Featured in Earthmovers Magazine August 2021.

Article by Paul Argent, construction, and demolition industry media specialist.

The hotly fought 13-16t excavator market has recently been added to by Caterpillar with the new 315 compact tail swing machines. Here’s a Cat 315 GC review by Earthmovers Magazine.

This model sits nicely between the very popular 313 conventional machine and the larger 320 model. Both of which have brought the manufacturer and UK dealer FINNING great success over the years. The increase in popularity of smaller machines with a reduced radius design is an area where Caterpillar has been reasonably successful with its outgoing 315F model. Like many models in the ‘Next Gen’ range, the new 315 has been redesigned from the ground up. It provides a spacious and productive machine to challenge the current market leaders in this category.

The new 315 is available in two models, Standard and GC. Looking from the outside, both machines are almost identical with only the GC badging giving a noticeable difference between the two models.

ASHBROOK takes delivery of the first 315GC in the UK.

As seems to be the norm of late, long-term Caterpillar users ASHBROOK from Congleton have been the first company to add these machines to their huge fleet.

“We felt that this size and design was the way to go for our ongoing fleet replacement and updates.” James Ashbrook explained. “There is a big call for the compact tail swing machines on every project at the moment. This new model from Caterpillar meets with all of our requirements across the board.”

315GC Specification

The undercarriage on the new model is a standard 3750mm in length with ASHBROOK opting for the 700mm triple grouser tracks with wider steps to the track frames. Optional 500mm or 600mm tracks can be specified, along with a dozer blade, adding to the machine’s versatility.

The 315 Next Gen cab

Where the most striking changes have taken place is on the cab and upper structure. The outgoing 315FL wasn’t blessed with the good-looking shapes the designers have bestowed onto the new model. The rear of the machine has lost its bulky design. It now looks like many of its competitors. Having a much lower design which incorporates a short, 200mm overhang thanks to a cast counterweight.

The offside of the upper structure contains a well thought out combination of steps and storage compartments. The step on the track frame and well-placed grab handles allows simple access up to the upper structure. Here the fuel filler cap and electric fuel pump are located. The next storage box/step contains the AdBlue tank. Followed by the top of the body and the access panel to the engine bay.

The engine

The new 315 GC takes its power from Caterpillar’s C3.6 Stage V engine which delivers the same 100hp as the outgoing F model. It’s worth noting that it manages to achieve this from a smaller engine. The reduction in engine size is Caterpillar’s nod to decreasing fuel consumption. Therefore, it supports compliance with the stringent emission regulations, something most manufacturers seem to be driving forward of late.

The small engine is hunkered down in the back end of the upper structure. This adds to the low-down weight of the excavator, whilst giving access to all but the top of the engine. Access to this area is likely to be done from underneath the body.

The cab is where major design changes have been made. Gone is the rounded F model cab sitting high on the chassis. It’s replacement is a sleek, new, modern design with masses of glass, giving excellent views from the mechanically suspended seat.

Many of the 315’s competitors will have limited room inside their cab. With this design Caterpillar has managed to eek some good practical space out of the compact tail swing machine. There is enough room behind the seat for a decent sized bag or some select items of PPE.

Where the designers have made a great difference is in placing all of the in-cab controls ahead of the operator. The effect of which is to minimise twisting and turning to find anything. In fact, Caterpillar has worked out that an operator would have twisted over 2000 times per year in previous machines. In addition, the seat offers plenty of movement to allow operators of any size to get comfortable.

A keyless start function with Operator ID is standard although a key is still present for the door lock and panels. The high-resolution 8-inch monitor controls many of the machine settings including setting various attachment parameters and the speed of machine operation.

The hydraulics

The front-end equipment on this particular GC model comprises a 4.65m boom and 2.8m dipper and is topped off with a Miller hydraulic coupler and a set of hammer lines.

The CAT 315GC Next Generation Excavator in use.

We caught up with the first 315GC in the UK at a motocross track on the outskirts of Telford. Here its hirer Barry Morgan was completing a full regrade of the track ahead of the season starting.

Barry runs a number of smaller machines including a Caterpillar 301.7 which he uses to complete a lot of the building and maintenance work at the Caterpillar engine factory in Shrewsbury. “This is the first bigger Cat I’ve been on in a long while.” Barry comments “It’s a really nice machine and very quick!”

The course at Long Lane is operated by the Amateur Motorcycle Association It was last used in late 2020 but due to covid, the track repair after the final race was unable to be completed.

This meant that Barry had to travel the whole course taking out the damage caused by a wet winter. This included rebuilding berms and jumps ready for the next meeting in just over a day’s time! “There’s a bit of damage that needs looking at but all I will do with the Cat is grade everything to a rough level.” Barry advises “I’ll be back tomorrow morning to go around the whole track with a power harrow and get the surface ready for racing.”

Like many who undertake this type of work, Barry, a seasoned rider. He knows what a course should look and race like and tries to ensure it is maintained like that. “It has to flow right and have just enough complexity that riders enjoy their day and find it challenging enough to want to come back again.” Barry explains.

Watching Barry take the machine around the course shows the tracking ability of the 315 GC off to a tee. Whilst steady and stable on the flatter parts of the course, the excavator’s stability and tracking power on the steep gradients was very impressive.

Paul Argents Cat 315 GC review

Usability

Not wanting to miss a chance of a spell on the levers, I quickly took a short time to let Barry have a breather. Allowing me to complete a full Cat 315 GC review after personal experience. The cab is a comfortable space, as you would expect from Caterpillar.

What impressed me more was the room and the vision from the seat. The deep offside windscreen provides an excellent view to the offside track and the low bodywork allows for a good view right around the machine. The addition of a side-mounted camera along with the rear-view unit (360-degree options are available) gives a split-screen view on the monitor and allows me to see right around the machine from the seat.

Hydraulics

The 315 GC is the latest machine to incorporate Caterpillar’s Electrohydraulic joystick system. As Barry alluded to, the machine is very quick. Dropping the boom to grade is probably too quick, cleverly, it is something that can be dialed in to suit a particular operator within the machine’s touchscreen menu. Apart from my ham-fisted operating skills, the 315 GC is a joy to drive, and once acclimated to the machine’s speed, it seems to be a very smooth and capable machine.

Power and noise

One noticeable thing about the Cat is that it is quiet, both in the seat and outside. Even running at maximum rpm, there’s very little noise from the little motor and no strain from the machine even when digging into the hard-baked material. A quick walk around the excavator showed that all daily checks were possible from ground level including refuelling.

Whilst the GC version is seen as an entry-level spec machine, it certainly doesn’t seem a basic product. In terms of engine power, it offers 100hp, the same as the older 315 F L model, but does have a slight drop in power over the higher-spec 315 which has 110hp. This drop isn’t noticeable for most jobs and won’t be unless you’re really undertaking heavy digging or lifting work. The premium cab will suit owner-operators but as a hire machine, the GC ticks all of the boxes.

Technology

Caterpillar’s Visionlink and Product Link features come as standard on the machine along with the Auto hammer stop system. A barrage of LED lights is standard with the whole package wrapped up with typical Japanese built quality. As far as I can see, the new 315 GC marks a line in the metaphorical sand when it comes to this class of excavator. Will anyone out there dare to cross that line?

Having read the Cat 315 GC review, find out more about the ASHBROOK Cat 315 GC Next Generation Excavator.