Here´s a pdf-file with some nice pics of the 6020B: http://www.baublatt.de/archiv/2013_2/6.pdf

I´m looking forward to see it in person next week.

---

Leo

I do like the very simplistic look and design. By that, I mean, I like how it seems only the minimum structures required have been added, and large open areas have remained open, instead of enclosing them in a giant box for aesthetics. I like how the engine and hydraulics appear to be in their own module. This will likely be a big selling point to contractors using the machines for construction work, as it will probably mean the machine is quicker and easier to move between jobs than, say, an EX1900 would be.

I really hope they are able to make a good performer out of this one. If they do, it could be a real market dominating machine.

Keep in mind Leo, the 6020B is a prototype, and the EX1900 has been around for quite a while. The more of them they assemble, the more they will refine the assembly procedure, and the faster it will become.

I would also question how many hours per day were worked on either machine, since the crews preparing for the show would probably work fewer hours than crews out in the field.

I didn't mean that they would have been working around the clock, but 10 or 12 hours per day on a site would be more likely, whereas, at the show grounds, I would think 8 hours per day would be about normal.

While the crew may not have assembled a 1900 before, there have been many built, and a set of procedures would have been supplied to the crew to guide them along. With a prototype, there is always a learning curve, and procedures would likely have been re-evauated and changed as the build progressed.

Also, like you mentioned, being a show machine, more care would be needed to make sure nothing was scraped or scratched during the build so it was looking it's best.

Here´s the promised translation. The original text isn´t very informative and not very technically written but nice to have.
The pic-descriptions are left- top to bottom then right - top to bottom.

"Of the assembly of a 220t giant

A group of six mechanics assembled the machine in ten days.

Below HH-pic: It took eight lowloaders to transport the components of the 6020B from Dortmund to Munich.

MUNICH: Already months before Bauma, Munichs open-air exhibition site turned into a gigantic construction site.
Exhibitors from all over the world started the construction and assembly of their trade fair booths.
Excavators and mobile crans move up and down the site. Heavy haulers bring in machines and exhibits of tremendous size.
No less busy, the mechanics in the 16 halls assemble and arrange their exhibits.
The by far biggest exhibit in Hall B6 is the Cateprillar 6020B - a new machine developed in Caterpillars facilities in Dortmund.
The excavator in backhoe configuration will make it´s first worldwide appearance at Bauma and will for sure be the eye-catcher at the booth of Cat and Zeppelin.
The 6020B is the biggest of Cats exhibits at this years Bauma. Therefore we foto-documented the assembly of this 220t-giant.

The first engine-modul is beeing unpacked and prepared to be installed on the machine.

Work on the upper structur is in full swing. Six employees were brought in from Dortmund to assemble the excavator. The complete assembly was scheduled to take ten days.

Without lifts and mobile cranes - nothing would have worked here. Here one of the main boom cylinders is beeing lifted.

The challange for the assembly-crew: Connecting the boom and stick.

Two mobile cranes were needed to place the 76t undercarriage at its determined position.

At first glance the excavator look finished. But minor work takes a lot of time. It took two mechanics two days to attach all the hand rails.
Since the machine will be accessable at Bauma, safety is top priority.

Almost finished, the new 6020B sits in its place. Still to attach are the decals and the spec plate. But the yellow and black paintjob unmistakebly identifies it as a Caterpillar machine."

---

Leo

There is no escaping the "PC2000-esque" big/wide ass aesthetic of this machine, yet nobody is using terms like 'copying' and the like?

You also have to give it to Liebherr and Komatsu though? At least they can install their cab windows straight!

Seriously; if they had just kept the top edge parallel to the roof, the bottom cut would have worked much better in my opinion.

It's interesting that there is no shovel version listed in recent literature?

---

Please use this before clicking "post"??? You may be surprised with what you see!

Well in so far as "copying" it,s like this as far as over all layout goes, you can have the engine module down the right side and then build a big counterweight at the back or you can use the engine module as counterweight, Cat have tried it down the RHS before so probably wanted to distance themselves a little from previous design.

At the end of the day you have to do something radical to make 1 brand of big digger look different to the other, as i said it does look to have a PC2000/EX1900 look about it but ultimately looks will be the last things on peoples minds when it is all said and done, it needs to perform and better than the 2 machines i think it looks like and i am sure it will, but what else would i say!

I wouldn,t read to much into current literature not showing a shovel version at this stage however if you look at the front on pic from the PDF you can see there is no provision for the tri power rods so maybe a shovel in the 200 ton class has been deemed not a big enough seller to warrant the money to make it.

Here is the 6020B spec sheet for those interested.

Now just need 1/50 scale, come on CCM or TWH!!