Cat upgrades 815 soil compactor

The Cat 815 Soil Compactor now features a Stage V/Tier 4 diesel engine

Caterpillar has upgraded its Cat 815 Soil Compactor with a Stage V/Tier 4 diesel engine and new technology designed to lower the total cost of ownership (TCO).

The new Cat 815 is now fitted with a Cat C7.1 engine for lower fuel consumption and an automatic engine and electric system shutdown that reduces “unnecessary idling”.

Designed for large earthworks projects, the 815 also offers 9% lower maintenance costs than its predecessor model of the same name, thanks to its new overall design that includes the repositioning of servicing groupings.

According to the manufacturer, the removal of the components from the vehicle’s roof allows easier access for carrying out maintenance and means the machine now has a lower transport height.

Cat said the updated machine, which is available for the North American and European markets, has been built for both high-speed and high quality soil compaction.

Unlike its predecessor, the 815 is equipped with four 39-inch (991mm) wide drums with a special tamper tip design and a symmetrical tip pattern. Cat said this means the machine offers equal compaction in forward and reverse and provides high traction and ground pressure. 

When it comes to technology, the manufacturer is now offering the model with its Cat Compact GPS mapping feature. This allows operators to see compacted areas and cut and fill data.

Alongside this, the new Cat Compaction Control with Machine Drive Power (MDP) measurement system is said to improve compaction efficiency by correlating “compaction and rolling resistance to indicate soil stiffness”. 

Cat said, “These new technologies allow companies to meet compaction targets quickly, uniformly and in fewer passes with the 815, saving on fuel and the costs associated with rework.”

Additional upgrades to the redesigned cab include improved steering, automatic climate controls and a new Premium Plus seat with heating cooling functions. 

The soil compactor’s in-cab touchscreen display also gives operators access to real-time performance data and helps fleet managers to monitor telematics information - such as location, fuel use and diagnostic codes - via Cat Links.

According to Cat, the model’s STIC system, which combines steering, gear selection and other functions into a single lever, has also been updated to provide “shorter, faster cycles” for reduced operator fatigue.

A Tier 3/Stage IIIA equivalent version of the Cat 815 is also now available for regions outside Europe and North America.