Cat Product Information

Americas South Competitive Bulletin

For Dealer Sales Personnel

June 2011

Cat E-Series Hammers vs. Atlas-Copco, NPK and Tramac

GEJH2021

Cat H110E s H115E s H120E s H130E s

Atlas-Copco MB750 MB1000 MB1200 MB1500 MB1700

NPK GH6 E208 GH9 GH10

Tramac 700 MS 900 MS V1200

Cat is furthering our commitment to the hammer business. The proof is the new E-series models H110E s, H115E s, H120E s and H130E s. These hammers are configured for small and medium excavators and the 450E backhoe loader. These first four models represent the next step in a long-standing dedication to the hammer business.

E-series Hammers utilize Cat carrier, hydraulic, and metallurgy expertise through the design and manufacturing process. E-series hammers are wholly designed, engineered and manufactured by Caterpillar making Caterpillar the best source for a complete hammer and carrier solution. A new high tech engineering and manufacturing facility is located in North America.

This new technology and refinement of established designs sets the Cat hammer offering well above those of other hammer manufacturers. This document outlines key points of comparison between Cat, Atlas-Copco, NPK and Tramac hammers, and shows how E-series hammers have advantages over competitive hammer manufacturers.

Cat E-Series Atlas-Copco NPK Tramac

2System Integration

Cat E-Series Hammer Cat E-series hammers have been designed by Caterpillar engineers, built in Caterpillar facilities and sold by Caterpillar dealers for optimum performance on Cat machines. From the smallest detail, these hammers and machines are built to work as a seamless system, without compromise or adaptation. Cat offers a total system solution for their customers. Cat will stand behind the system and resolve any issue completely. This level of product support is exclusive to Cat in the hammer business.

Atlas-CopcoAtlas-Copco sells hammers through a limited dealer network, and directly to customers. Their support focuses on the hammer only and not all locations have a nearby support location. Troubleshooting the hammer-machine system requires additional support from the carrier manufacturer. They do not offer a complete system solution.

NPKNPK manufactures hydraulic hammers, but has no exclusive agreements or distribution relationships with any specific carrier manufacturer. Results of this are a generic design, manufactured to work on a range of carriers with different configurations. This can cause multiple problems for the end user. Many times the hammer is not purchased from the carrier distributor, when product support issues arise, conflicts between the two dealers can and will arise there is no single source of customer support. The NPK hammer is not engineered for optimum performance on a specific carrier requiring additional servicing there is no single source of customer support and resolution of related problems are beyond the capability of NPK customer support.

TramacTramac hammers are not fully compatible with Cat machine hydraulics. Hose connections are opposite those of Cat auxiliary lines, thus hoses will be crossed, and rubbing constantly during operation. The use of non-Cat fittings on Tramac hammers further complicates installation and can lead to leakage and additional maintenance.

Cat hammers are part of an integrated system - and the entire system is backed by the global Cat Support Network.

Atlas-Copco supports only the hammer, not the hydraulics or machine.

Tramac's mismatched port connections and non-standard hydraulic fittings are a poor fit for Cat excavators.

NPK hammers do not work well with Cat backhoes.

3Hammer Components

Cat E-SeriesCat E-series incorporates an auto shut-off feature that eliminates blank firing. The system is integral to the hammer, based on inlet port relation to the piston position.

This auto shut-off eliminates any blank firing, avoiding high fatigue on tie rods, and improving reliability. The auto shut-off feature provides both new and experienced operators easier control of the hammer. This increases productivity and reduces wear on hammer.

Atlas-Copco Atlas-Copco hammers have an automatic shut-off substantially similar to that in Cat E-series hammers.

NPK NPK does not offer any integrated automatic shut-off feature in their hammers. The hammer cannot and will not prevent blank firing of the piston, resulting in high internal stresses to critical components.

TramacAuto shut-off of the Tramac hammers is similar to that of the Cat and Atlas-Copco designs.

Automatic Shut-Off

4Autolube

Cat E-seriesCat offers two autolube systems. Carrier-mounted autolube is best suited for dedicated hammer applications, and has a large volume grease canister. Hammer-mounted autolube is ideal for rental applications, as the autolube travels with the hammer.

Both systems offer continuous grease flow during operation and are adjustable to match application requirements for any Cat hammer model. Use of Cat hammer paste in the autolube will give maximum service life of the lower bushing and tool.

Atlas-CopcoAtlas-Copco includes a Conti-Lube hammer-mounted autolube system standard with their hammers. The Conti-Lube only injects a single pulse of grease as the hammer starts. Thus only by stopping and starting does the hammer get grease during operation. Atlas-Copco hammers either do not get sufficient grease during long runs, or they must be continually stopped and restarted, with possible impact to production.

