equipment profile - Finning Canada

GROUNDBREAKERPHOTOGRAPH BY NED AHRENS, KING COUNTYtor, Caterpillar On-Highway Power Systems. “This awardfor King County Metro shows that we are definitely onthe right track.”The buses did exactly that. The first 24 hit the Seattlestreets in June of 2004, and by the end of 2005, with all235 in operation, they racked up eight million miles onthe road over the course of that year. Compared to theold diesel fleet, the new buses produced 32% less green-“Our goal has been to reduceemissions while improvingfuel economy and reducingmaintenance costs.This award for King CountyMetro shows that we aredefinitely on the right track.”house gas emissions and 50% fewer oxides ofnitrogen and particulate matter. The ACERTengine, which reduces emissions at the pointof combustion, was a big factor in those staggeringnumbers.With ultra-low sulfur diesel in the tanks and electricitygeneratingbatteries attached to the roof, the King CountyMetro buses also saw a 31% improvement in fuel economy,in addition to a drastic decrease in maintenance costs.It all meant for cleaner, quieter rides for Seattle’s busridingpopulation. No wonder the EPA came calling.Kudos From OperatorsA little bit of praise goes a long way.The gang at Caterpillar are understandablyfeeling pretty pleased about theirrecent achievements. Cat customershave spoken and – for the sixth time– awarded the prize for customersatisfaction (in the Heavy Duty TruckEngine and Transmission CustomerSatisfaction Survey) to a heavy-dutytruck engine from Caterpillar Inc.J.D. Power and Associates, aninternational marketing outfit,awarded Caterpillar’s C-12 clean powerengine its highest levels of customer satisfaction.The presenters said that Cat has done an excellent job inmeeting new emission standards. To do that, Cat created itsown innovative emission technology. Meeting the standardswith their engines is a prize in itself, and a nod from satisfiedcustomers is the icing on the cake.Caterpillar’s C-12 engine won the award in the “vocational”category, which includes trucks that pros use in toughsituations such as construction, refuse hauling and utilityservices. The survey was based on interviews with 2,529customers who own two-year-old Class 8 trucks. It measurescustomer satisfaction in four areas of engine performance:engine quality, engine performance, engine cost of ownershipand engine warranty.“The credibility of the J.D. Power and Associates Award isthat it is customer-driven, reflecting the feedback and voicesof the end-users who rely on Caterpillar’s engines,” saysJim Parker, Caterpillar vice president with responsibilityfor the company’s Power Systems Marketing Division.According to operators, Team Caterpillar is on the righttrack.The C-12 relies on Cat’s ACERT Technology to reduceemissions at the point of combustion without sacrificingengine performance and reliability. ACERT relies onadvanced technologies in four key areas: improved airmanagement, precision combustion technology, advancedengine electronics and a simple after-treatment process.“This is an exciting time for Caterpillar as we continueto see strong customer acceptance for our engines poweredby ACERT Technology,” says Parker. “ACERT Technologyremains the solution for future engines.” Cat customers aretesting 100 engines that meet even tougher 2007 emissionregulations. Industry testing racked up more than 12 millionmiles on evaluation as of mid-October.The C-15 follows the C-12 in the rankings with strongcustomer satisfaction scores. The study examined 2004truck engines, the second model year impacted by EPAemissions standards. And Cat has submitted the necessarydocuments in preparation to roll out 2007-compliantengines. Because Cat is the leading manufacturer andsupplier of truck and bus engines in the medium- andheavy-duty categories in North America, it’s especiallyimportant to set the bar high. Besides, Cat customersexpect nothing less.To learn more about Caterpillar On-Highway Engines,visit: www.cattruckengines.comwww.finning.ca Winter 2006 • TRACKS & TREADS 7