The Next Generation of Rental Equipment

Marc Sandmeyer likes to embrace promising technology whenever he can. As Deputy Managing Director of BBL Mietservice, he is always looking for ideas that could make job sites safer and more efficient. His latest move is a world first.

BBL is the first rental company anywhere to offer a machine equipped with Cat^® Command. A new Cat 320 excavator has already been fitted with the remote-control system, while a Cat 336 will follow shortly. Customers will be able to rent the machines alone or with the Cat Command console and a trained operator.

“We like to test new ideas,” says Sandmeyer. “Sometimes a new technology works immediately, and sometimes there is still room for improvement. That’s part of the process. Right now, we’re doing some pioneering work.”

Putting People At A Safer Distance

Cat Command allows an operator to control the excavator from a safe distance using a portable console. For Marc and his team, its value is simple. It helps keep people away from danger while allowing important work to continue.

Instead of sitting in the cab near unstable ground, falling debris or a damaged structure, the operator can choose a safer position with a clear view of the machine and its surroundings. Every movement remains in the operator’s hands, but the person is farther from the hazard.

That could make a real difference in demolition, landfill and quarry applications. After blasting, for example, unstable rock can remain above the work area. Cat Command lets the operator approach the job without entering the most exposed position. It could also reduce exposure to dust, fumes and other environmental hazards.

BBL can take on projects in hazardous environments that other companies would have to decline

Oliver Backes

Sales Representative

Zeppelin

As was highlighted during a recent project working around damaged wind turbines, when a nacelle and rotor fell from a height of 125 meters and became embedded in the ground. “Cat Command is perfectly suited to projects like this,” Sandmeyer explains. “The operator doesn’t have to remain inside the cab and is therefore not exposed to the associated risks.”

Building Confidence Through Training

Sandmeyer quickly felt at home with the console because BBL’s rental cranes use similar controls. He believes an experienced excavator operator could become comfortable with it in about a day.

For Sandmeyer, good technology is only part of the story. Giving people the confidence to use it safely matters just as much. Employees and customers will practice at BBL’s test site, learning how to position themselves, maintain a clear view and understand the machine’s movements in realistic conditions.

BBL knows how new ideas can grow. Back in 2016, they offered a single machine with 3D control. Today, they have more than 40 in their fleet, with another 80 machines prepared for the technology. Sandmeyer believes Cat Command will follow a similar path.

More Than Handing Over The Keys

BBL serves customers across Germany and Europe with 450 machines, including 300 Cat models. Yet Sandmeyer says its work has always been about more than handing over the keys. “We see ourselves as a service provider and problem solver,” he says. “We work closely with every customer, offering advice and solutions tailored to their project.”

For BBL, offering the world’s first machine equipped with Cat Command is more than a technology milestone. It is a chance to help customers take on difficult jobs with greater confidence, while looking after the people who make those jobs possible.