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Hydraulic
Excavators
7
Edition 47 7-199
New Nomenclature for
Hydraulic Excavator Buckets
NEW NOMENCLATURE FOR
HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR BUCKETS
Caterpillar will soon be moving to a new global nomen-
clature for buckets on small, medium and large HEX
machines and associated linkages. The end result will be
a manageable, consistent bucket offering in all regions
regardless of where the machine or bucket may be built
and shipped. The new bucket designs and nomenclature
will be introduced over the next several years, as D and
E Series HEX machines are introduced.
Why the change?
Consistent product line
Buckets currently sold into different regions of the world
have been designed and manufactured independent of
each other resulting in different bucket styles and nomen-
clature. As Caterpillar becomes more global, we recognize
this can lead to confusion in the marketplace as machines
and buckets are sourced from different areas.
Improved bucket selection
Caterpillar continues to recognize the need for a range
of buckets for various applications and with varying
durability requirements—from site development to granite
quarries. The new, global nomenclature is simplified,
consistent, and based on the durability of the bucket. These
considerations allow a clear and consistent bucket posi-
tioning to help facilitate appropriate bucket selection
and recommendation — and put Caterpillar in a better
position to support machines on a global scale.
Dealers and customers in North America will see
changes in bucket nomenclature and improvement in
bucket designs.
What dealers will see with the change
Today, North American HEX buckets are grouped
into three main categories: General Purpose (GP), Heavy
Duty (HD), and Heavy Duty Rock (HDR). New nomen-
clature brings in four primary categories, each represent
durability. They are: General Duty (GD), Heavy Duty
(HD), Severe Duty (SD), and Extreme Duty (XD).
Within the Extreme Duty class a new bucket specific for
use in granite will be available for the large excavators.