January 2026

This replaces both slip-style and press-fit joints, needs no hydraulic tooling and presses, allowing operators to safely remove and install tracks without any additional equipment.

It’s all about getting back to work quicker with the new Cat Track Clamp Master Link assembly, designed to improve track installation efficiency in the field by eliminating the need for a portable field press. The new Track Clamp Master Link, which replaces both slip-style and press-fit joints, needs no hydraulic tooling and presses, allowing operators to safely remove and install tracks without any additional equipment.

Improperly managed undercarriages cause downtime and cost money. The Track Clamp Master Link is available for any standard hydraulic excavator with a 7.5” pitch size class, making in-field track installation both simple and safe.

Caterpillar focused on durability when developing the new link, making durability a feature alongside convenience, speed, and safety. Extensive press-out testing has shown that the Track Clamp Master Link offers 25% higher pin retention compared to the press-fit master and up to a 50% improvement in joint life compared to the slip-fit master.

Tool-less solutions are often seen as a temporary quick-fix, but with the Track Clamp from Cat it may not require hydraulic tooling, it may be quick, but it’s certainly not temporary.

The Track Clamp Master Link is widely used across a variety of hydraulic excavators and covers all types of undercarriages, including General Duty, Heavy Duty and Heavy Duty XL. Alongside Caterpillar’s Custom Track Service, Undercarriage Assurance Programs and worldwide parts availability, it’s one of the many ways in which Caterpillar and Cat dealers help operators get the most from their Cat Undercarriage. The Cat Track Clamp Master link is currently available on the Cat 320 Excavator, with more models available in 2026.  Source

A UK Partnership is calling for pothole warranties to save taxpayers money.

The Pothole Partnership was formed two years ago by the AA, JCB, British Cycling and the National Motorcyclists Council. The Partnership has consistently warned that much of the recently announced additional government funding to local authorities for pothole repairs is still being wasted on short-term fixes, with too many locations re-visited within 12 months.

The alliance marked National Pothole Day by calling for a minimum five-year warranty to be issued on every non-emergency pothole repair.  It coincided with the publication of data which showed the AA was called out to 613,638 pothole incidents in 2025 – an average of 1,681 every day – including 58,380 last January and 58,275 in December.

The Pothole Partnership is proposing that councils and contractors should be compelled to issue five-year warranties on every non-emergency pothole repair. Potholes not only damage cars, but they also put the lives of cyclists and motorcyclists at risk.

The proposals for a five-year warranty would mean that if a contractor or sub-contractor fixes a non-emergency pothole, a warranty for that repair would be issued for five years. If a pothole reappears within five years, it would be repaired for free of charge under the warranty. This proposal has the potential to save money for council taxpayers but more importantly, ensure the pothole is repaired correctly first time.”

Digger maker JCB manufactures the JCB Pothole Pro which repairs potholes four times faster than traditional methods and at half the cost. JCB General Manager Ben Rawding said:  “Many councils across the UK are already reaping the benefits of using the JCB Pothole Pro which delivers a long-lasting repair to potholes which is faster and cheaper than the traditional manual methods. The proposed warranty scheme would be another great initiative to drive down costs for council taxpayers and, crucially, ensure permanent repairs.”. Source

The New Portfolio Launch Features Its Most Advanced Line‑up of Technology and Performance.

John Deeres  New Generation P‑Tier Midsize Excavators and redesigned, developed and tested in‑house. The lineup goes all in to deliver the most advanced John Deere excavators yet. Launching with the 210, 230 and 260 P‑Tier models in the 20‑metric‑ton class, the new generation sets a standard for jobsite performance, operator experience and next-level features and technology.

During the development and design process, each new model was rigorously tested in real-world applications with participation from hundreds of customers and operators, resulting in over 165,000 operating hours and counting. With real operator insights at the forefront of design, the new P-Tier Excavator models enable optimal jobsite confidence while delivering advanced performance and capability.

