Capital Equipment News March 2017

EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT – CONEXPO 2017 REVIEW

The key innovations of LiuGong’s new Vertical Lift wheel loader are the vertical lift loader arms on an articulating frame and the mechanical self-levelling Z-bar bucket linkage on a vertical lift loader – both said to be industry firsts.

Liebherr XPower is an integrated, innovative machine concept that is said to set new standards in terms of fuel efficiency, performance, robust design and comfort.

Chinese construction equipment industry at large. The key innovations of the product are the vertical lift loader arms on an articulating frame and the mechanical self-leveling Z-bar bucket linkage on a vertical lift loader – both said to be industry firsts. The vertical lift was developed as an innovative way to increase customer value when purchasing a loader. Vertical lift vastly improves the wheel loader’s primary function: lifting and carrying a load, by providing a heavier tipping load and a higher lift height and reach than conventional wheel loaders of the same power and weight. Fuel costs are greatly reduced since the reduced operating weight of the vertical lift machine allows more material to be moved per horsepower than with a conventional radial lift machine. This allows customers to move more tonnes per hour for lower initial investment, and lower owning and operating costs than would be required with conventional radial arm technology. “This technology will create a new class of machines. Our ‘truly new’ LiuGong vertical lift loader will be the first ever for an articulating frame loader. The vertical lift loader will provide performance and value that no radial arm wheel loader can match,” says Edward Wagner, director of LiuGong New Technology

stockpiles to hauling and loading crushers and trucks with greater speed and improved fuel efficiency. The combination of these two drive types in a single wheel loader ensures maximum efficiency and outstanding fuel savings in every situation, enabling operators of the Liebherr XPower wheel loader to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 30%. The Liebherr Power Efficiency system (LPE) plays a key role of controlling all components in real time to achieve maximum possible efficiency. It is this special optimisation that enables the XPower generation to achieve such greater fuel savings, resulting in considerable operating cost savings for the operator. Liebherr has reinforced the lift arm and optimised the lever ratio. The improved Z-bar linkage provides break-out forces up to 20% higher than those of previous machine generations. Liebherr customers can choose between Z-bar linkage and industrial linkage for the XPower L 550, L 556, L 566 and L 580 wheel loaders. Z-bar linkage is ideally suited to conventional wheel loader applications such as quarrying. The optional industrial lift arm, is best suited to uses with heavy equipment. Liebherr has also re-engineered the bucket design. The optimised buckets penetrate the material more effectively to facilitate fast and efficient loading. Load capacity is increased as a result of the mounting position of the components. Liebherr fits heavy components, such as the engine, at the back of the machine, which shifts the centre of gravity towards the rear axle and removes the need for additional counterweight. The ideal weight distribution results in high tipping loads and greater handling capacity per hour of operation. b

and Test, inventor and lead engineer of the technology. “This technology is universally applicable and it is especially advantageous for stockpiling and truck loading applications,” adds Edward. The idea of vertical lift loader technology was first generated in 2010 and then started and further developed in 2011. After four years of development, LiuGong expanded the team and went into final development stage in 2015. The new product will be ready for mass production this year. German engineering At CONEXPO 2017, Liebherr presented the new generation of its XPower wheel loaders. Liebherr XPower is an integrated, innovative machine concept that is said to set new standards in terms of fuel efficiency, performance, robust design and comfort. The new power-split transmission of the XPower wheel loaders makes it possible to combine the two types of drive, hydrostatic drive and a mechanical drive. It is variable and continuously adapts the mixing ratio of the two drive paths without noticeable switching and without interrupting traction power. Thanks to the power-split drive, the wheel loaders are optimally powered to ensure maximum productivity, whatever the

application. The hydrostatic drive is most efficient for material uptake and traveling over short distances, and the mechanical drive is the more efficient and powerful option for long distances and for driving uphill. This gives the operator the ability to work in a variety of applications, from maintaining material

Our ‘truly new’ LiuGong vertical lift loader will be the first ever for an articulating frame loader. The vertical lift loader will provide performance and value that no radial arm wheel loader can match.”

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS MARCH 2017 12