Cat Product Information

Americas South Competitive Bulletin

June 2011

Cat E-Series Hammers

vs. Atlas-Copco, NPK and Tramac

Cat E-Series

Cat

H110E s
H115E s
H120E s
H130E s

Atlas-Copco
MB750
MB1000
MB1200
MB1500
MB1700

NPK

GH6
E208
GH9
GH10

Atlas-Copco

NPK

Tramac

Cat is furthering our commitment to the hammer business. The proof is the new
E-series models H110Es, H115Es, H120Es and H130Es. These hammers are
configured for small and medium excavators and the 450E backhoe loader. These
first four models represent the next step in a long-standing dedication to the
hammer business.
E-series Hammers utilize Cat carrier, hydraulic, and metallurgy expertise through
the design and manufacturing process. E-series hammers are wholly designed,
engineered and manufactured by Caterpillar making Caterpillar the best
source for a complete hammer and carrier solution. A new high tech engineering
and manufacturing facility is located in North America.
This new technology and refinement of established designs sets the Cat hammer
offering well above those of other hammer manufacturers. This document
outlines key points of comparison between Cat, Atlas-Copco, NPK and Tramac
hammers, and shows how E-series hammers have advantages over competitive
hammer manufacturers.

Tramac
700 MS
900 MS
V1200

For Dealer Sales Personnel

GEJH2021

System Integration

Cat hammers are part of an integrated

system - and the entire system is backed
by the global Cat Support Network.

Atlas-Copco supports only the

hammer, not the hydraulics or
machine.

Cat E-Series Hammer

Atlas-Copco

Cat E-series hammers have been designed by

Atlas-Copco sells hammers through a limited dealer

network, and directly to customers. Their support
focuses on the hammer only and not all locations have a
nearby support location. Troubleshooting the hammermachine system requires additional support from the
carrier manufacturer. They do not offer a complete system
solution.

Caterpillar engineers, built in Caterpillar facilities and

sold by Caterpillar dealers for optimum performance on
Cat machines. From the smallest detail, these hammers
and machines are built to work as a seamless system,
without compromise or adaptation. Cat offers a total
system solution for their customers. Cat will stand behind
the system and resolve any issue completely. This level
of product support is exclusive to Cat in the hammer
business.

Tramac's mismatched port

connections and non-standard
hydraulic fittings are a poor fit for Cat
excavators.

NPK hammers do not work well with

Cat backhoes.

NPK
NPK manufactures hydraulic hammers, but has no
exclusive agreements or distribution relationships with
any specific carrier manufacturer. Results of this are
a generic design, manufactured to work on a range of
carriers with different configurations. This can cause
multiple problems for the end user. Many times the
hammer is not purchased from the carrier distributor,
when product support issues arise, conflicts between
the two dealers can and will arise there is no single
source of customer support. The NPK hammer is not
engineered for optimum performance on a specific carrier
requiring additional servicing there is no single source
of customer support and resolution of related problems are
beyond the capability of NPK customer support.
2

Tramac
Tramac hammers are not fully compatible with Cat
machine hydraulics. Hose connections are opposite those
of Cat auxiliary lines, thus hoses will be crossed, and
rubbing constantly during operation. The use of nonCat fittings on Tramac hammers further complicates
installation and can lead to leakage and additional
maintenance.

Hammer Components
Automatic Shut-Off
Cat E-Series

Atlas-Copco

Cat E-series incorporates an auto shut-off feature that

eliminates blank firing. The system is integral to the
hammer, based on inlet port relation to the piston position.

Atlas-Copco hammers have an automatic shut-off

substantially similar to that in Cat E-series hammers.

This auto shut-off eliminates any blank firing, avoiding

high fatigue on tie rods, and improving reliability. The
auto shut-off feature provides both new and experienced
operators easier control of the hammer. This increases
productivity and reduces wear on hammer.

NPK

Tramac

NPK does not offer any integrated automatic shut-off

feature in their hammers. The hammer cannot and will
not prevent blank firing of the piston, resulting in high
internal stresses to critical components.

Auto shut-off of the Tramac hammers is similar to that of

the Cat and Atlas-Copco designs.

Autolube

The Conti-Lube is mounted on the side

of the hammer, thus is harder to see
from the cab. It is unprotected.

Cat E-series

Cat hammer-mounted autolube is

well protected, yet fully accessible
and visible to the operator.

Atlas-Copco

Cat offers two autolube systems. Carrier-mounted

autolube is best suited for dedicated hammer applications,
and has a large volume grease canister. Hammer-mounted
autolube is ideal for rental applications, as the autolube
travels with the hammer.

Atlas-Copco includes a Conti-Lube hammer-mounted

autolube system standard with their hammers. The
Conti-Lube only injects a single pulse of grease as the
hammer starts. Thus only by stopping and starting does
the hammer get grease during operation. Atlas-Copco
hammers either do not get sufficient grease during long
runs, or they must be continually stopped and restarted,
with possible impact to production.

