A Big Show of Mining Strength

No matter what their interests — surface or underground, hard rock or soft rock — MINExpo International visitors experienced machines and technology at the Caterpillar exhibit to help them mine and move minerals safely and productively. MINExpo International, the world's largest and most comprehensive trade show dedicated to mining, truly brought the theme "Wherever There's Mining, We're There" to life. With more than 52,000 square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Caterpillar showcased the broadest line of mining and materials-handling equipment available — backed by the most extensive and capable product support team in the worldwide mining industry.

"There is no bigger stage to give us this remarkable opportunity to tell the Caterpillar mining story. We recognize that mining is at the core of an unprecedented drive for urbanization and modernization," explained Caterpillar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman. "We believe the long-term outlook is positive for this industry, and we're uniquely positioned to capitalize on that growth. That's why the company has made major investments in mining across the Caterpillar organization, plus expanding and modernizing our factories and developing even better mining products and solutions."

Since July 2011, Caterpillar has added more than 100 products to its mining portfolio, many of which were showcased at the MINExpo exhibit. Divided into two areas, surface and underground, the Caterpillar exhibit featured more than two dozen products and technologies, including an off-highway mining truck, hydraulic shovel, next-generation Cat^® D11T Track-type Tractor and a variety of underground mining machines such as continuous miners, a longwall shearer and plow, as well as other support equipment. Among the new products introduced at MINExpo was the Cat^® 6120B H FS Hydraulic Shovel. The Cat 6120B is the first diesel-electric hybrid ultra-class shovel available in the industry — promising to lower cost per ton in world-class mining operations.

"Like our customers, Caterpillar is committed to building a better world. That's why when customers asked us to provide more products and solutions for the mining industry, the company responded in a big way," said Steve Wunning, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Resource Industries. "Beyond just the iron, we understand the issues our customers face, such as safety, environmental stewardship, emissions standards and skills shortages and training, and we work together to address them. This will continue to be our focus."

Unique among all machines within the Caterpillar exhibit and throughout the hundreds of MINExpo displays, the Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) SD70ACe locomotive — painted in Caterpillar yellow — gave the mining world an opportunity to explore the railroad technology that transports minerals to market. EMD^™ SD70ACe locomotives run in mining operations across the globe.