Wheel Loaders: Makers Work Hard to Retain Business

Despite demand remaining compressed, wheel loaders manufacturers continue to come up with new offerings. Further, they have remained quite active targeting new business areas. P.P. Basistha finds out the details.

There was no major upswing in the demand of wheel loaders last year and the market size was of 2100 units as compared to 1800 units in 2014. Demand is projected to remain at modest levels with off-take expected to remain at 2300 units in 2016 which would result towards keeping the market size compacted. However, this may not deter the manufacturers from coming up with new offerings, along with carrying out product positioning strategies for making the equipment suitable for varied applications. JCB India had displayed their 455ZX, a 5T category wheeled loader during Excon 2015. According to Mr. Jasmeet Singh, Head Corporate Communications, JCB India, "455 wheel loader will be our new offering in the bigger class of wheeled loaders and will be high on productivity and operator comfort".

JCB India has also recently launched 2DXL super loader. It can find its applications in process, agro and industrial based applications. The machine has Super Performance, Super Versatility and Super Technology. It comes with 10+ Attachments eg. 1.3 cu.m, shovel, cotton bucket, high dump shovel & bale grabber. The machine has a new Long Loader Arm – and High Dump height options of 3.1m and 4.0 m. It has a Torque converter, a JCB transmission and parallel lift loader arm for higher uptime. The Super Loader has Cabin or a Canopy with a front glass & comfortable seat for ease of operation.

The machine has a 2465 PSI hydraulic system pressure which allows higher break out forces enabling the machine to penetrate better. A durable loader arm design enables higher lift capacity and lower cycle times and a speed of 28 Km/hr travel helps in faster coverage of long distance for intersite movements.

Mr. Singh says, "JCB wheel loaders are fitted with fuel efficient engines and reliable Transmissions which enable them to productively work for long hours. The machines also have robust structures which makes them work for years".

Our JCB 430ZX Plus is a 3.3 Ton payload machine and has an Ashok Leyland 133HP, 6 Cylinder turbo charged engine. The machine has a high Reach Z-bar-dumping ability and comes with a range of buckets from a 1.5 cu.m bucket to a larger 2.5 cu.m material handling bucket. The machine consumes 3.2% less fuel and is 7% more efficient. The 430ZX plus come with a ZF Transmission for reliability and efficient working.

Ever Since launch of Terex-Lonking Wheel Loaders during Bc India 2014, we are able to cater Indian customer value for their money and a hustle free experience. After seeing the response of customer we are sure that in near future Terex wheel loaders will take the center stage. We are already able to see the positive swing of in its market share due to upcoming market of mining, Aggregates, Ports & quarries. We have already sold twenty plus units of wheel loaders ever since its launch in various applications and we are very positive after seeing the customer response.


According to Mr. Amar Chauhan, Terex India, "Terex Wheel loaders are designed by keeping low life cycle cost, faster ROI's & lowest per ton cost, in mind, fitted with fuel efficient Cummins engines in CDM 835 -payload capacity of 3.5T & WeiChai Engines in CDM 856 -payload capacity of 5T. Technologies like automatic levelling, 4F/3R Transmission with ZF, ROPS/FOPS cabin makes them best in class & offer higher ROI for customers.

CDM 856, 5T wheel loader is equipped with 3.0 cum bucket capacity & can raise full bucket load at 5.27 meters, While The CDM 835, 3.5T pay loader is equipped with 1.8 cum bucket can do the same at 4.59 meters, for loading conventional and hydraulic tipper bodied trucks and wagons."

Further talking about fuel efficiency & features Mr. Chauhan mentions, "Terex-Lonking Wheel Loaders are at least 10% more fuel efficient when compared with other products available in market. Additionally, features like proper cooling and air filtration systems, make the loaders to work in worst condition of Indian quarry sites with high temperatures and high dust levels." To make the loader more cost effective in its range, we at Terex have in designed the 3.5 tons loaders at our state of art manufacturing plant at Gautam Budh nagar, Greater Noida, UP. Mr. Chauhan says, "We will look to increase the quantum of localization in phases. To support our customer we have strong after sales service through strong chain of 58 dealers pan India". Higher localization will also be focused by Schwing Stetter India for its XCMG distributed wheel loaders. According to Mr. V.G. Sakthi Kumar, MD Schwing Stetter Sales and Services Private Limited, "Currently, the wheel loaders imported from China, are powered by Cummins India power packs. We will enhance the localization of components, once the demand of loaders attains critical mass." He says, "Following the introduction of the loaders in the Indian market, the results have been quite encouraging. We will continue to market our wheel loaders both for our captive customers and niche segments like quarrying, etc procuring concrete solutions from us as well as to the other segments of the market involving quarrying, overburden removal. We have recently created a business vertical head for the loaders. Services for the wheel loaders are rendered by Schwing Stetter India through its nine services centers across the country." Ariando Infra Machines India Pvt. Ltd. will offer enhanced product support (based on India work site requirements) to the wheel loaders from Doosan in India. Ariando is the new business entity formed by Mr. Sandeep Kumar Agarwal, Ex CEO & Mr. Sajay Kumar, Ex Head of Product Management & Dealer Management of Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment India. The duo has formed a new business entity to take over the entire manpower & physical assets, distribution and parts support business of Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment, India in April 2016. Mentioning about the takeover and future business strategy to market and support the loaders in India, Mr. Sajay Kumar, Director, Ariando Infra Machines says, "Doosan Infracore was planning to establish alternative setup at India level. We took it as a challenge & worked on the initiative to take over the same by forming a new company. The new business entity now managed and governed by an entirely new Indian management with high exposure in sales and marketing, will offer enhanced value to our product support initiatives based on the Indian operating conditions and customer requirements." They have 15 dealers across India who are ensuring that there are no interruptions in availing services and parts support during this transition.

