CAT 355 Excavator Launched In India As Gainwell CAT Expands Lifecycle Services

Gainwell CAT, Caterpillar's authorised dealer partner for North and East India, has launched the CAT 355 Excavator at bauma CONEXPO India 2026 in Greater Noida. The company is also using the event to outline a broader focus on machine uptime and lifecycle services, including Machine Rebuild, Customer Value Agreements (CVAs) and digital fleet management tools.

The CAT 355 is designed for quarrying and mining applications. It has a reinforced boom and stick, variable-gauge undercarriage and heavy counterweight, allowing it to operate large attachments, including hammers of up to 210mm. The excavator has a Caterpillar C13 engine paired with an electrohydraulic system and three selectable operating modes – Power, Smart and Eco. Smart mode adjusts engine and hydraulic power according to the workload, with the company stating that this can reduce fuel consumption during lighter digging operations.

The excavator is rated to operate at altitudes of up to 4,500m and ambient temperatures of up to 52°C. It also features a hydraulic fan with reverse-flow capability to clear debris from the cores. Filter service intervals are synchronised at 1,000 hours, with the aim of reducing maintenance downtime.

CAT 355 Excavator Specifications And Applications

The CAT 355 has a maximum operating weight of up to 53,000kg and delivers up to 296kN of bucket digging force. These specifications position it for quarrying, mining and large construction applications requiring higher loading capacity.

Alongside the new excavator, Gainwell CAT is focusing on extending the service life of existing Caterpillar machines. Machine Rebuild is a key focus for 2026, while CVAs bundle parts, maintenance and support into planned service coverage.

Gainwell CAT Expands Machine Lifecycle And Digital Services

Gainwell CAT's service network extends from Leh to mining operations such as Rajpura Dariba in Rajasthan. The company is also using digital platforms including CAT VisionLink for fleet and machine health monitoring, Cat Central for parts ordering and Gainwell Vanijya for customer interactions.

Manav Kohli, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Gainwell Commosales, said the CAT 355's productivity and fuel-efficiency characteristics are intended to address requirements in mining and large construction projects. He also highlighted CVAs as a means of providing planned support and managing machine availability and operating costs.

Sunil Kumar Chaturvedi, Chairman and Managing Director, Gainwell Commosales, said the company's role is increasingly focused on supporting machines throughout their operating life rather than only supplying equipment.

Gainwell CAT operates across North and East India, with its network also extending into Nepal and Bhutan. According to the company, its network comprises 108 branches, three workshops, two rebuild centres and dedicated retail and rental outlets. It has an active machine population of more than 14,800 units and an active engine population of over 8,400 units.