Cat Trial 3: China Shop

Cat® Mini Excavator Proves It's Not a "Bull in a China Shop"

You’ve used Cat^® machines to dig and haul and push dirt. They’re built to work in the harshest conditions. But some are built to display a little more grace. That’s what you’ll see in Cat Trial 3: China Shop.

Cat mini excavators deliver maximum power in a smaller package and they’re the epitome of grace, designed to give you an unmatched level of precision for the work you do. From patios and decks, where they’re ideal for leveling before you build, to landscaping, where they’re generally light enough not to harm the ground to building pools, as they are small enough to fit in most residential backyards – these machines do great work in tight spaces. Newer versions of these machines feature greater lift capacity, the ability to switch from traditional levers and pedals to joystick and cruise control, as well as a full color LCD monitor with Bluetooth®.

We put that to the test, when we challenged one of our demonstrator operators to steer his Cat^® 301.7 CR Mini Excavator – “the bull” - through our “china shop.” The challenge begins when the machine enters the room, through a narrow doorway, with only an inch or two to spare on either side. And the operator navigates his way around an extremely tight path - packed with more than 3,000 pieces of china, crystal, stemware and other breakable objects.

In case you were wondering:

The shop’s precious contents were valued at more than $40,000 USD.
During the filming of this shoot no pieces on the set were broken. The only three pieces broken were during unpacking and re-packing by the art department.
During the first trial run before filming the action, the operator suggested that the production crew tighten the aisles to make it even more challenging. So, the crew “shrank” the set to maximize the difficulty.

Cat Trial 3: China Shop highlights the maneuverability, versatility that some of your jobs demand… even if it means, “you break it, you bought it” – which we didn’t.

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The “China Shop” video features an operator maneuvering his Cat® 301.7 CR Mini Excavator with the poise of a matador through a crowded shop stocked with over $40,000 in delicate merchandise.

Cat Trials

We always put our products, services, and technology to the test - and the most unique way we do that is the Cat Trials! Find your favorite Cat Trials video here.

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The Making of "China Shop"

Find out some of the interesting facts from the making of the “China Shop” video:

During the first trial run before filming the action, the operator of the 301.7 suggested the production crew tighten the aisles to make it even more of a challenge for him and the 301.7 CR Mini Excavator to maneuver through the aisles and perform the “stunts.” So the crew “shrank” the set to maximize the difficulty.
The shop’s easily breakable contents were valued at over $40,000 USD.
The shop was packed with over 3,000 pieces of china, crystal, stemware and other precious objects, including art works.
Lighting the set took more power than the studio could provide, so a 175,000 watt Cat® Generator was brought in to supply the required power.
To capture footage from all angles required 3 primary cameras and 12 Go Pro cameras.
During the filming of this shoot no pieces on the set were broken. The only three pieces broken were during unpacking and re-packing by the art department.