Ariando will now play a role of the main and exclusive distributor of Doosan Construction Equipment's including wheel loaders in India. They will introduce 3 and 5 tons pay load capacity wheel loaders during the third quarter in the Indian market. "The loaders will be equipped with standard 1.8 and 3 cum bucket capacity. They will be targeted for aggregates quarrying, coal re-handling and wagon loading," mentions Mr. Kumar.

Higher End Applications

Dozco India Private Limited will increase its presence in the marble and granite mining applications with its large sized Kawasaki wheel loaders from Japan. "Our 95ZV, (BH) 'Block Handler' is highly suitable to work in marble and granite mines. The loader which comes with fork attachment can move with 25 tons of granite and marble blocks load from bottom of the mines to the top surface covering highly inclined road surface," says Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Vice President Equipment Sales, DOZCO.

He continues "With capacity to work at 30 degree inclined gradient, Kawasaki 95ZV (BH) Block Handler can carry large sized marble and granite blocks for dressing from the bottom to the top of the mine surface. Two tilt cylinders balance and provide necessary stability to the equipment, while they move up with the load through undulated surfaces. Cummins 348 HP engine provides faster loading cycles and provide large tractive force to 95ZV (BH)."
The company has supplied 11 units of 95ZV BH to a marble quarry site in Udaipur. The loaders work at 100 meters down at the mining site from surface. Following excavation of the marble, they move the extracted blocks to the surface covering 400-500 meters of distance to load them on an open tractor trailers for dressing.

Dozco is the exclusive dealer of Kawasaki wheel loaders in India and sells higher capacities i.e., from 7.5 to 23 tons payload wheel loaders. The company has supplied 9 units of 90Z5 and one unit of 95ZV to National Mineral Development Corporation (NDMC) for its iron ore mines and also 10 units to Coal India limited for their coal mines.

According to Mr. Kumar, "9.5 tons loader can raise full load in 11.6 seconds. It comes with a dumping clearance of 3220 mm and maximum dumping reach of 1350 mm making it most suitable in its class for handling and loading in mining applications."
Dozco provides maintenance support to the Kawasaki wheel loaders through its AMCs & FMCs and engineers trained in Japan. It provides parts support through its mother warehouse at Vizag, where the company stocks Engine, Transmission, cabins, glass and other critical components and parts. Dozco has 31 offices across the country to provide prompt services to their customers.

Targeting the higher end market, the Swedish construction equipment major Volvo CE will continue to market its higher capacity wheel loaders (from 10 to 17 tons payloads) in India for high productivity applications like marble and granite quarry applications. "L350 and L220 is most suitable equipment in its class for marble and granite quarry applications. We provide multiple attachments with the loaders for block handling. Extra counter weight and boom suspension system is provided to the loaders involved in quarry operations for lifting and carrying the loads," says Mr. Dimitrov Krishnan, President, Volvo CE India.

He says, "Our wheel loaders are fitted with boom suspension system which enables it to maintain stability while absorbing the shocks getting emanated from the undulated surface while moving uphill from the bottom of the quarries at higher speed to the surface, with the loads for dressing. The unique 'quick fix' attachments provision enables our loaders deliver faster uptime. With the provision, the operator can change the attachments without coming out of the cab. The provision also makes our loaders highly flexible in operation."

Volvo CE supports its wheel loaders through its 15 dealers across the country and premium support is ensured for wheel loaders by direct monitoring of service calls through the VCARE service management system. Liugong will launch its new 5 ton payload wheel loaders soon. Sharing the details of the equipment, Mr. Nischal Mehrotra, Director Sales & Service says, "The new loader will have aesthetic look and is powered by Liugong own 220 hp engine. The equipment is targeted for mining application, coal handling, and will also have load sensing pump and variable disposable pump."

He says, "The new wheel loader will reduce fuel consumption by 20%. Being targeted for quarry market, it is expected to strengthen the market of Liugong further."

Liugong currently manufactures 2 ton payload CLG 818 and 3 ton payload CLG 835, and CLG 836 wheel loaders at its Pitampur plant in Indore. Its CLG 818 is powered by Kirloskar engine whereas CLG 836 is powered by Wei chai engine. Liugong manufactures 5 ton payload CLG 856 wheel loaders as well in India.
Manufacturers targeting higher end applications with their higher capacity loaders are on obvious grounds based on the fact, that they offer higher margins than the product for the mass market. Parity in pricing competition is ensured as all the manufacturers marketing the higher capacity wheel loaders source them from their overseas parent manufacturing facilities. However, to retain the market position, it will be required to make the services competitive based on the customer requirements. This is vital as the size of the wheel loaders market may continue to remain contracted.