Gainwell CAT, Caterpillar’s authorised dealer partner for North and East India, launched the CAT® 355 Excavator on the opening day of bauma CONEXPO India 2026 at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida. The machine was unveiled at Gainwell CAT’s booth O.E20. The launch is part of Gainwell CAT’s focus on machine uptime, lifecycle value and after-sales support for customers in construction, mining and infrastructure.
Designed for severe-duty applications, the CAT 355 Excavator is aimed at quarry and mining operations. It features a reinforced boom and stick, a wide variable gauge undercarriage and a heavy counterweight to support the use of large attachments, including hammers of up to 210 mm (8 inches).
The excavator is powered by a C13 engine and uses an electrohydraulic system with three selectable operating modes — Power, Smart and Eco. Smart mode automatically adjusts engine and hydraulic power according to the workload, helping reduce fuel consumption during lighter digging operations.
The CAT 355 is rated to operate at altitudes of up to 4,500 metres and in ambient temperatures of up to 52°C. A high-efficiency hydraulic fan with reverse-flow capability helps keep the cooling cores clear of debris. The machine also features synchronised 1,000-hour filter service intervals aimed at reducing maintenance downtime. The excavator delivers up to 296 kN of bucket digging force and has an operating weight of up to 53,000 kg, making it suitable for demanding quarrying, mining and large construction applications.
“India’s infrastructure ambitions are only getting bigger, and that changes what customers expect from an equipment partner. It is no longer just about selling a machine. It is about making sure that machine keeps working through its entire life, wherever in North or East India it happens to be operating. That is the business we have built, and bauma is a good moment to show how much further we intend to take it,” said Sunil Kumar Chaturvedi, Chairman & Managing Director, Gainwell Commosales.
Manav Kohli, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Gainwell Commosales, said the CAT 355 combines production and loading capacity with fuel efficiency and reliability for mining and large construction projects. He added that Customer Value Agreements (CVAs) provide customers with planned parts, maintenance and support coverage aimed at improving machine availability and controlling operating costs.
Gainwell CAT is also focusing on Machine Rebuild in 2026, enabling customers to extend the working life of existing Cat equipment. Its digital services include CAT VisionLink for machine and fleet monitoring, Cat Central for parts ordering and Gainwell Vanijya for customer interactions.
Akanksha Chaturvedi, Executive Director and Chief Growth Officer, Gainwell Commosales, said the company is using digital platforms to simplify equipment ownership and provide customers with information and support throughout the machine lifecycle. The company’s service network extends from Leh to mining operations in Rajasthan and covers customers across North and East India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Gainwell CAT, operated by Gainwell Commosales Private Limited (GCPL), is Caterpillar’s authorised dealer for North and East India, with operations extending to Nepal and Bhutan. The partnership with Caterpillar dates back to 1944. Gainwell CAT operates 108 branches, three workshops, two rebuild centres and retail and rental outlets, supported by more than 1,500 employees. Its installed base includes more than 14,800 active machines and over 8,400 engines. The company provides Customer Value Agreements, Machine Rebuild services and digital fleet management solutions including VisionLink, Cat Central and Gainwell Vanijya.
