When Standard Tracks Aren’t Enough: Caterpillar 320 on an EIK AM200 Amphibious Undercarriage

Some jobs take excavators far beyond solid ground. Wetlands, swamps, marshes, waterways, and extremely soft terrain can create major challenges for conventional construction equipment. That is where an amphibious excavator comes in. Pairing a Caterpillar 320 excavator with an EIK AM200 amphibious undercarriage transforms the machine for work in environments where a standard crawler excavator may struggle to operate.

The massive pontoons underneath the excavator are not just for looks. They are the key to making this specialized machine work.

What Is an Amphibious Excavator?

An amphibious excavator is designed to operate on soft, wet, and unstable terrain.

Instead of a conventional excavator undercarriage, the upper structure sits on a specialized pontoon undercarriage. The large pontoons spread the machine’s weight across a much larger surface area.

This design creates very low ground pressure and improves mobility in areas such as:

• Swamps and marshes
• Wetlands
• Bayous and waterways
• Retention and detention ponds
• Coastal areas
• Muddy jobsites
• Dredging projects
• Shoreline restoration projects

For contractors working around water or unstable ground, an amphibious excavator can provide access that conventional equipment cannot.

Meet the EIK AM200 Amphibious Undercarriage

The EIK AM200 amphibious undercarriage, also called a pontoon undercarriage, is designed for excavators in the 20- to 23-ton class.

That makes it a strong match for machines such as the Caterpillar 320.

Rather than using narrow conventional tracks, the excavator travels on two large sealed pontoons equipped with a heavy-duty track system.

The wider footprint distributes the machine’s weight across the terrain. This reduces ground pressure and allows the excavator to travel across soft surfaces more effectively.

Why Put a Caterpillar 320 on Pontoons?

The Caterpillar 320 provides the excavating power. The EIK AM200 undercarriage provides the specialized mobility.

Together, they create an excavator designed for challenging environments.

This combination can be useful for dredging, vegetation removal, canal maintenance, shoreline work, environmental restoration, pipeline projects, and other applications where soft terrain limits access.

Instead of trying to bring a conventional excavator onto unstable ground, contractors can use an amphibious undercarriage designed specifically for these conditions.

More Than Just Two Giant Pontoons

There is a lot of engineering underneath an amphibious excavator.

EIK uses a multi-synchronous hydraulic motor direct drive system. Motors at the front and rear of each pontoon work together to provide push-and-pull tracking power.

This system helps the machine travel through muddy, uneven, and high-viscosity terrain.

The AM200 can also be equipped with hydraulically extendable pontoons. The operator can increase the width of the undercarriage when additional stability is needed.

Supplementary pontoons and spuds are also available for applications that require additional stability.

Built for Jobs Around Water

Amphibious excavators can support a wide range of industries and applications.

Dredging contractors can use them to remove sediment from ponds, canals, and waterways. Environmental contractors can use them for wetland restoration and vegetation management. They can also support flood control, shoreline maintenance, pipeline projects, and infrastructure work.

The goal is simple: give the excavator access to areas where conventional equipment has difficulty working.

That can reduce the need for temporary access roads, mats, barges, or other supporting equipment on certain projects.

Amphibious Excavators for Gulf Coast Conditions

Soft ground and wet environments are nothing new in Houston and along the Gulf Coast.

Bayous, drainage systems, retention ponds, wetlands, coastal environments, and muddy jobsites create conditions where specialized equipment can make a major difference.

An amphibious excavator in Houston gives contractors another option when the job extends beyond firm ground.

A Caterpillar 320 paired with an EIK AM200 pontoon undercarriage is a great example. It combines the capabilities of a conventional excavator with an undercarriage designed specifically for soft and wet terrain.

See the Caterpillar 320 Amphibious Excavator

In the video below, take a closer look at a Caterpillar 320 mounted on an EIK AM200 amphibious undercarriage.

The oversized pontoon system completely changes how the excavator interacts with the ground and opens the door to applications that would be difficult for a standard crawler machine.

Looking for an amphibious excavator, pontoon undercarriage, or specialty heavy equipment in Houston, Texas?

Contact Houston Heavy Machinery to learn more about equipment solutions for challenging jobsites.