NPKNPK offers an optional carrier-mounted autolube system. It is not manufacturer-specific, so the lines and mounting must be modified to fit the host machine. Grease flow rate adjustment requires changing an injector. Adjusting the system requires keeping a range of injectors on-hand.

Further, the autolube stays with the machine, not the hammer. Moving the hammer to another machine requires additional labor to move the autolube, or additional cost and labor to install autolube on the new carrier. This adds cost and complexity for rental fleet hammers.

Autolube connection points are low on the hammer body, where they are vulnerable to damage. The autolube port on NPK hammers is the same dimension as, and immediately adjacent to, the air connection port. The opportunity for incorrect installation, and subsequent hammer damage, is a high possibility.

TramacTramac offers an autolube port on their hammers which is adaptable to an external grease system. Greasing system offered is typically a one shot circuit, much like the Atlas Copco Conti-Lube, Tramac's autolube system requires the hammer to stop operation in order to get a new shot of grease into the hammer. The result is either greater hammer wear, or decreased productivity.

Cat hammer-mounted autolube is well protected, yet fully accessible and visible to the operator.

The Conti-Lube is mounted on the side of the hammer, thus is harder to see from the cab. It is unprotected.

NPK air and grease ports are difficult to differentiate, leading to incorrect installations and hammer damage.

Tramac autolube requires modification to the excavator boom for mounting the grease canister.

5Integral Silencing

Cat E-Series Cat hammers are standard with silencing features. The housing is fully enclosed, and all openings are covered with rubber sound damping material. The E-series design includes a new lower buffer, which further decreases the sound level. Noise reduction is essential while operating in urban environments, where many jurisdictions are mandating maximum allowable noise levels at job sites.

Atlas-CopcoAtlas-Copco hammers are also integrally silenced.

NPKNPK hammers cannot be silenced. The three-sided box design of the housing is open at the rear, depriving the NPK hammer of any really effective solution for noise reduction.

TramacTramac hammers are integrally silenced.

Integral silencing means quiet productivity, an important consideration in urban settings.

The open rear of the NPK housing means no sound suppression is possible.

Tramac hammer has a fully-enclosed housing.

6Housing ConstructionReversible Housing

Cat E-SeriesWhen a hammer works in a production or quarry application, wear to the rock edge and lower housing is accelerated. The E-series hammer housing is symmetrical and fully reversible. If the housing has worn past spec, the housing can be rotated 180 degrees to bring the new side into service. Housing life is doubled, saving maintenance dollars. This design allows for replacement and rebuilding of the housing and rock claw in the field, extending serviceability and lowering owning and operating costs.

Atlas-CopcoThe Atlas-Copco hammer housing is not reversible. Wear to the lower housing requires either rebuilding or replacement, which must be done in the shop. Repairs are time-consuming and expensive.

NPKNPK hammer housings cannot be rotated. Wear requires rebuilding of two sides of the U box section. This three-sided design is vulnerable to torsional stresses and more easily damaged than a fully-enclosed design like the Cat hammer.

TramacTramac also has a non-rotatable housing. As with the other hammers, damage to the housing requires rebuilding or replacement of the housing.

E-Series hammer housings are symmetrical. They can be rotated front-to-back, doubling the service life.

NPK housing is open on one side, and is not reversible.

7Wear Package

Cat E-SeriesIn high abrasion applications, the E-series can be equipped with an optional wear package. This additional wear material armors the lower housing with weld-on plates of abrasion-resistant steel. Individual plates can be replaced, reducing repair costs.

Atlas-CopcoThere is no provision for additional wear material.

NPKNo offering of additional wear material.

TramacNo offering of additional wear material.

Wear package protects all four sides and corners of the lower housing.

8Replaceable Rock Edges

Cat E-SeriesThe Cat engineered housing has a simple, straightforward design allowing for easier repair and maintenance by dealer or customer. The E-series features a replaceable, wear-resistant rock edge engineered to simplify rebuilding. Unlike previous designs, the rock edge is not integral to the housing welded on, it is easily repaired or replaced. Housing life is extended, and owning and operating costs are lowered.

Atlas-CopcoA thin wear strip around the base of the housing is servicable. However, after enough wear accumulates, the entire housing must be replaced, driving up costs. The rock claw itself is part of the housing and is not replaceable.

NPKNPK hammers do not have any replaceable wear surfaces on the housing. Wear past spec requires the entire housing to be replaced.

