349

The Caterpillar 349(D) Hydraulic Excavator was introduced in 2011. It was the “replacement” of the Caterpillar 345D Hydraulic Excavator because Caterpillar decided to renumber her “3” series Hydraulic Excavators to indicate the weight class and therefore the 49 tons 345D became the 349D. The 349D had a Caterpillar C13 Engine producing 380 flywheel horsepower (FWHP).

Subsequently Caterpillar developed since then the 349E, 349F and since 2020, the 349 "Next Gen" is the latest member in the 349 series.

At present, the Caterpillar 349 is the flagship of the 349 family. Powered by a Caterpillar C13 ACERT Engine good for 424 hp, which meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards, an operating weight of 105200 lb and Bucket Digging Force of 60250 lbf a serious piece of machinery in the class of Large Excavators from 36-90 metric tons made by Caterpillar.

Of the 349 Series Hydraulic Excavator CCM has produced in 2015 the 1:48 scale die-cast model of the Caterpillar 349E Excavator in two versions: the Caterpillar 349E L quick coupler with HD (Heavy Duty) boom and stick which includes two different sized detachable work buckets, and the Caterpillar 349E LME with mass excavator boom, stick and in a limited edition of 750 pcs each. The Caterpillar 349F L XE Excavator is released in 2018 in 1:50th scale by Diecast Masters. It's high time that the new Caterpillar 349 "Next Gen" Excavator is also released as a scale model!