Milestone for Cat’s Big Tractor

It must be big dozer week here on the Digger Man Blog as news reaches us of the 6000th Caterpillar D11 rolling off the production line in East Peoria.

Our Australian friend and industry colleague Scott Lidster gave us the “heads up” on this story, Scott himself is no stranger to the Caterpillar D11 himself having recently purchased one, and during the course of his work with his Australian Earth Training business which sees him travelling the globe to train operators.

According to Scott, this milestone machine will be heading down under to the iconic Aussie business Thiess Mining Company, and will be put to work at their Lake Vermont coal mine.    

The first D11 came out in 1985 having morphed up in size from the D10 which was first launched in 1977. We are indebted to Gavin Handley for the photo below of the very first D11 to be delivered.

Average sales figures for these giant dozers are an incredible 160 units per year, since its inception some 37 years ago. The D11 in its various guises has been a mainstay for most major mining operations and large construction projects around the globe, they certainly are one of the most impressive and iconic pieces of earthmoving equipment in the world!

This video from Caterpillar is 4 years old now, but the message remains the same and its a great watch!