TramacTramac hammers have replaceable wear bars around the base of the housing. However, any wear that penetrates the wear strips or which damages the housing itself, will require the whole housing to be replaced.

Rock claw is a non-replaceable part of the housing.

9Suspension/Buffer System

Cat E-SeriesThe E-series suspension system offers protection, supports and guides the power cell of the hammer to protect the carrier and improve durability.

The power cell is suspended by two side buffers. Above the power cell, a large top buffer absorbs the vibration from the hammer, preventing damaging impulses from reaching the carrier. The side buffers stabilize reflective forces and dampen tie rod loading. The side buffers can be inspected easily during a daily walkaround. The new lower buffer protects the power cell from impacts against the lower housing.

The lower power cell is surrounded by a framework of full length interlocking quad wear plates that improve hammer guidance and operator feel. These can be rotated 90 degrees around the power cell, doubling service life.

The power cell is entirely isolated from the housing by the suspension system, with no metal-to-metal contact.

Atlas-CopcoThe suspension and internal support system of the Atlas-Copco hammers is similar to that of the Cat hammer. However, the side and top buffers are much denser, requiring more force to compress. As a consequence, more of the hammer's vibration is transmitted back to the carrier.

Atlas-Copco utilizes a cross design on the top buffer, providing less support than the E-series buffer. Side buffers are smaller and inaccessible for visual inspection. Wear plate guidance of the front housing is only front and back. Sides of the power cell are in contact with the housing, wearing metal to metal. This damages both the housing and the power cell, leading to expensive rebuilds.

NPKNPK's passive suspension system transfers shock loads into the carrier stick and boom as side buffers stretch. A plastic stopper on top limits side buffer movement. Side buffers, as they vibrate, allow the power cell to stop on the limiter and transfer loads into the stick.

The guidance system incorporates a side buffer, and small buffers top and bottom inside the U-box housing with bolt on guides on front face top an bottom.

TramacTramac has the most complex suspension system offered on a hydraulic hammer. The top buffer combines a dome-shaped adapter ring, laminated to a top plate increasing the cost and complexity of the dampening system.

Side buffers are internal to the housing, but provide minimal protection for the valve body. This tends to cause damage to the valve body as it vibrates against the housing.

The guidance system of the front head has external retention. Tightening these bolts is part of the daily maintenance schedule. If neglected, the wear plates can come loose internally, causing accelerated wear to the power cell.

E-series suspension system isolates the carrier from vibration, and protects

the power cell.

Tramac top buffer is complex expensive to service or replace.

Side suspension is subject to shear, rather than compressive, loads. Less effective and they wear quickly.

Top stopper is small and dense, offering

little vibration protection for the stick

and machine.

Guideplates only protect the front and back of the power cell.

10

Serviceability

Cat E-SeriesThe E-series carries forward gas charging accessibility common to all Cat large hammers. The pressure level can be checked and the nitrogen can be re-charged while the hammer remains installed on the carrier the accumulator test port is accessible from the front of the hammer.

Gas checking and refilling can be done in the field with common tools, for simple pre-delivery inspection or a routine field check.

Atlas-CopcoThis hammer has a nitrogen filling location on the back head, similar to the Cat E-series.

NPKN/A. NPK hammers do not use a high-pressure accumulator.

TramacThe fill/test port on the Tramac accumulator is on top of the power cell. To use it, the hammer must be dismounted from the machine, and then the bracket removed. Special tooling is required to install the gas charging equipment.

This entire process typically takes 6 to 8 hours of labor. Pre-delivery inspection in the field is impossible

Testing & Adjusting,Accumulator Charging

Special tooling is needed to charge the Tramac accumulator - after it's been removed from the machine.

Cat accumulators can be checked or recharged easily in the field, using tools found on any service truck.

11

Lower Bushing

Cat E-SeriesCat hammers use a steel, slip fit, rotatable bushing which makes maintenance of this common wear part very easy. As wear reaches the limit, the bushing can be rotated 90 degrees, doubling the wear life of the bushing, reducing parts costs.

When it is serviced, the Cat bushing is slip fit. It can be removed with a bushing puller and common hand tools all while the hammer remains mounted on the carrier. Changing the bushing is a matter of an hour or so, and can be done on site. Customer owning and operating cost is lowered.

Atlas-Copco

NPKLower tool bushing removal is complicated and time consuming. To fully remove the bushing and install a new one requires cutting out the old, and freezing to insert the new. Replacing bushing averages approximately 8 hours of down time.

