UK and Irish farmers can expect deliveries of Caterpillar’s new D-series telehandlers to arrive from next June. Production at the Belgian factory starts in April. Initially Cat is debuting the ‘D’ with 5.8m/2.8t and 9m/3.5t models, although more of the existing C-series will be replaced in the second half of 2016. Inevitably the prompt for the ‘C’-to-’D’ change has come from the need to meet Stage IV engine emissions, hence the appearance of an AdBlue tank and the use of SCR/DOC technology. Yet there is more to the ‘D’ than just a cleaner motor. For example, the 5.8m TH306D drives through a Rexroth hydrostatic transmission – 32km/hr top speed on 20in tyres, 40km/hr on 24in tyres — while the 9m machine gains an updated version of Cat’s own powershift, complete with torque lock-up. Also new is the slightly larger cab, which features a prominent terminal screen to the operator’s right for displaying info such as weigh load data (option), engine diagnostics, load chart stats and the picture from an optional rear-view camera. Prices for the D-series will be announced in the coming weeks.
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