The new P-Tier models offer smooth, powerful hydraulics and smart design enhancements for impressive overall performance. The combination of structures, hydraulics and integrated technology is optimized to support a balance of performance and total cost of ownership. Featuring increased dig force and lift capacity, the new P-Tier excavators offer excellent power and performance for trenching, grading, craning and truck loading while refined hydraulic tuning enables fast, smooth cycle times. Performance modes, including Dig, Lift and Eco, help match jobsite power and manage fuel usage. Operators can also adjust the hydraulic response with speed and control modes, allowing operators to match the performance of the machine to the response rates they choose, based on operator preference or applications the machine is working in.

Delivering the largest, most operator-friendly cab yet, the 210, 230, and 260 P-Tier models boast more than 27 inches of legroom, added storage, ten points of seat adjustability and tool-free armrest and joystick modifications. The new G5 Plus 12.8-inch display provides an intuitive touchscreen for monitoring machine health, managing attachments, and viewing camera feeds, in full or split screen mode. Blending the Sealed Switch Module (SSM) with all other controls into one location, operators have the option to adjust settings by utilizing the new CommandARM™ for ultimate flexibility.

Each feature is designed to boost productivity and scale with customers as their needs evolve. With innovative connectivity like Remote Display Access (RDA) for remote viewing, integrated grade control, cameras, and sensors give operators near real-time information. Whether it's remotely adjusting settings, reviewing equipment diagnostics or troubleshooting equipment on the job, RDA enables customers to quickly find resolutions to help maximize uptime – without a subscription.

The new Remote Display Control (RDC) allows customers, and customer-approved dealers and third parties to remotely navigate the monitor and adjust settings as if they were in the cab—streamlining troubleshooting, training, and machine setup. Machine damage avoidance and virtual fences help protect the machine and surroundings by defining jobsite limits above, below, and around the excavator. Optional Advanced Vision and Object Detection Systems further enhance visibility and jobsite awareness.

Additional optional advanced safety and support features include fully integrated cameras with surround-view intuitive displays, and smart sensors that provide operators with critical information. This helps operators get their work done efficiently and with confidence that they're in control.

Enabling ease of operations, new EZ Control technology simplifies the control of the boom, arm and bucket for underground work, making lifting and craning smoother and more intuitive for operators. Attachment Manager technology, now available on 20-metric-ton models, provides easy setup, calibration tracking and customizable settings for up to 20 attachments, keeping productivity high and operations accurate. This solution also ensures each attachment is properly configured for optimal performance for features like grade control, virtual fences, machine damage avoidance and SmartWeigh™. SmartWeigh delivers dynamic weighing, leading accuracy and easy calibration without needing a known weight, as the machine uses sensors and technology to calibrate and maintain accuracy.

The new auto laser catch feature, part of the new John Deere 2D Grade Control system, assists the operator as the laser catcher on the machine breaks the plane of the rotating laser on the jobsite. There is no need to stop and press a button on the joystick to maintain a vertical reference, enhancing the productivity advantages and usability for the operator. All P-Tier Midsize John Deere Excavators offer 2D Grade Control that is upgradeable to the optional full 3D SmartGrade™ with either Topcon or Leica giving customers the flexibility to match their grade control needs. Source

This forms part of its evolving international brand strategy

Tigercat Industries will rebrand its entire line of harvesting heads, felling heads, grapples, mulching heads, and other attachments under the TCi badge. This provides a single brand identity for Tigercat Industries attachments worldwide.

The TCi brand was established to address limitations on the use of the Tigercat brand name in specific markets. The TCi badge indicates that the attachment is engineered, and fully supported by Tigercat Industries, and designed to optimize the performance of the Tigercat or TCi carrier to which the attachment is mated.

Customers can expect the same quality, reliability, and durability across the full range of attachments as this is a branding change only. The value proposition remains unchanged. The design intent and warranty coverage remains the same.

TCi branded attachments will transition worldwide, starting in the 2026 model year. Harvesting heads and some felling attachments will begin to arrive on dealer lots starting in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source