SDLG’s new Tier 4 Final loaders made their debut at the Bauma show in April.The SDLG Tier 4 Final wheel loaders that were on display at the recent Bauma trade show are now available in North America, and the company says it plans to introduce a 1.8-cubic-yard compact loader here next year.
The 2.5-cubic-yard capacity L938F and and the 3-cubic yard capacity L937F loaders will be available beginning in June, replacing the LG938L and the LG948L. Later this year, the larger 4-cubic-yard L958F and L959F will be rolled out.
“Our dealer engagement has been strong in North America,” says Al Quinn, director of SLDG North America, speaking to Equipment World during Bauma. The company, a division of Volvo Construction Equipment, now has 31 participating Volvo dealers in North America, recently adding PacWest Machinery in Seattle, Washington.
Volvo Construction Equipment started selling its China-based brand of loaders three years ago in North America, going after the segments of the market that typically use a loader less than 1,000 hours a year, would be in the market to buy a used machine, and which would be attracted to prices that 30 percent below those on premium machines. “If someone is asking for a used machine, that’s the right guy for this product,” Quinn says.
The loaders are sold as basic machines, designed for customers who don’t require cutting-edge technologies. With the upgrade to Tier 4 Final, the new loaders also received several improvements, including:
- A new, branded SDLG SD60 engine, manufactured by Deutz-Germany
- Passive regeneration capabilities
- Elimination of the threshold on loader cab doors and reduction of in-cab noise levels, and
- A new engine service compartment door
In addition, the loaders now use joystick controls with a first-gear kickdown on the trigger finger, and feature improved heating and air conditioning controls. Chrome coupler pins offer better engagement and disengagement of the quick coupler and new front and rear guard plates reduce noise and protect loader components.
As for the 1.8-cubic-yard compact loader, which will probably be introduced during next year’s ConExpo-Con/Agg show in Las Vegas, Quinn says SDLG will follow the same market approach it used for the larger loaders.
“It will be a basic version at a much lower price point. We think we can get the price of a compact loader comparable to that of a skid steer, which will bring a lot of people over,” Quinn says. “The skid steer market is about four times that of compact wheel loaders, so we’re trying to see if we can mix it up a bit.”
