The skid steers were developed and will be built in house because control over those aspects and, ultimately, the cost, were important to the company, said Christopher Barnard, Wacker Neuson president and CEO.
More than 150 people were among the first to see the lineup, including the SW28 pictured above. Outside of the SW28 photo and a quote from one of the dealers pertaining to a 75-horsepower engine, the Wacker Neuson announcement contained no model numbers or specs, so it looks like we’ll have to wait until we’re a bit closer to CONEXPO in March when these machines will become available.
Barnard said Wacker Neuson decided to enter the market due to demand in North America and the fact that the market is the largest skid steer market in the world.
After the unveiling, the machines were put to work and dealers got their first experience operating them. Sam Eaton, the vice president and general manager of Knickerbocker Russell Co. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said the new skid steers look “robust and tough.”
“It’s a nice looking machine and was very responsive, comfortable with easy to reach controls,” Eaton said. “The 75-horsepower engine had all the power it needed. The cab is ergonomically pleasing and the best I’ve ever seen. It took only a few minutes to get the hang of it.”