Both systems offer continuous grease flow during

operation and are adjustable to match application
requirements for any Cat hammer model. Use of Cat
hammer paste in the autolube will give maximum service
life of the lower bushing and tool.

NPK air and grease ports are difficult

to differentiate, leading to incorrect
installations and hammer damage.

Tramac autolube requires

modification to the excavator
boom for mounting the grease
canister.

NPK
NPK offers an optional carrier-mounted autolube system.
It is not manufacturer-specific, so the lines and mounting
must be modified to fit the host machine. Grease flow rate
adjustment requires changing an injector. Adjusting the
system requires keeping a range of injectors on-hand.

Tramac
Tramac offers an autolube port on their hammers which is
adaptable to an external grease system. Greasing system
offered is typically a one shot circuit, much like the Atlas
Copco Conti-Lube, Tramac's autolube system requires
the hammer to stop operation in order to get a new shot
of grease into the hammer. The result is either greater
hammer wear, or decreased productivity.

Further, the autolube stays with the machine, not the

hammer. Moving the hammer to another machine requires
additional labor to move the autolube, or additional cost
and labor to install autolube on the new carrier. This adds
cost and complexity for rental fleet hammers.
Autolube connection points are low on the hammer
body, where they are vulnerable to damage. The autolube
port on NPK hammers is the same dimension as, and
immediately adjacent to, the air connection port. The
opportunity for incorrect installation, and subsequent
hammer damage, is a high possibility.
4

Integral Silencing

Integral silencing means

quiet productivity, an
important consideration in
urban settings.

Cat E-Series

Atlas-Copco

Cat hammers are standard with silencing features. The

housing is fully enclosed, and all openings are covered
with rubber sound damping material. The E-series design
includes a new lower buffer, which further decreases the
sound level. Noise reduction is essential while operating
in urban environments, where many jurisdictions are
mandating maximum allowable noise levels at job sites.

Atlas-Copco hammers are also integrally silenced.

The open rear of the NPK housing

means no sound suppression is
possible.

Tramac hammer has a fullyenclosed housing.

NPK

Tramac

NPK hammers cannot be silenced. The three-sided box

design of the housing is open at the rear, depriving the
NPK hammer of any really effective solution for noise
reduction.

Tramac hammers are integrally silenced.

Housing Construction
Reversible Housing

E-Series hammer housings are

symmetrical. They can be rotated frontto-back, doubling the service life.

Cat E-Series

Atlas-Copco

When a hammer works in a production or quarry

application, wear to the rock edge and lower housing is
accelerated. The E-series hammer housing is symmetrical
and fully reversible. If the housing has worn past spec,
the housing can be rotated 180 degrees to bring the
new side into service. Housing life is doubled, saving
maintenance dollars. This design allows for replacement
and rebuilding of the housing and rock claw in the
field, extending serviceability and lowering owning and
operating costs.

The Atlas-Copco hammer housing is not reversible.

Wear to the lower housing requires either rebuilding or
replacement, which must be done in the shop. Repairs are
time-consuming and expensive.

NPK housing is open on one side, and is

not reversible.

NPK

Tramac

NPK hammer housings cannot be rotated. Wear requires

rebuilding of two sides of the U box section. This threesided design is vulnerable to torsional stresses and more
easily damaged than a fully-enclosed design like the Cat
hammer.

Tramac also has a non-rotatable housing. As with the

other hammers, damage to the housing requires rebuilding
or replacement of the housing.

Wear Package

Wear package protects all four sides

and corners of the lower housing.

Cat E-Series

Atlas-Copco

In high abrasion applications, the E-series can be

equipped with an optional wear package. This additional
wear material armors the lower housing with weld-on
plates of abrasion-resistant steel. Individual plates can be
replaced, reducing repair costs.

There is no provision for additional wear material.

NPK

Tramac

No offering of additional wear material.

No offering of additional wear material.

Replaceable Rock Edges

Rock claw is a nonreplaceable part of the

housing.

Cat E-Series

Atlas-Copco

The Cat engineered housing has a simple, straightforward

design allowing for easier repair and maintenance by
dealer or customer. The E-series features a replaceable,
wear-resistant rock edge engineered to simplify
rebuilding. Unlike previous designs, the rock edge is not
integral to the housing welded on, it is easily repaired
or replaced. Housing life is extended, and owning and
operating costs are lowered.

A thin wear strip around the base of the housing is

servicable. However, after enough wear accumulates,
the entire housing must be replaced, driving up costs.
The rock claw itself is part of the housing and is not
replaceable.

NPK

Tramac

NPK hammers do not have any replaceable wear surfaces

on the housing. Wear past spec requires the entire housing
to be replaced.

