WHY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IS YELLOW

Bulldozers, forklifts, cranes, excavators and other types of construction equipment each have unique capabilities. However, they share one commonality — the color yellow, which has been the standard paint color for construction equipment for decades. 

Why is construction equipment yellow? The main reason behind this color choice is safety. Yellow is a bright, attention-grabbing color. Of the seven colors on the visible light spectrum, yellow is the most visible at a distance and in the dark. Because it is easy to see even in challenging conditions, this vivid hue makes an excellent warning color. Yellow paint ensures that workers and pedestrians clearly see construction equipment and steer clear of those machines.

Yellow is also perceived as a high-energy color that stimulates mental activity. This stimulation helps increase energy and awareness levels among machine operators and construction workers, keeping your job site safer and more productive.

WHAT MAKES YELLOW SO VISIBLE?

The human eye sees color in wavelengths of light that are measured in nanometers. The visible color spectrum includes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV), and ranges from 400 nanometers (violet) to 700 nanometers (red). Yellow light wavelengths measure between 570 and 590 nanometers, making yellow a highly visible color. 

Our eyes sense color through photoreceptor cells known as cones. During the day, yellow is one of the easiest colors for our eyes to see, second only to green. In periods of low light, rods — another type of photoreceptor cell in our eyes— also kick in to help us see. 

When it's dark or visibility conditions are poor, our rods and cones quickly sense yellow from a distance. That's why yellow construction equipment is ideal, as the human eye can detect yellow through dust clouds, haze, fog, snow and other harsh job site conditions. 

HISTORY OF YELLOW CAT® MACHINES

Yellow wasn't always the most widely used color for construction equipment. In the early 1900s, Cat® construction equipment was gray. Caterpillar changed the color of its machines to Hi-Way Yellow in 1931. 

This historic innovation was born out of the need for better visibility on road construction sites. Caterpillar wanted an aesthetically pleasing color with the best visibility at a distance during the day and night. Their search led them to the color yellow, and Caterpillar paint specialists developed the distinctive Hi-Way Yellow hue. 

Caterpillar used Hi-Way Yellow until 1979, when it was discontinued and replaced with Caterpillar Yellow, the legally protected paint color that Cat machines are known for today. 

Caterpillar continues to make formula adjustments to ensure the paint on their equipment offers maximum durability and longevity, but the specific yellow hue remains the same.

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With its distinctive, highly visible Caterpillar Yellow color, Cat equipment stands out on your job site, helping to create a safer environment while delivering industry-leading performance. If you're looking for construction equipment for rent, you'll find high-quality options through our dealer network. 

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