By Ashley Karen
Caterpillar Inc. will showcase its mining suggestions at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for the first time ever. However, it won’t be dozers, trucks and mining shovels that take center stage. It is going to be the mining technologies that are assisting Caterpillar customers take the safety and productivity of their operations to extraordinary levels.
CES is promoted as a proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. CES is owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). It features all the aspects of the tech sector. Previously held in Las Vegas, USA, CES 2021 is going to be an all-virtual event presented in an online format from Jan. 11-14, 2021.
Denise Johnson, Group President, and Resource Industries said: “People may ask why a manufacturing company like Caterpillar has decided to participate in CES?”
He continued: “The real question is ‘why not?’ We’re proud of our reputation for building some of the biggest, most productive machines in the world. But the technology that goes along with those machines is built by Caterpillar, too.”
Caterpillar has been contributing in the growth and development of best-in-class mining technology solutions for over 30 years, developing the building-block suggestions that underground and surface mines use daily to improve efficiency and consistency, allow safer operations and decrease overall operating expenses.
The mentioned building blocks band together to deliver the utmost autonomous mining efficiency. The company’s first research into autonomous vehicles starting in the 1980s, with prototype autonomous Cat® trucks going on in a quarry as early as the 1990s. The first official MineStar Command for hauling site started working in 2013 and today Caterpillar has over 350 trucks working 24/7 on 3 continents. These trucks have moved more than 2.5 billion tonnes of material and traveled over 90 million kilometers— all without a single lost-time injury.
Johnson stated: “The CES show is filled with innovators who are always looking for the next technology breakthrough.”
He also added: “We’re proud to be on that journey, too. But while we continue to innovate for the future, the technologies Caterpillar has developed are doing real work and delivering real results to our mining customers every day.”
Opportunities for Growth and Development
Besides showcasing its broad portfolio of Cat MineStar technology solutions, Caterpillar’s participation in CES is also an opportunity to link with new business partners. The company follows a technology development strategy that leverages current solutions and make partnerships with other best-in-class technology suppliers.
“When we combine our efforts, we’re able to more quickly develop and produce the technologies our customers need,” mentioned Johnson.
Moreover, CES provides an opportunity for Caterpillar to attract more talented people to its technology team. “We are committed to making investments in technology research and development,” said Johnson. “We need the best and the brightest engineers, developers and tech experts to help us turn those investments into solutions for our customers.”
The Caterpillar CES Experience
The Caterpillar CES experience is planned to introduce a new audience to the extreme conditions in which mining companies operate, the importance of mining, and the advanced technologies Caterpillar provides to assist make those operations more efficient, safer and more productive.
The virtual showcase is going to comprise:
- An overview of the Cat technology story, comprising insight into how delivering autonomy in the mining industry is different than automotive and other industries traditionally present at CES.
- Real examples of Cat technology at work — from an autonomous haulage solution operating in extreme conditions in Canada to game-changing tracking technology in use at a mine operating miles below ground in Australia.
- Product demonstrations that highlight unmanned and manned solutions for surface operations, plus a suite of underground technology suggestions.
In addition, Caterpillar has been invited to participate in a moderated panel discussion entitled “Autonomous Transportation Moves Beyond the Vehicle.” The panel is part of a robust program of conferences and keynote speeches that carry out groundbreaking announcements and provide industry insights from the world’s technology leaders.
“We’re proud to be participating in CES and sharing our solutions with a new audience,” asserted Johnson. “The advancements we’re making at Caterpillar are making a difference not only to our customers in the mining industry, but to many other industries, as well. There’s still so much left to discover. We’re excited to be at the forefront.”