Tramac hammers have replaceable wear bars around the

base of the housing. However, any wear that penetrates
the wear strips or which damages the housing itself, will
require the whole housing to be replaced.

Suspension/Buffer System
E-series suspension system isolates
the carrier from vibration, and protects
the power cell.

Cat E-Series
The E-series suspension system offers
protection, supports and guides the power
cell of the hammer to protect the carrier and
improve durability.

Guideplates only protect the front and

back of the power cell.

The power cell is suspended by two side

buffers. Above the power cell, a large
top buffer absorbs the vibration from the
hammer, preventing damaging impulses
from reaching the carrier. The side buffers
stabilize reflective forces and dampen tie rod
loading. The side buffers can be inspected
easily during a daily walkaround. The new
lower buffer protects the power cell from
impacts against the lower housing.

Atlas-Copco
The suspension and internal support system of the AtlasCopco hammers is similar to that of the Cat hammer.
However, the side and top buffers are much denser,
requiring more force to compress. As a consequence,
more of the hammer's vibration is transmitted back to the
carrier.
Atlas-Copco utilizes a cross design on the top buffer,
providing less support than the E-series buffer. Side
buffers are smaller and inaccessible for visual inspection.
Wear plate guidance of the front housing is only front
and back. Sides of the power cell are in contact with the
housing, wearing metal to metal. This damages both the
housing and the power cell, leading to expensive rebuilds.

The lower power cell is surrounded by a framework of

full length interlocking quad wear plates that improve
hammer guidance and operator feel. These can be rotated
90 degrees around the power cell, doubling service life.
The power cell is entirely isolated from the housing by the
suspension system, with no metal-to-metal contact.
Side suspension is subject to shear, rather than
compressive, loads. Less effective and they wear
quickly.

NPK

Tramac top buffer is

complex expensive to
service or replace.

Top stopper is small

and dense, offering
little vibration
protection for the stick
and machine.

Tramac
Tramac has the most complex suspension system offered
on a hydraulic hammer. The top buffer combines a domeshaped adapter ring, laminated to a top plate increasing
the cost and complexity of the dampening system.

NPK's passive suspension system transfers shock loads

into the carrier stick and boom as side buffers stretch. A
plastic stopper on top limits side buffer movement. Side
buffers, as they vibrate, allow the power cell to stop on the
limiter and transfer loads into the stick.

Side buffers are internal to the housing, but provide

minimal protection for the valve body. This tends to
cause damage to the valve body as it vibrates against the
housing.

The guidance system incorporates a side buffer, and small

buffers top and bottom inside the U-box housing with bolt
on guides on front face top an bottom.

The guidance system of the front head has external

retention. Tightening these bolts is part of the daily
maintenance schedule. If neglected, the wear plates can
come loose internally, causing accelerated wear to the
power cell.
9

Serviceability

Testing & Adjusting,

Accumulator Charging

Cat accumulators can be checked or

recharged easily in the field, using tools
found on any service truck.

Cat E-Series

Atlas-Copco

The E-series carries forward gas charging accessibility

common to all Cat large hammers. The pressure level can
be checked and the nitrogen can be re-charged while the
hammer remains installed on the carrier the accumulator
test port is accessible from the front of the hammer.

This hammer has a nitrogen filling location on the back

head, similar to the Cat E-series.

Gas checking and refilling can be done in the field with

common tools, for simple pre-delivery inspection or a
routine field check.

NPK

Special tooling is needed to charge the Tramac accumulator after it's been removed from the machine.

N/A. NPK hammers do not use a high-pressure

accumulator.

Tramac
The fill/test port on the Tramac accumulator is on top of
the power cell. To use it, the hammer must be dismounted
from the machine, and then the bracket removed. Special
tooling is required to install the gas charging equipment.
This entire process typically takes 6 to 8 hours of labor.
Pre-delivery inspection in the field is impossible
10

Lower Bushing

Cat E-Series
Cat hammers use a steel, slip fit, rotatable bushing which
makes maintenance of this common wear part very easy.

Atlas-Copco

As wear reaches the limit, the bushing can be rotated 90

degrees, doubling the wear life of the bushing, reducing
parts costs.

Lower bushings on Atlas-Copco

hammers slip in, but must be burnt
out with a torch.

The Atlas-Copco lower bushing must be cut out with a

torch, or pressed out - a complicated removal system,
leading to longer down times.

When it is serviced, the Cat bushing is slip fit. It can be

removed with a bushing puller and common hand tools
all while the hammer remains mounted on the carrier.
Changing the bushing is a matter of an hour or so, and can
be done on site. Customer owning and operating cost is
lowered.

NPK lower bushings must be

cut out with a torch.

