Capital Equipment News April 2018

COMPACT WHEEL LOADERS

Jack of all trades One of the key advantages of the compact wheel loader is its versatility. According to Senyard, with a quick hitch and standard bucket and forks, compact wheel loaders are well suited to a range of applications, including general construction worksites and various agricultural applications due to the versatility of the bucket and forks for lifting and stacking of pallets. “With the option of additional valves and hoses, numerous other attachments can be utilised with this machine,” he says. Speaking of attachments, Van Wyk says MultiOne offers over 170 different attachments at present, and the list is growing. “Our markets consist of DIY, farming and agriculture, construction, landscaping, cleaning, materials handling and mining,” he says. According to Vietze, Wacker Neuson’s four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer offering is unique to this segment. “Manoeuvrability is key for a compact wheel loader, as is the fact that the 4wd/4ws offers constant load and stability. Sectors where we have been successful with our product offering are builders yards, brickyards, agriculture and general construction,” says Vietze. Task, Tool, Machine. What job needs to be done? What tools are required to complete the job? And then, finally, what machine is required to power that tool efficiently and effectively? According to Kundra, this is a core principle that has allowed the compact wheel loader to venture into a wider range of applications. “Some of the more recent application growth areas are road maintenance and utility work. The compact wheel loaders are becoming a preferred choice when it comes to powering hydro-mechanical tools such as the Cat T15B trencher and hydraulic brooms, among others, and the machines go wherever the tools need to be applied,” concludes Kundra. b

Wacker Neuson’s compact loader line ranges from 1 720 kg to 5 900 kg of operating weight.

MultiOne reports good growth of its small wheel loader range, the sub 1 000 kg models.

more, do more at a lower cost, safely and efficiently. The compact wheel loader is a widely used machine for general construction. It is a relatively simple machine to operate and it offers great visibility. It’s one of the reasons why it’s so popular in Europe: an extremely productive machine that is simple to operate. It can be configured simply or for more complex requirements,” says Kundra.

Locally, compact wheel loaders are finding more application in agriculture. Van Wyk reasons that there has been a significant shift towards compact loaders in materials and grain handling in farming, and it’s opening up a segment of the market traditionally reserved for telehandlers and skid steers. “Our largest market at present is agriculture, although construction accounts for about 35% of the market,” says Van Wyk.

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS APRIL 2018 14