CAT 320 Becomes an Amphibious Excavator with EIK AM200 Transfer

What does it take to turn a standard excavator into a machine built for wetlands, marshes, dredging projects, and challenging soft terrain? At HHM, our team recently transferred a CAT 320 excavator upper structure onto an EIK AM200 amphibious undercarriage. Transforming the machine into an amphibious excavator designed to go where conventional equipment can’t.

And yes — moving an excavator upper onto a completely different undercarriage is every bit as impressive to watch as it sounds.

The Transfer: CAT 320 Meets the EIK AM200

The process begins with separating the CAT 320 upper structure from its conventional crawler undercarriage. The excavator upper is then carefully lifted, positioned, and aligned over the EIK AM200 before being secured to its new amphibious undercarriage.

Precision is critical throughout the process. The upper structure must be properly positioned and connected so the excavator’s hydraulic and operating systems work correctly with the new undercarriage.

Once the transfer is complete, the CAT 320 has the capabilities of an entirely different machine.

Why Put a CAT 320 on an Amphibious Undercarriage?

Traditional excavators perform well on stable ground, but jobs involving wetlands, marshes, swamps, shallow water, and extremely soft soil create an entirely different challenge.

The EIK AM200 Amphibious Undercarriage is designed for 20–23 ton excavators, making it a strong match for machines in the CAT 320 class.

Its large pontoon-style tracks distribute the excavator’s weight across a much greater surface area than a conventional crawler undercarriage. This reduces ground pressure and allows the machine to travel and work in conditions where standard excavators can struggle or become inaccessible.

That opens the door to applications including:

• Wetland and marsh work.
• Dredging and sediment removal.
• Canal and waterway maintenance.
• Coastal and shoreline projects.
• Environmental restoration.
• Pipeline and utility work.
• Flood control and drainage projects.
• Other soft-terrain applications.

Built for More Than Flotation

The AM200 isn’t simply a set of oversized tracks.

EIK’s amphibious undercarriages incorporate a Multi-Synchronous Direct Drive System, using multiple hydraulic drive motors to propel the pontoons and provide increased tracking capability in difficult terrain.

The AM200 can also be equipped with hydraulically extendable pontoons. The undercarriage can retract to reduce its overall width for transportation or tighter access areas. It can extend outward when additional stability is needed on the jobsite.

For applications requiring even greater stability and working capability in deeper water, supplementary pontoons and spud systems are also available.

One Excavator. A Completely Different Capability.

One of the biggest advantages of an amphibious undercarriage system is the ability to take a proven excavator platform like the CAT 320 and adapt it for specialized environments.

Instead of limiting the excavator to firm, accessible ground, the EIK AM200 gives contractors another way to approach projects where ground conditions are part of the challenge.

Watching the CAT 320 being lifted from its original undercarriage and lowered onto the AM200 makes that transformation especially clear.

It starts as a conventional excavator.

It leaves as an amphibious machine.

Need an Amphibious Excavator Solution?

HHM offers amphibious undercarriages and specialized excavator attachments for contractors working in challenging environments.

Whether you’re converting an existing excavator or building a machine for a specific project, our team can help determine the right undercarriage and configuration for your application.

Contact Houston Heavy Machinery to learn more about the AM200 Amphibious Undercarriage or to discuss your next project.