TramacTramac pressed-in bushings require a scheduled maintenance trip to a shop for removal, where they must be removed and replaced by a hydraulic press. Lack of field replacement or rotation increases the risk of operator over-extending bushing wear past the limits, and increasing risk of internal damage to hammer components.

The Atlas-Copco lower bushing must be cut out with a torch, or pressed out - a complicated removal system, leading to longer down times.

Lower bushings on Atlas-Copco hammers slip in, but must be burnt out with a torch.

NPK lower bushings must be cut out with a torch.

The information contained herein is intended for circulation only to Caterpillar and dealer employees whose duties require knowledge of such reports and is intended exclusively for their information and training. It may contain unverified analysis and facts observed by various Caterpillar or dealer employees. However, effort has been made to provide reliable results regarding any information comparing Caterpillar built and competitive machines. Effort has been made to use the latest available spec sheet and other material in the full understanding that these are subject to change without notice. Any reproduction of this release without the foregoing explanation is prohibited.

2011 Caterpillar All rights reserved. Printed in USACAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos and Caterpillar Yellow, as well as corporate and product identity

used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

Product Specifications

GEJH2021June 2011

This bulletin is intended as a guide to competitive advantages of the Cat E-series Hammers. For assistance in selecting and ordering work tools, please contact CWTS order analysts at 1-800-255-2372.

Cat 110E s vs. CompetitorsRated Flow Operating Weight*

Operating Pressure

Carrier Weight Range

Tool Diameter

Model BPM lpm (gpm) kg (lb) kPa (psi) t (lb) mm (in)Cat 110E s 450-1000 60-120 (16-32) 1015 (2237) 16000 (2320) 7-16 (17600-35200) 99 (3.9)NPK GH6 500-800 90-150 (24-40) 975 (2150) 16550 (2400) 11-16 (24200-34100) 107 (4.2)Tramac 700MS 385-885 80-140 (21-37) 1017 (2242) 14825 (2150) 13-22 (28600-48400) 112 (4.4)Atlas-Copco MB 1000 370-800 80-130 (22-34) 998 (2200) 18000 (2610) 12-21 (26500-46300) 109 (4.3)* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.

Cat 115E s vs. CompetitorsRated Flow Operating Weight*

Operating Pressure

Carrier Weight Range

Tool Diameter

Model BPM lpm (gpm) kg (lb) kPa (psi) t (lb) mm (in)Cat 115E s 370-800 70-130 (18-34) 1178 (2596) 15000 (2175) 12-20 (26400-44000) 109 (4.3)NPK E208 430-780 100-180 (26-48) 1315 (2900) 17850 (2587) 14-21 (30800-46200) 127 (5.0)Tramac 900MS 400-800 100-150 (26-40) 1152 (2540) 12500 (1813) 16-28 (36300-61600) 117 (4.6)Atlas-Copco MB 1200 340-680 100-140 (26-37) 1202 (2650) 18000 (2610) 15-26 (3100-57300) 119 (4.7)* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.

Cat 120E s vs. CompetitorsRated Flow Operating Weight*

Operating Pressure

Carrier Weight Range

Tool Diameter

Model BPM lpm (gpm) kg (lb) kPa (psi) t (lb) mm (in)Cat 120E s 350-620 100-170 (26-45) 1579 (3480) 15000 (2175) 17-26 (37400-57200) 119 (4.7)NPK GH9 500-670 150-200 (40-53) 1633 (3600) 17925 (2600) 20-28 (44000-61600) 127 (5.0)Tramac V1200MS 370-770 120-170 (32-45) 1696 (3740) 15500 (2250) 20-33 (44000-72600) 122 (4.8)Atlas-Copco MB 1500 330-640 120-150 (31-40) 1497 (3300) 18000 (2610) 17-29 (37400-63800) 135 (5.3)* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.

Cat 130E s vs. CompetitorsRated Flow Operating Weight*

Operating Pressure

Carrier Weight Range

Tool Diameter

Model BPM lpm (gpm) kg (lb) kPa (psi) t (lb) mm (in)Cat 130E s 320-600 120-220 (32-58) 1886 (4158) 15000 (2175) 19-32 (41800-70400) 130 (5.1)NPK GH10 400-550 170-210 (44-55) 1905 (4200) 17925 (2600) 23-33 (50600-72600) 127 (5.0)Tramac V32MS 285-1050 120-170 (32-45) 1542 (3400) 13450 (1950) 20-40 (44000-88000) 122 (4.8)Atlas-Copco MB 1700 320-600 130-160 (34-42) 1701 (3750) 18000 (2610) 19-32 (41900-70500) 140 (5.5)* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.