Equipped with ideas

When it comes time to purchase a new piece of equipment, most contractors are looking for a machine that can handle their load demands, site terrain and efficiency needs. Track loaders and wheel loaders have their own advantages, so contractors should first determine their job needs before deciding on a piece of equipment.

“Compact wheel loaders provide significant advantages in capacity, lifting and dumping height, etc. This gives them an advantage in truck loading applications – and the tire platform is better for use on paved surfaces, as tracks tend to deteriorate at a faster rate on concrete compared to rubber tires," says Warren Anderson, brand marketing manager at Case.

In general, the wheel loader offers a smoother ride, with reduced jerkiness, increased visibility and a greater lifting capacity, says Paul Wade, brand marketing manager at New Holland.

Keith Rohrbacker, product manager for Kubota, says the wheel loader perfectly complements the capabilities of smaller compact track loaders.

“The compact track loaders can easily fit into tight places but may not have the same bucket capacity and hinge pin height to gather up and load as efficiently as a wheel loader,” he says.

While the long belt of a track loader provides a stable platform that works well when lifting, says Keith Coleman, senior marketing engineer at Caterpillar, one of the main reasons for purchasing a track loader is it can be used in almost every terrain and weather condition.

“It’s a much gentler interface with the machine and the ground conditions so you can work in those weathered conditions and can extend your season more fully,” he says.
 

Open to suggestions.

Customer feedback plays an integral role in the future design and platforms of both wheel and track loaders.

It’s from this costumer feedback that Doug Laufenberg, product marketing manager for compact wheel loaders at John Deere, learned that the company’s wheel loader customers were looking for a simpler design and lower operating height. As a direct response to this, John Deere launched two new compact wheel loaders.

Although a track loader system can be used in almost every terrain and type of weather, they require a bit more maintenance than a wheel loader due to the track system.

“Replacing a set of tracks on a compact track loader would be more expensive, typically, than replacing a set of tires on a loader or six gear,” said Gregg Zupancic, product marketing manager, skid-steers and compact track loaders with John Deere Construction and Forestry.

Wade says New Holland has designed its loader equipment for quick and efficient maintenance, grouping all the checkpoints together so operators can complete their service easily. “As long as the daily maintenance is easy to do, then the contractor will be more likely do it,” Wade says.

Terex’s recent improvements were also based on increasing durability and decreasing service time. Some of these improvements include a cylinder seal package with three additional sealing surfaces to eliminate potential leakage, wear bands to reduce side load strain, new high-torque, stainless-steel clamps and upgraded hydraulic couplers.

Case responded to service time concerns by introducing a “maintenance free” solution into both product lines, emphasizing that there are no filters to maintain.
 

Ease of use.

Incorporating individual operator codes to simplify driver use and increase productivity has been a feature several manufacturers have added to their track loaders including John Deere’s E Series, Case EZ-EH control panel and Caterpillar D series. This feature allows the operator to fine tune the machine exactly to the driver’s preference.

“This control panel has a mechanism to adjust your wheel speed independently of your engine RPM,” Zupancic says. “If a contractor wants to get the job done quickly, then they can keep their steering very aggressive and for those new to the compact loader there is the option of utility mode where the joysticks will be both less sensitive and less aggressive.”

Caterpillar’s D series includes 11 different parameters that can be customized for the operator, says Coleman including preference, skill level and even language. Case also introduced its EZ-EH control system in its compact loaders that includes nine different preset speed and control settings, and the ability to quickly change operating patterns.
 

A comfortable ride.

Comfort has been one of the primary areas of improvement in the loader market. Bobcat’s newest loaders include conveniences such as cup holders, a storage compartment, tape measure and place for an iPod or phone to plug in.

“Our latest generation of Bobcat machines have improved visibility, better noise (reduction), improved cooling and heating systems so that from an operator standpoint we will meet their needs better,” says Mike Fitzgerald, loader product specialist for Bobcat.

The machines have different control options for their loader so that they can operate in their most familiar mode. “If they want to operate the controls with their feet, hands or if they want to step up to the joystick with selectable controls,” he says.

Jonathon Ferguson, regional sales manager with Terex Construction, says customers have asked Terex to make the cab environment both more comfortable and intuitive for the operator. Features in Terex’s new line includes fingertip controls to operate the unit, attachments and pressurized cabs.

Caterpillar’s D series was introduced almost a year ago, and operator comfort wasthe main focus of their design. This includes a fully encapsulated one-piece cab that offers both longevity in the steel and a pressurized cab design. “The sight lines out of that cab are outstanding and then we’ve enhanced the visibility even further by offering the industry first review camera for our compact track loader,” Coleman says.

This new design includes the option of a high back, heated, air suspension seat that offers the driver additional lumbar support. Heated seats are also a feature that are available in New Holland’s current line-up of compact track loaders and its new line-up of wheel loaders, says Wade.

He adds that New Holland’s track loaders offer a long wheelbase for increased stability and 365 degrees visibility in the company’s compact track loaders.

The focus for Case’s new line was ease of use and driver comfort. The company’s wheel loader has been shortened in both length and height, allowing easier access to small spaces and a shorter turning radius, while the features have been adapted for easier control. Anderson says the line-up is equipped with electronic controls that increase driver precision and reduce fatigue.

“Operators are in these machines for long days, and constantly manipulating the controls can be tiring,” Anderson says. “Case has aimed to make it as simple as possible with these new controls.”

“People are looking for comfort. They’re looking for safety. It ties back into the visibility and productivity,” Coleman says. “And the ability to be productive also ties back into that display and being able to customize that machine to really do either the job you’re on or to my skill level.”

The author is a freelance writer based in Ontario, Canada.