Touring Australia's Biggest Caterpillar Dealer!

Summary

Join the tour of Westrac's impressive Newcastle campus, the largest Caterpillar dealer in Australia. Explore the state-of-the-art facility featuring a robot army for parts management, a dense storage solution, and a rebuild center that transforms used engines and machinery. Witness the assembly of new equipment, the testing process on dynamometers, and the technology center with remote operation capabilities. Experience the efficiency and innovation that keep Westrac at the forefront of heavy machinery services.

Takeaways

• 📍 Westrac is the largest Cat dealer in Australia, with a significant campus in Newcastle, New South Wales.
• 🤖 Westrac utilizes a 'robot army' for parts picking, which increases efficiency without replacing human jobs.
• 🏭 The parts warehouse is a dense storage solution holding about 40,000 parts, serving the East Coast of Australia.
• 🔧 The rebuild center specializes in engine and component rebuilds, ensuring machines are restored to near-new conditions.
• 🚚 Rebuilt engines are tested on a dyno to confirm their performance before being dispatched to customers.
• 🔧 The rebuild process includes a thorough cleaning, breakdown, reassembly with new parts, and quality testing.
• 🚜 The shop handles the assembly of new machinery, which are shipped in parts and require significant assembly efforts.
• 🛠️ Westrac offers full rebuilds for machines like dozers and trucks, which can reduce costs by about 40% compared to new purchases.
• 💡 The Technology Center features a remote operator station, demonstrating the potential for remote operation of machinery.
• 🧪 An oil testing robot automates the process of analyzing machine fluids, contributing to preventive maintenance and diagnostics.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video script?

The video script primarily focuses on showcasing Westrac's Newcastle campus in New South Wales, Australia, which is the largest Caterpillar dealer in the country. It explores various aspects of the campus including the parts warehouse, rebuild area, and technology center.

What is the role of the robots in Westrac's parts warehouse?

The robots in Westrac's parts warehouse are used to automate the process of picking and sorting parts. They efficiently retrieve parts from storage and bring them to the employees for packaging, thus speeding up the process and improving efficiency without replacing human jobs.

How does the automated storage system in the warehouse work?

The automated storage system in the warehouse uses a dense storage solution with robots that can access about 40,000 parts. The robots rearrange the bins containing parts to optimize the picking process, ensuring the most frequently needed parts are more accessible.

What is the significance of the robot names and how were they chosen?

The robots were named through an internal competition at Westrac, allowing employees to submit names. The chosen names add a personal touch and are meant to be humorous, making the robots more approachable and enjoyable for the staff and visitors.

How does the parts picking process work with the robots?

When an order comes in, the robots locate the required parts, bring the bins to empty lanes, and then pick the parts needed. The parts are then placed into smaller packages, ensuring the customer receives the exact quantity needed.

What is the turnaround time for parts ordered from Westrac's branches on the East Coast of Australia?

If parts are ordered by 3:00 p.m., they are shipped out on a truck and will arrive at the branch by 8:00 a.m. the next day.

What is the purpose of the rebuild center at Westrac's campus?

The rebuild center is where used engines and components are cleaned, inspected, and rebuilt. The process involves breaking down the components, cleaning them, and then reassembling them with new parts to give them a new lease on life.

How does Westrac ensure the quality of rebuilt engines before they are sent to customers?

Rebuilt engines are tested on a dyno to ensure they are functioning perfectly. The engines are ramped up and down and fully loaded to simulate real-world conditions and confirm there are no issues before delivery.

What is the typical process for building a new machine at Westrac's facility?

New machines are shipped in pieces from the factory and then assembled at Westrac's facility. The process involves building up the machine from the frame, adding the drivetrain, and installing all necessary components. Each machine is customized to meet the specific requirements of the customer.

What is the role of the oil testing robot in the technology center?

The oil testing robot in the technology center is used to analyze oil samples from customer machines. It tests for various contaminants like metal shavings, which can indicate potential issues with the machine, and provides data to help diagnose and address any problems.