Caterpillar - Digging, Cultivating And Building The World

Over time, the word “tech” has become closely associated with the software industry. However, technology encompasses much more than only the internet. At its core, technology refers to the application of science and innovation to solve practical challenges. One company that dominates the globe but escapes many people's attention is Caterpillar Inc. It’s the world's largest producer of construction related equipment - crafting some of the world's most used processes and products for building.

The company traces its roots to the Holt Manufacturing Company - founded by Benjamin Holt and his associates in 1890 to produce steam tractor machines. His goal? Make it easier to plant crops in soft, boggy California soil where other kinds of tractors often get stuck. In 1925, it merged with another company C. L. Best to form the entity it is known by today - Caterpillar Incorporated. Since then it went from strength to strength. Below are 5 innovations that the company made important inroads into developing that literally helped build the world.

The Tracks And The Name:

The company started off manufacturing commercially viable continuous tracks after founder Benjamin Holt patented one of the first workable crawler ("caterpillar") tractor designs. Holt was trying to figure out ways to prevent his tractors from sinking into the ground due to its own weight. His solution to this problem was to simply slap massive tracks on. This increases the surface area and distributes the weight of the tractor more evenly across the ground thereby helping prevent sinking. This light bulb moment became the cornerstone of the company's future.

In 1904, this tractor design would be demonstrated and Holt would go on to sell his first tractor for $5,500 or $185,000 in today’s money. Despite the high price, the Caterpillar was still 6 times as cost-effective as horse-drawn combines, so the Caterpillar was a massive hit and extremely profitable.

This design would go on to revolutionize farming and construction since it reduced ground pressure - enabling machines to work in difficult terrains where wheels would get bogged down. 

Despite his innovations, Holt wasn't your typical engineer. He wasn't one for detailed drawings or complex plans. His ideas flowed directly from his mind to the hands of his skilled craftsmen - a testament to his deep understanding of mechanics.

Motor Graders:

Everytime you drive along roads, unless it’s old or has been improperly built or managed, you’ve probably noticed it’s smooth. This is in part due to graders which are machines designed to make slopes or flat surfaces even. One such Caterpillar innovation made this practical – the Auto Patrol. It was the first true commercial motor grader - a device with a blade designed to ensure surfaces have the proper slope during construction. This invention was done in 1931 where the world was in the middle of the Great Depression. Businesses were struggling, people were losing jobs and the whole economy was taking a nosedive. Even Caterpillar themselves were affected. But instead of letting the tough times get them down, Caterpillar continued to innovate - eventually ending up with a device that helped provide us with smooth roads.

Making Use Of Diesel:

Diesel, which has existed since the turn of the 20th century, possesses unique properties like being overall more efficient in terms of power produced per amount of fuel used. In 1931 came the D9900, the first production Caterpillar diesel engine. This wasn't just any engine - it was a product of 18 months of diligent design and testing, backed by a significant investment (over $1 million or over $20 million today). The D9900 proved to be a game-changer and its success wasn't limited to tractors. The engine's core strengths of efficiency, dependability and simplicity resonated across industries. These were the very qualities that made Caterpillar tractors so adaptable for construction work. Seeing the potential of their new engines, Caterpillar began expanding their product range beyond tractors.

Elevated Sprocket:

One of Caterpillar’s hallmark engineering innovations – the elevated sprocket – was designed in 1977. Offering 50 per cent higher productivity than Caterpillar’s largest dozer of that era, it allows machines to work harder and last longer while providing a much smoother ride for the operator. It worked by separating the drive sprockets from the track roller frame and elevating them above the tracks. This design was better able to absorb ground shocks for better durability and greater operator comfort. Today, it’s standard on medium and large Cat® track-type tractors.

Cat Differential Steering System:

One of the major downsides to track-type tractors is operators can spend up to 50 percent of their work time turning. The Cat Differential Steering System, designed in the 1980s, allows machines to turn “on a dime,” increasing productivity so users can get more done in less time. The basic system involves applying more torque to one side of the track than the other. The system improved upon by Caterpillar allows turns from slight to sharp without interruptions to power.

Adding to this, Caterpillar has historically been quite diligent when it comes to social responsibility. They’ve been helping out with disaster recovery events and been a supporter of the Red Cross for 70 years. On the surface, Caterpillar might seem like a boring background company. But, they don’t mind that at all given the impact they’ve had. Despite being relatively unknown to the world outside the construction industry, they played an important role in building it. Apple, Google or Facebook might say we connected the world. Caterpillar on the other hand can say we dug, cultivated and built it.