IRVING,
Texas, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar
Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced it has successfully demonstrated
the fully autonomous operation of its Cat® 777 off-highway truck.
The debut of this latest model of Cat® MineStar™ Command for
hauling at Luck Stone's Bull Run plant in Chantilly, Va., marks a significant milestone
in Caterpillar's objective to deliver an autonomous hauling
solution for the quarry and aggregates sector.
This successful deployment of machinery and technology
highlights the progress being made between Caterpillar and Luck
Stone, the largest family-owned and operated producer of crushed
stone, sand, and gravel in the United
States. In December 2022, Luck
Stone and Caterpillar announced an agreement to accelerate the
development of Caterpillar's autonomous solutions for quarry and
aggregate applications.
This marks Caterpillar's first deployment of autonomous
technology in the aggregates industry and will expand the company's
autonomous truck fleet to include the 100-ton-class
(90-tonne-class) Cat® 777.
Caterpillar has long been recognized as an industry leader in
autonomy, with autonomous trucks on three continents having
traveled more than 325 million kilometers and autonomously moving
more than 8.62 billion tonnes. The current fleet of Caterpillar's
autonomous trucks with Command for hauling moves more tons per year
worldwide than the total annual U.S. crushed stone production. Some
of the world's largest mines are using Cat Command technology to
achieve performance improvements. For two years, Caterpillar has
been embedded with Luck Stone to build expertise in quarry
operations, aiming to develop a system that is scalable and
economically viable for customers across the quarry industry while
also helping them to achieve a step change in safety and
productivity.
"Congratulations to both the Luck Stone and Caterpillar teams
for this outstanding achievement. It's meaningful not just for Bull
Run operations, but for our customers of all sizes as we develop
new technologies to serve the quarry and aggregates as well as
construction industries," said Denise
Johnson, group president of Caterpillar's Resource
Industries. "This hands-on collaboration has accelerated our
ability to scale our proven mining solution for this
sector."
The success of autonomous hauling at Bull Run plant marks the
initial milestone in the collaboration between Caterpillar and Luck
Stone. This achievement lays the foundation for ongoing testing and
validation of assumptions and technology before making autonomous
technology commercially available in the aggregates
industry.
"The successful implementation of an autonomous hauling solution
at our Bull Run Plant is a major accomplishment for Luck Stone
associates, for Caterpillar, and for our industry. Our
mission is to ignite human potential and positively impact the
lives of others, and this project does just that by providing
opportunities and experiences for our associates to grow and learn.
Caterpillar's innovative technology will also improve safety and be
a tool for attracting the next generation of mining
professionals. We're excited for the future and what's next
for autonomy, and thankful for our continued, collaborative
relationship with Caterpillar," said Charlie Luck, Chairman and CEO, Luck
Companies.
About Caterpillar
With 2023 sales and revenues of $67.1
billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading
manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway
diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and
diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been
helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are
committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our
innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer
network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating
through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource
Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing
financing and related services through our Financial Products
segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on
our social media channels
at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html.
About Luck Stone
For over 100 years, Luck Companies has been about people. Four
generations of family leaders have built a business on the idea
that every one of us has the potential to be a leader, that if we
live and lead in alignment with our core values of Integrity,
Commitment, Leadership and Creativity, we can all make a positive
impact on the lives of other people.
Luck Companies' three business units make the products that
serve as the foundation for the bridges, roads and buildings that
keep our economy moving and protect our environment. We have become
the nation's largest and fastest-growing family-owned and operated
producer of crushed aggregates and environmental performance
products by propelling a culture where people can thrive. We
will continue to grow, powering possibilities for associates and
communities, ensuring an exceptional experience for our customers,
and broadening the impact of our mission for generations to
come.
With locations across Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and over 1,000 associates, Luck
Companies is headquartered in Richmond,
Virginia, where it was founded by Charles Luck Jr. in 1923. To learn more, visit
luckcompanies.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caterpillar-paves-the-way-for-future-technology-advancements-with-launch-of-autonomous-cat-777-off-highway-truck-at-luck-stone-quarry-302298799.html
SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.