes.”

Durable, effective and easy to maintain

To increase production and efficiency at the jobsite, Cat has aimed to combine power with fast impact frequencies. The new hammers have large tool diameters from 155-185 mm and have high impact power.

Moreover, durability is ensured through the standard high-vibration adapter alongside power cells made of high-quality alloy steel enabling a two-stage heat treatment process. Hydraulic components are also shielded from damage by heavy-duty side places to boost reliability.

Besides durability, Cat has also taken pains to improve and simplify the way maintenance is performed on the equipment. With quick and easy access to maintenance areas already hallmarks throughout the GC hammer line, the new models now feature a slip-fit and 90-degree rotatable lower brushing for easy replacement in the field. These help to reduce service time and extend service life.

Daily tool inspection and grease points are accessible from ground level with the hammer mounted on the machine. According to Cat, this enhances safety and reduces the time for routine maintenance. Finally, reinforced connecting hardware and easy bolt tightening help to provide strong, durable joints to extend the hammer life.

Cat has also made headlines recently for introducing its new Dynamic Energy Transfer solution the can transfer energy to both diesel-electric and battery-electric large mining trucks while they are operating. Learn more in the recent issue of African Review available now.

Wajdi Marroun, managing director of Versatile International. (Image source: Versatile International)

Addressing the issue of rework requires first understanding its root causes. One of the most obvious causes is the size of the project. The bigger the project, the more complicated and challenging it becomes to manage consistency in design and material supply.

Take natural stone, for example, which plays a central role in many of the destination-scale projects in the region. As a natural product, stone has significant variability, making it essential to source the right material to achieve the desired look and durability. As a public-facing product, natural stone requires consistency in appearance and installation.

However, unlike carpet or concrete, its quality as a finished material does not allow for quick fixes. If a mistake is made at the point of production, there are only two options: either to re-source and replace it, which is often costly, or to live with a product that doesn’t reflect the original vision.

Handling a modest volume of natural stone in this way may be straightforward, but overseeing a supply large enough to cover 100 football fields—as is often the case with large-scale projects in the Middle East—is an entirely different matter. Due to the sheer size and complex supply chain of these projects, even minor quality issues can spiral into significant schedule delays and cost overruns.

Cutting rework

Asset owners, who juggle numerous issues simultaneously, often have limited time and resources at their disposal, with little to none dedicated to managing the specific aspects of a project involving stone.

The solution is to engage Stone Project Management Consultants (SPMCs). They serve as trusted partners to asset owners, leveraging their expertise to provide oversight and guidance throughout the entire process, from design to delivery.

From the outset, SPMCs collaborate with architects and designers to identify the best material type that aligns with the project’s vision, design, and budget. They assess quarries within the international stone market, evaluating physical properties like tensile strength and density, and ensuring the availability of high-quality stone. They also screen suppliers to confirm they have the necessary technical credentials and ESG standards for successful project delivery.

In essence, SPMCs work as part of the client team and act as unbiased expert advisors on behalf of the asset owner to oversee the entire procurement and supply chain process.

By implementing standardised quality control and placing engineers and supervisors on-site, SPMCs also manage the entire production process of natural stone on behalf of the asset owners, from quarrying and sample testing to transportation, delivery, dry lay and installation.

This project governance model minimises rework by ensuring materials meet quality standards before shipping. The process also reduces unnecessary quarrying, waste, and energy consumption during production and transportation, supporting the ESG goals of asset owners.

Ultimately, the model prevents project delays and budget overruns, helping asset owners save both time and money.

Versatile International’s ongoing collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company is a prime example. As the region’s first SPMC, we have partnered with Diriyah on over 50 projects involving natural stone within their US$66bn cultural heritage district. Acting as trusted advisors to Diriyah, we bring our specialised expertise and global network to ensure consistency and quality control throughout the process. By doing so, we have brought the asset owner closer to the point of production, delivering projects with punctuality and precision while minimising the cost of rework.

This article is written by Wajdi Marroun, managing director of Versatile International, a stone project management consultancy. It has been edited for brevity.

The upcoming edition of bauma is scheduled for 7-13 April 2025. (Image source: bauma)

The construction industry is moving away from traditional diesel engines toward greener power solutions.

The upcoming edition of bauma, scheduled for 7-13 April 2025, will once again place a spotlight on alternative drive technologies.

