Capital Equipment News April 2021

COMPACT LOADERS

The CL-range from MCM South Africa offers working heights from 3,2 to 4,5 m.

The rising popularity of the compact loader In recent years, the articulated wheel loader has seemingly been gaining popularity over skid-steer loaders in many markets. Capital Equipment News’ Mark Botha approached Caterpillar, MCM South Africa and Sylco for their take on this trend.

A ccording to Caterpillar compact wheel loader product application been the machines of choice in some regions because of their small size, which makes them easy to manoeuvre and to transport on trailers. They also have high hydraulic power and can accommodate various attachments besides “the basic buckets and fork carriages”. “However, the efficiency and durability of the tracks on compact track loaders are a major advantage.” He says ownership and operating costs of articulated wheel loaders are typically lower than for skid steers of similar size, as the articulated steering on the former means less tyre wear in normal operation. “Articulated steering also reduces ground disturbance because there is no skidding of the wheels, and the operator has a better view from the cab of a compact wheel loader as they sit higher than on skid steers, with better visibility specialist Elie Abi-Karam, skid-steers have historically

around the machine,” says Abi-Karam. Sylco Plant Hire director Eddie James notes that, while skidsteers perform best in tight spaces with short loading distances, the compact loader is “vastly superior” when the area allows for its turning circle and when the hauling distance increases. “Generally, travelling over rough terrain in a skidsteer with a fully-loaded bucket or pallet isn’t something anyone enjoys, so in this regard compact loaders are preferred by far. “Because of the skidsteer’s short wheel-base, steep slopes tend to leave you travelling on two wheels at times while carting material out of a hole, as the weight of the load will lift the back wheels when reversing out of the hole.” He says the skidsteer’s manoeuvrability compensates for this if the hauling distance is short, because the task can be performed “much quicker”. To MCM South Africa marketing director Johannes van Niekerk, compact loaders are gaining traction in southern

Africa because of their “invaluable” compact build, rough-terrain mobility and multi-functionality.

“The compact loader can offer accessibility in both confined and

restricted areas, as well as in rough or sensitive terrain such as golf courses, coupled with the ability to perform several different tasks and applications.” He says the compact loader can be tranformed into an auger, trencher, grappler, mower, forklift, concrete mixer and many others, simply by equipping it with the required attachment or implement. Compact loaders: advantages He says the advantages contributing to the popularity of the compact loader include increased rated loading capacity and more effective weight distribution due to the longer wheelbase, as well as the ability to reach greater workable heights. “MCM’s compact loaders are equipped standard with a self-leveling H-frame telescopic boom,” he says.

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