Caterpillar Announces Next Generation 568 Log Loader With Lower Maintenance Costs & More Productivity

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“The Next Generation 568 is perfect for loggers who need to move heavy logs more efficiently, comfortably, and safely,” says Giacomo Bottone, worldwide director for Caterpillar’s forestry and medium excavator family. (Photo courtesy of Caterpillar.)

Caterpillar’s new 568 Forest Machine is built around Cat’s 9.3B, 347-horsepower (259-kilowatt) engine and an updated electrohydraulic control system with a Smart mode that matches engine and hydraulic power to working conditions. The end result is a 10% increase in swing torque and 14% more drawbar pull, all while reducing fuel consumption by 5%.

“The 568 has earned its reputation for moving the biggest timber with terrific power and reliability,” says Giacomo Bottone, worldwide director for Caterpillar’s forestry and medium excavator family. “The Next Generation 568 will build on that by being even more productive with added benefits of greater comfort and safety. Plus, owners will spend a lot less time and money on maintenance.”

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The electrohydraulic control system’s Smart mode reduces fuel consumption by 5% and automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to working conditions. (Photo courtesy of Caterpillar.)

Reduced Maintenance Costs

Cat expects the new 568 to consume 65 fewer filters over the course of 12,000 hours, when compared to the previous model. This improvement alone reduces maintenance costs by up to 15%, while the electrohydraulic control system completely eliminates the need for a pilot filter and pilot oil. Fleet managers can monitor the Next Generation 568 using Cat’s Product Link technology, which features Remote Troubleshooting to analyze data in real time. Product Link can also capture fault codes and machine location information to simplify troubleshooting on service trips.

Work In Extreme Environments, See It All

Cat designed the Next Generation 568 with a cold-start capability of -25 degrees Fahrenheit (-32 degrees Celsius), and it can work in ambient temperatures as high as 126 F (52 C). The cab meets Certified Forestry standards and features a 1.25-inch (32-millimeter)-thick windshield for greater safety. Overall, Cat says, the new cab is 25% larger with a 50% larger field of view, achieved through the use of narrower cab pillars, larger panoramic windows, and a flat engine hood.

Source: Caterpillar