First Cat® PM102 Cold Planer Sails into Guadeloupe

The Cat^® dealer Medibam recently completed delivery of the first Cat PM102 Cold Planer to the eastern Caribbean Sea archipelago of Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe, a handful of islands and one of many French overseas regions, is best known for its warm subtropical climate and beautiful beaches and is, therefore, a popular European tourist destination. It is also known for its abundant sugar cane and banana exports.

Infrastructure keeps Guadeloupe's economy moving...literally! The new Cat PM102 was recently delivered to Guadeloupe paving contractor FPRB (Fabrication et Pose de Revêtement Bitumineux) for a critical road rehabilitation project commissioned by the Regional Counsel of Guadeloupe. The project entailed the resurfacing of a well-travelled stretch of highway linking industrial areas of Jarry to the Pointe à Pitre International airport (terminal Pôle Caraïbe). The entire project required removal of 84,850 square meters of material prior to asphalt resurfacing.

Logistics of the project were complicated by the fact that traffic could not be shut down during the construction. Therefore, from the minute it hit the pavement, the PM102 needed to perform as expected and without machine downtime. Throughout the project, the machine milled non-stop for periods of six hours or more at a time, and easily met performance expectations.

FPRB had previous experience with the performance and reliability of Caterpillar^® machines, including a Cat PS300C Pneumatic Compactor and three 236B Skid Steer Loaders. According to Roland Ramakasson, Technical engineer for Medibam, the PM102 was selected because of its immediate availability, the quality of the Caterpillar brand, and the exceptional product support and service provided by Medibam.

FPRB's newly hired operator climbed atop the PM102, and with no prior milling experience, completed the project within the allotted timeframe and at the required levels of performance. Medibam says that the customer is quite happy with the milling machine, as it matches their high expectations. Ramakasson, who completed PM102 technical and operations training at the Minerbio Training Center last June, remained on site for two consecutive days to guarantee customer satisfaction and ensure project specifications were met or exceeded.

Cat PM102 Cuts a Quick Path to Project Success

The compact-sized PM102 has an operating weight of 17,600 km, with a maximum rotor width of 1,000 mm and a maximum rotor depth of 305 mm. Its high-production rotor design provides maximum breakout force, and employs 97 carbide-tipped tools with quick-release conical tool holders for fast and effortless tool removal. A Cat C7 engine with ACERT^TM Technology provides clean-burning power; 168 kW/228 hp (gross power) rated at 2200 rpm. It meets European EU Stage IIIA emission regulations for off-road applications, and is designed to ensure maximum performance even in the most demanding job specifications. Automatic grade and slope controls, a hydraulically controlled flush cutting feature, enhanced operator visibility, ease-of-operation, and comfort, round out its host of world-class features.

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