These two Cat® 980H wheel loaders have already proven their value over time. After years of steady work, they’ve remained an important part of East Fairfield Coal Co.’s operation. That’s exactly why when it came time to decide their future, the company didn’t look to replace them. They chose to rebuild, not just once, but twice.
Both machines have now gone through their second Cat Certified Rebuild, with each rebuild completed by Ohio Cat. That kind of commitment reflects more than routine maintenance; it shows long-term confidence in both the equipment and the rebuilding process keeping them running.
For East Fairfield Coal Co., rebuilding has become a long-term strategy, not just a one-time decision. When you have machines that consistently deliver, it often makes more sense to restore what you know. Rebuilding allows them to keep proven loaders in the fleet at 20-40% of the cost of buying new, maintaining performance and costs over time.
Cat machines are designed with that lifecycle in mind. Instead of reaching the end of the road after a certain number of hours, they’re built so you can bring them back, restoring performance and extending their working life in a meaningful way. That’s what makes a second rebuild not just possible, but practical.
Each rebuild follows a disciplined process. The machines are fully inspected by Cat Certified Technicians who evaluate over 350 inspection points on each machine. Worn parts are replaced, while key systems like the powertrain and hydraulics are reconditioned to restore performance. From there, each loader goes through testing to ensure it’s ready to return to the same level of work it handled before, with the added benefit of a like-new warranty.
The timelapse video captures that transformation. You can watch both loaders move through each stage of the rebuild, from teardown to final assembly, and see how much work goes into bringing them back to this level.
When the rebuilds were complete, both machines returned to the field ready for another stretch of work. The same loaders, now restored and ready to deliver again in their third lifecycle.
Find out if a Cat® Certified Rebuild is the right option for your machine today: https://ohiocat.com/service/equipment-repair-options/cat-certified-rebuilds/
