Customer testimonial: OAK

At Avesco, demand for rebuilds has been growing as awareness of their cost-efficiency and speed has increased among customers.

“Rebuilds are often assumed to be very expensive, but that’s not the case. With Cat® Certified Rebuild programs, you can improve the efficiency and performance of your machine—such as an excavator or wheel loader—at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new one. Compared to buying a new machine, rebuilds can deliver savings of approximately 35–75%, depending on the condition of the base machine and the scope of the rebuild.

Rebuilds are always planned and tailored in close cooperation with the customer to ensure the most cost-effective solution, taking into account the customer’s needs and the current condition of the machine. In some cases, however, it may still be more sensible to invest in an entirely new machine.”

In addition, the project timeline is relatively fast.

“Once the decision to proceed with a rebuild has been made and the initial inspections are completed to determine the required scope, it takes around 20 weeks to deliver the finished machine. First, the rebuild requirements are assessed, then the necessary parts are ordered, and finally the machine is brought to Oulu or Kuopio for the rebuild.

The time the machine is out of operation is typically 4–8 weeks, depending on the extent of the rebuild. This means the work phase can be scheduled conveniently, for example during the summer holiday period,” Karppinen suggests.

A Cat® Certified Rebuild is a low-risk and productive investment that extends the machine’s service life by several years. Customers receive comprehensive coverage for all certified rebuilds, with up to 48 months or 10,000 hours of additional protection. There are three different levels of rebuild, depending on the repair needs.

A Certified Powertrain Rebuild covers components from the engine to the drive wheels or tracks, including the engine, driveline components, transmissions, transfer gears, and axles.
A Certified Powertrain Rebuild Plus can be tailored to include, in addition to the above, items such as pumps, hoses, cylinders, or even a partial or full cab rebuild—for example, including seats.
A Certified Full Machine Rebuild is the most comprehensive option, costing approximately 60–65% of a new machine. In this rebuild, all components of the machine are inspected and either rebuilt or replaced. The machine is also assigned a new serial number and model year, and it comes with a warranty equivalent to that of a new machine, Karppinen explains.

The same extended coverage also applies to component rebuilds.

“We also carry out rebuilds of individual components. These can be done one component at a time—such as a torque converter or an axle—or combined according to the customer’s needs. There are also three options for component rebuilds: a tailored rebuild (for example, bearing replacement and resealing), a certified component rebuild, or replacement with a new or factory-remanufactured component.”

 

Oulun Autokuljetus Oy, a multi-industry company based in Oulu and one of Finland’s largest transport operators, is involved not only in freight and terminal services but also in soil and aggregate production.

“We produce aggregates for the Oulu economic region from a joint open-pit quarry operated together with Swerock. Together, we offer a complete service package: drilling and blasting as well as crushing are carried out by Swerock, while Oulun Autokuljetus handles extraction, loading, and transport. During the first 11 months of 2023, we loaded 1.3 million tonnes of aggregates and extracted 600,000 tonnes, so the pace is high,” says Petteri Gullsten, who is responsible for aggregate production at Oulun Autokuljetus.

At the quarry, three Caterpillar wheel loaders are in operation, fully occupied by the workload.

“They have performed well here in real working conditions. The machines are used for extraction and loading, and they handle heavy-duty work for around 5,000 hours per year.”

One of the company’s machines, a Caterpillar 980M wheel loader, underwent a Certified Powertrain Rebuild Plus at Avesco’s Oulu facility last summer.

“We had about 20,000 hours on the machine and were considering whether to replace it with a new one or what to do. An Avesco sales representative suggested that a certified rebuild could be a viable option. We were already familiar with rebuilt machines, but the ease and cost-efficiency of the project came as a surprise.

We decided to go with a Certified Powertrain Rebuild Plus. The machine was taken to Oulu in May, and by July we had a fully rebuilt machine back in operation. Around three months is a short timeframe compared to delivery times for new machines,” says Heikki Niemelä, Site Manager at Oulun Autokuljetus.

The rebuild was carried out comprehensively—right down to the operator’s seat.

“The machine received new engine rear components, hydraulic hoses, accumulators, hydraulic pumps and motors, as well as a replacement for the worn operator’s seat. A rebuild is also a financially sound option—this operation cost us only about half the price of a new machine while extending its service life by several years.

After the rebuild, our goal is to operate the machine for another 5–6 years, reaching a total of 20,000–25,000 hours. Of course, time will ultimately show how good an investment this was, but we are confident. The large facilities at Avesco’s Oulu location enabled an efficient rebuild process.”

“Special thanks to Otto Raitio at Avesco Cat Oulu, with whom everything worked excellently—from project planning to execution. More broadly, Avesco’s service support has worked very well—if issues arise, we can call in a technician ‘like an ambulance to the site.’ The response time has been excellent whenever needed,” Niemelä adds.