One GET to Rule Them All: Cat Now Fits Any Bucket
Image/Caterpillar
Caterpillar has just made a bold move that many within the mining and construction community have been anticipating. With the introduction of the Cat Fleet Bucket Program, customers are now able to mount genuine Caterpillar ground engaging tools (GET) on third-party manufacturer buckets. Whether you operate a Cat machine or have buckets manufactured by another party, this new program allows you to standardise your equipment—without changing the entire setup.
This step is to upend things for fleet owners, particularly those operating mixed fleets. It’s a pragmatic solution to the real-world dilemma of handling multiple bucket types and brands across locations. Now, regardless of the manufacturer of the bucket, if it fits your machine, it can fit Cat GET.
Fit Cat GET on any bucket— Absolutely Real
The Cat Fleet Bucket Program accommodates buckets from nearly any qualified manufacturer. Regardless of whether you operate compact machines, hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, or even large mining shovels, now you can apply Cat’s industry-recognized GET—tips, adapters, side cutters, and more—to all your attachments.
Traders nationally are working in conjunction with local and international bucket producers to facilitate the change. They’ll even assist with customising fitments to suit conditions of work, machine type, and wear targets. Such flexibility is good news for contractors, mine operators, and civil works firms wanting to streamline operations and enhance performance.
Why this concerns operators
In a typical mixed fleet, you’ll often see a handful of Cat machines working alongside Komatsu, Hitachi, or even custom-built buckets. Each bucket usually demands its own GET setup, which leads to a few headaches—varying wear rates, different maintenance schedules, separate parts orders, and inconsistent digging performance.
With the new program, you can standardize your tools. That’s equal wear life, reduced breakdowns, simpler training, and reduced spare parts. If you’re operating sites where uptime is everything and efficiency counts, this is a game-changer.
And here’s the best part? You don’t have to purchase a brand-new bucket. You can retrofit your current third-party buckets with Cat GET and reap the same reliability Cat owners have come to trust.
Cat warranty and service, regardless of the bucket
Even though Cat GET is compatible with third-party buckets, customers still enjoy all the advantages of Caterpillar’s 12-month GET warranty—unlimited breakage protection included. That’s correct: Cat guarantees their tools whether they’re on their own equipment or another company’s bucket. That says a lot about how confident the company is in their product.
And on top of that, you still have the support of Cat’s large dealer network. Whether in distant mining camps or city construction sites, assistance is always nearby. That sense of security—having support, parts, and knowledge at your fingertips—makes a big difference when deadlines and production quotas are looming.
Intelligent service with Bucket Pro
To push things even more, Caterpillar is coupling the program with its Bucket Pro app, allowing operators, managers, and service techs to monitor wear, plan maintenance, and maximize replacement cycles with real-time information.
Need to know exactly when your GET components are nearing the end of their life? The app provides you with that. Need a cost-per-tonne breakdown? It’s included. From wear percentage to maintenance records, Bucket Pro provides clarity—and when margins are thin, that clarity becomes profit.
Value within with Customer Value Agreements
For those who desire even more structure and predictability, Cat’s Customer Value Agreements (CVAs) are included in the mix. CVAs provide scheduled GET replacements, fixed rates, and simplified ordering. Some even provide full GET management, which means your dealer monitors your tools and coordinates the logistics—so you don’t have to.
In an age where time is dollar value, these CVAs do a lot of the work for you and allow you to work on managing the job site.
What this is like in action
Picture the contractor operating from several different sites in New South Wales. They’ve got some Cat excavators, some rented Komatsu loaders, and a combination of OEM and non-OEM buckets. Up until this program, managing various GET combinations was an everyday bother—on paper as well as in the yard.
Now, that contractor can opt to equip all buckets with Cat GET, creating a standard experience for operators and reducing parts management for the warehouse staff. A single set of tools, a single supplier, a single service network—and one less headache.
Take a mining crew out in the Pilbara, for example. They’re not rushing to replace their entire set of buckets. Instead, they’re giving their existing ones a second life—retrofitting them with Cat’s GET. It’s a smart move. No massive spend upfront, just better performance where it counts: longer wear, consistent digging power, and fewer interruptions on the job.
Performance in the field
Early reports from sites already using the program are encouraging. Operators say the GET lasts longer, wears more evenly, and performs more consistently—especially in tough digging conditions. Service teams appreciate the ability to track wear across all buckets, regardless of brand, and plan maintenance windows with better accuracy.
The ease of part ordering, plus universal fitment across the fleet, is saving both time and money. There’s also a safety upside: fewer unexpected breakages and consistent GET design reduce the risk of equipment failure during operation.
Why this launch feels different
Caterpillar hasn’t just introduced a new sales channel—they’ve addressed a real operational challenge. This program isn’t about pushing more parts. It’s about removing barriers, helping customers get more out of what they already own, and bringing the convenience and durability of Cat tools to a wider audience.
The mixed-fleet reality isn’t going away any time soon. Companies are choosing equipment based on availability, budget, and application—not brand loyalty. Caterpillar seems to understand that and is leaning into it.
Final takeaway
The Cat Fleet Bucket Program is more than a parts compatibility update—it’s a strategic move that makes life easier for operators, managers, and owners alike. Whether you’re working in remote mines, regional construction, or urban earthworks, having the ability to equip any bucket with high-performance Cat GET means better uptime, smarter maintenance, and lower total cost of ownership.
For fleet managers looking to streamline operations without giving up quality or support, this program ticks all the right boxes. Caterpillar’s message is loud and clear: no matter whose bucket you use, you can still trust Cat to dig deeper, last longer, and deliver every time.
