Caterpillar unveils more tech upgrades

Machinery giant Caterpillar Inc has been striving to better satisfy customer needs in China by launching a smart watch along with a dozen new excavators, executives said.

At the ongoing Bauma China International Trade Fair, which is being held in Shanghai until Friday, the US firm has introduced a number of next-generation excavators to showcase technology advances, including reductions in fuel consumption of as much as 15 percent in some applications. The expo is China's largest trade show in the construction machinery industry.

Thomas Pellette, Caterpillar group president for construction industries, said the move aims to better address customer needs, and help users work "more effectively, efficiently, safely and sustainably."

Caterpillar started to develop the smart device, the Cat Watch, several months ago, when a Chinese customer proposed such an idea. The wearable product can provide weather and location information and track heartbeat and steps. More workplace related functions are under development, the company said.

The watch is currently designed for the Chinese market as a bundle offer for machine purchase, and may be promoted globally if there's a good market, it said.

"This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, which has provided many opportunities for companies like Caterpillar," said Chen Qihua, chairman of Caterpillar China. "We are excited to support our customers as further opportunities result from infrastructure upgrades and urbanization."

Caterpillar also upgraded its after-sales service to include a two-hour response service. If a customer's equipment malfunctions, a Caterpillar dealer within a 50-kilometer radius of the customer's site will reach the scene within two hours to help ensure the smooth progress of the customer's project, the company said.

Although the growth rate in the construction machinery industry slowed in recent months, the whole industry is still growing strongly, Pellette said, adding: "We expect to see growth in 2019."