NPK

Tramac

Lower tool bushing removal is complicated and time

consuming. To fully remove the bushing and install a new
one requires cutting out the old, and freezing to insert the
new. Replacing bushing averages approximately 8 hours
of down time.

Tramac pressed-in bushings require a scheduled

maintenance trip to a shop for removal, where they must
be removed and replaced by a hydraulic press. Lack
of field replacement or rotation increases the risk of
operator over-extending bushing wear past the limits, and
increasing risk of internal damage to hammer components.

11

Product Specifications
Cat 110E s vs. Competitors
Operating
Operating
Weight*
Pressure
lpm
(gpm)
kg
(lb)
kPa
(psi)
Model
BPM
Cat 110E s
450-1000 60-120 (16-32) 1015
(2237) 16000 (2320)
NPK GH6
500-800
90-150 (24-40)
975
(2150) 16550 (2400)
Tramac 700MS
385-885
80-140 (21-37) 1017
(2242) 14825 (2150)
Atlas-Copco MB 1000
370-800
80-130 (22-34)
998
(2200) 18000 (2610)
* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.
Rated Flow

Carrier Weight
Range
t
(lb)
7-16 (17600-35200)
11-16 (24200-34100)
13-22 (28600-48400)
12-21 (26500-46300)

Tool
Diameter
mm
(in)
99
(3.9)
107
(4.2)
112
(4.4)
109
(4.3)

Carrier Weight
Range
t
(lb)
12-20 (26400-44000)
14-21 (30800-46200)
16-28 (36300-61600)
15-26 (3100-57300)

Tool
Diameter
mm
(in)
109
(4.3)
127
(5.0)
117
(4.6)
119
(4.7)

Carrier Weight
Range
t
(lb)
17-26 (37400-57200)
20-28 (44000-61600)
20-33 (44000-72600)
17-29 (37400-63800)

Tool
Diameter
mm
(in)
119
(4.7)
127
(5.0)
122
(4.8)
135
(5.3)

Carrier Weight
Range
t
(lb)
19-32 (41800-70400)
23-33 (50600-72600)
20-40 (44000-88000)
19-32 (41900-70500)

Tool
Diameter
mm
(in)
130
(5.1)
127
(5.0)
122
(4.8)
140
(5.5)

Cat 115E s vs. Competitors

Operating
Operating
Weight*
Pressure
lpm
(gpm)
kg
(lb)
kPa
(psi)
Model
BPM
Cat 115E s
370-800
70-130 (18-34)
1178
(2596) 15000 (2175)
NPK E208
430-780 100-180 (26-48) 1315
(2900) 17850 (2587)
Tramac 900MS
400-800 100-150 (26-40)
1152
(2540) 12500 (1813)
Atlas-Copco MB 1200
340-680 100-140 (26-37) 1202
(2650) 18000 (2610)
* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.
Rated Flow

Cat 120E s vs. Competitors

Operating
Operating
Weight*
Pressure
lpm
(gpm)
kg
(lb)
kPa
(psi)
Model
BPM
Cat 120E s
350-620 100-170 (26-45) 1579
(3480) 15000 (2175)
NPK GH9
500-670 150-200 (40-53) 1633
(3600) 17925 (2600)
Tramac V1200MS
370-770 120-170 (32-45) 1696
(3740) 15500 (2250)
Atlas-Copco MB 1500
330-640 120-150 (31-40) 1497
(3300) 18000 (2610)
* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.
Rated Flow

Cat 130E s vs. Competitors

Operating
Operating
Weight*
Pressure
lpm
(gpm)
kg
(lb)
kPa
(psi)
Model
BPM
Cat 130E s
320-600 120-220 (32-58) 1886
(4158) 15000 (2175)
NPK GH10
400-550 170-210 (44-55) 1905
(4200) 17925 (2600)
Tramac V32MS
285-1050 120-170 (32-45) 1542
(3400) 13450 (1950)
Atlas-Copco MB 1700
320-600 130-160 (34-42) 1701
(3750) 18000 (2610)
* Operating weight includes hammer, standard tool and a bracket based on machine configuration.
Rated Flow

This bulletin is intended as a guide to competitive advantages of the Cat

E-series Hammers. For assistance in selecting and ordering work tools,
please contact CWTS order analysts at 1-800-255-2372.

The information contained herein is intended for circulation only to Caterpillar and dealer employees whose duties require knowledge of such
reports and is intended exclusively for their information and training. It may contain unverified analysis and facts observed by various Caterpillar
or dealer employees. However, effort has been made to provide reliable results regarding any information comparing Caterpillar built and
competitive machines. Effort has been made to use the latest available spec sheet and other material in the full understanding that these are
subject to change without notice. Any reproduction of this release without the foregoing explanation is prohibited.
GEJH2021

June 2011
2011 Caterpillar All rights reserved. Printed in USA
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used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.