Many major players in construction machinery are already committed to decarbonisation. For instance, the Volvo Group has announced that by 2040, it will only deliver fossil-free vehicles. Strabag SE, one of Europe’s largest construction firms, also plans to achieve full climate neutrality by 2040, encompassing the operation of all its construction machinery.

Electric motors are now firmly established as a sustainable drive option for construction equipment. At previous bauma events, exhibitors showcased electric-powered excavators, wheel loaders, rollers, dumpers, and vibratory plates as part of their expanding eco-friendly portfolios. This trend is poised for significant growth: research firm IDTechEx projects that the global market for electric construction machinery could reach US$105bn by 2042.

“Battery electric systems are still primarily suitable for compact machines. Their daily energy and power requirements can be covered by an electric motor and a moderately sized lithium-ion battery in conjunction with a well-defined charging strategy,” says Timo Feuerbach, technical expert for construction machinery and building material machines at the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Asso-ciation (VDMA).

The Bobcat RogueX2 concept loader belongs in this category as a current and pioneering example. The all-electric machine not only operates with zero local emissions, but is also fully autonomous, according to the manufactur-er’s specifications. This year, it received the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in the “Design Concept” category.

HVO as an alternative fuel

It is clear that openness to technology is required for drives that are as climate-neutral as possible across the entire spectrum of the construction industry. For example, a life cycle analysis commissioned by the Liebherr Group came to the conclusion that operating mobile cranes with hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) promises the greatest potential for reducing greenhouse gases. Other fuel alterna-tives that can contribute to decarbonizing construction sites are biodiesel, biogas and e-fuels.

Companies and research institutes are also focusing on developing and testing hydrogen powered construction machinery. The Liebherr Components product segment presented prototypes of two hydrogen combustion engines at bauma 2022, and series production was announced for 2025. The industry is also explor-ing potential applications for fuel cells. For example, General Motors and the con-struction machinery manufacturer Komatsu are working together on a hydrogen fuel cell module for an electric dump truck. Komatsu has also developed a medi-um-sized hydraulic excavator with a hydrogen fuel cell system as a concept machine.

Caterpillar Safety Services’ “MindShift for Leaders” programme comprises five 90-minute virtual sessions. (Image source: CSS)

Caterpillar Safety Services has introduced "MindShift for Leaders," a five-session training programme aimed at equipping leaders with the principles of human and organisational performance (HOP) to drive safer workplaces.

Designed as a virtual series, the sessions guide participants to rethink and adjust their approaches to leading and managing safety, encouraging a shift in mindset toward more resilient safety cultures.

"MindShift for Leaders" moves beyond traditional safety management methods, which often rely on policies and processes based on managerial assumptions rather than on the realities of how work is actually performed. The programme leverages HOP principles as a foundation to build error-tolerant systems, fostering open discussions around safety and supporting organisations in creating adaptive safety cultures that account for human variability and build resilience.

“Expecting perfection from workers is not realistic, and traditional methods of managing safety do not account for factors that can disrupt a system. A human and organisational performance mindset does not manage the incident itself but assists organisations with building more error-tolerant safety systems that allow people to stay safe, even when they make a mistake," said Zach Knoop, manager at Caterpillar Safety Services.

Five HOP principles

Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) promotes a mindset built on understanding human behaviour, communication, and responses in the workplace. Rather than following a strict process, it encourages organisations to create error-tolerant systems that drive learning and improvement without focusing on blame.

Caterpillar Safety Services’ “MindShift for Leaders” programme comprises five 90-minute virtual sessions, each centred around core HOP principles. The programme teaches that errors are inevitable and that protecting workers means designing systems that can withstand mistakes. Rather than assigning blame, the focus shifts to identifying and addressing organisational weaknesses that contribute to incidents. HOP also highlights that behaviours are driven by context; understanding the environment in which actions occur can reveal the real drivers behind decisions. Leaders are encouraged to create a culture of learning by valuing insights from workers who are closest to the job, promoting a flow of ideas that can prevent incidents and improve practices. Finally, the way leaders respond to mistakes has a profound impact on team morale, and the programme instills the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership.

“MindShift for Leaders” aligns with Caterpillar Safety Services' vision of a Resilient Safety Culture, underpinned by the principles of Mindset, System, Ownership, and Leadership, providing leaders with tools to foster safer, more resilient workplaces.