The loading tool, which has never been presented to the mining public before, promises to lower cost per ton in world-class mining operations.

That Caterpillar is rolling out any sort of mining-sized loading tool itself is the legacy of its takeover of Bucyrus.

For underground coal and soft rock miners comes the next generation EL3000 longwall shearer – another legacy of its Bucyrus buy.

This beastie comes with a state-of-the-art communication system for advanced automation and monitoring.

The Cat longwall system includes personnel proximity detection and underground cameras that can be linked to a surface monitoring centre.

For surface miners there is the MD6240 rotary blasthole drill, which features a Cat engine.

They also get to see the latest edition of the 777 truck, the 777G, which features tier 4 emissions compliance and an enhanced auto shift system designed to save fuel by automatically selecting the best gear for the conditions.

The tier 4 compliance and EAS system are also featured on the latest generation of the D11 track-type tractor.

If the 777G is not enough, Caterpillar will also be wheeling in its 797F, 795F AC and 793F trucks, which will be joined by the 994H extended high lift wheel loader – designed to load 250 short ton trucks – and the 6030B FS hydraulic front shovel.

The 6030B is the first of the Cat B Series hydraulic shovels and features a cab and operator environment with productivity boosting onboard electronics.

Support equipment on display includes the Cat CT660 vocation truck equipped as a service truck.

The CT660, available only in North America, is the first Cat branded on-highway truck. It can be fitted with different bodies to meet the needs at hand.

Other support equipment includes the C175-20 generator set that produces as much as 4 megawatts – the greatest output of any single high-speed diesel generator set on the market.

Not surprisingly, for those who saw Caterpillar’s effort four years ago, this year’s Minexpo stand will again be the largest at the show.

In addition to the main exhibit in central hall, Caterpillar OEM Solutions will be showing in the silver lot at booth number 18162.

The stand will feature the 777G WTR, one of the specialised off-highway truck chassis the group offers. The 777G WTR is specifically designed for water truck applications.

Minexpo runs on September 24-26 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada.