Surveying the Options

The 2008 non-fiction book called “The Paradox of Choice” asks the question, “Can having too many choices make you unhappy?” Recyclers and contractors who are in the market for a new loader may be able to provide an answer to that question, at least as it pertains to shopping for equipment.

Whether shopping to buy one machine or a whole fleet or to rent a loader for a specific task, shoppers have access to a wider range of choices regarding the size of the machine, its platform and any number of options and features that may help boost operator comfort, productivity and suitability to the task.

Provided buyers have the time to consult with manufacturers, equipment dealers or industry allies, they may well find the machine that is perfectly suitable for their needs.

ON TRACK(S)
On most surfaces, a material handling machine on wheels can move more quickly and provide advantages that have made it practically an industry standard.

But many demolition contractors, in particular, work at job sites that go beyond the “most surfaces” definition, meaning a loader on treads or tracks may be needed.

Among the equipment manufacturers who debuted new tracked loaders at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2011 was New Holland Construction (www.newholland.com), Racine, Wis.

The equipment maker introduced three compact track loaders that are part of its new 200 Series. The new machines “feature best-in-class forward dump height and reach—boosting operator profits and productivity,” the company states in a news release.

“These machines are built to tackle the toughest construction, landscaping and agricultural applications,” says Dave December, marketing manager at New Holland Construction.

A new self-leveling bucket feature on each model is designed to allow attachments to maintain a preset location throughout the lift cycle. “For long load and carry operations, the optional Glide Ride feature on the New Holland C232 and C238 compact track loaders ensures a smooth ride over the roughest job site,” the company says.

Those models have rated operating capacities of 3,200 pounds for the C232 and of 3,800 pounds for the C238. Both machines are 79 inches wide and are mounted on 18-inch tracks.

The third tracked model debuted by New Holland, the C227, is a radial lift machine designed specifically to provide optimal digging performance, according to the company.
Caterpillar Inc. (www.cat.com), Peoria, Ill., has added to its line of tracked loaders with the compact 259B3 model, designed to operate in confined spaces. The company also has modified other tracked models in its product line.

Caterpillar’s B-Series multi-terrain loaders (MTLs) are billed by the company as “tough, reliable machines that perform a variety of tasks competently while providing exceptional convenience and control.”

According to the company, two new B-Series loaders—the 242B3 and the 257B3—have been designed with larger lift and tilt cylinders to give these two new models “a substantial gain in boom and bucket breakout force, from 13 to 19 percent, depending on model and circuit. Increased breakout forces provide enhanced performance in all basic functions—loading, lifting and digging,” the company states in a news release.

The 242B3 is rated at 2,150 pounds at 50 percent of tipping load or at 2,200 pounds when using an optional counterweight. The 257B3, when rated at 50 percent tipping load, has an operating capacity of 2,675 pounds that increases to 2,725 pounds with the addition of an optional counterweight.

The 242B3 and 257B3 models also feature an engine-mounted air-conditioner compressor, designed to eliminate a hydraulic motor and plumbing that used to be required on previous models. “The new configuration is a simpler design that uses fewer parts, reduces the number of hydraulic connections and lowers sound levels in the cab,” according to Caterpillar.
 

ALL SHAPES AND SIZES
Equipment makers are now designing and making material handling and loading machines that vary in size from compact to way-off-road. (These largest models are most commonly found at mining sites.)

At ConExpo and other industry events in 2011, manufacturers have been introducing machines at both ends of this scale as well as new models that tuck in to the middle of their product range.

Terex Construction Americas, Southaven, Miss., www.terex.com, introduced its TL310 wheel loader model at ConExpo. The company says the machine has been designed to be “surprisingly compact and agile” while still being able to perform heavy-duty work.

The TL310 handles bucket capacities of 4- to 6-cubic yards and features “a spacious operating cab and a powerful cooling system with reversible fan, similar to that on the company’s popular TL210 and TL260 wheel loaders,” according to a Terex news release.

The model’s 203-horsepower Cummins turbocharged diesel engine meets Tier III emission standards, while the loader’s transverse-mounted design “protects the engine from jobsite debris and damage during operation,” Terex says.

“Traction provided by the load-limit-controlled hydrostatic Vario-
Power system makes the power loader capable of accelerating to 25 mph quickly,” the company adds. The hydrostatic drive also functions as a wear-free brake when the machine is in forward and reverse drive, says Terex in its news release describing the new TL310 model.

Terex assigns the new model an operating weight of 38,800 pounds, “with a straight tipping load of 29,100 pounds and an articulated tipping load of 25,350 pounds.”

The TL310’s cooling system features a wire screen installed in front of the high-volume cooler to protect from dust and debris, and the fan automatically switches to “reverse” to help clean out the system, Terex says.

The cab of the new model incorporates a removable steel frame and is designed to provide the operator optimal rear visibility through large, tinted windows. Reducing operator fatigue is the intent of ergonomically designed controls, with the desired effect being increased productivity. “This cab also features two doors for easy access, an operator’s seat with hydraulic shock absorption and standard air conditioning,” Terex says, adding, “all service points are easily accessible, reducing downtime for maintenance.”

Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment, Suwanee, Ga., www.doosanequipment.com, is now offering its DL200 wheel loader model in a tool carrier configuration, known as the DL200TC.

“Thanks to its parallel-lift linkage system, the Doosan DL200TC tool carrier is ideally suited to move pallets, pipe and other materials around job sites,” the company says in its promotional material for the new model. The DL200TC also can be equipped with an optional quick coupler designed to make changing work tools easier.

The company says the unit “provides outstanding visibility down the center of the lift arms, which allows the operator to see the ground, truck or work area in front of the machine when placing loads.”

The DL200TC has an operating weight of 25,700 pounds with a standard 2.6-cubic-yard bucket. Dump height is 8 feet 11 inches, and dump reach is 3 feet 1 inch, according to Doosan. “Static tipping load is 18,900 pounds with a straight frame and 16,270 pounds at the maximum steering angle of 40 degrees.

Four forward speed ranges provide maximum speeds of 4.1, 7.5, 14 and 21.7 mph. Three reverse speed ranges offer maximum speeds of 4.5, 8 and 15.5 mph.

Along with the features designed to improve driver visibility, other operator-friendly features touted by Doosan include “low cabin sound levels, a roomy cabin, powerful heating and air conditioning system, tilting/telescoping steering column, ample storage space and a comfortable seat [to] help reduce operator fatigue.”

In its news release introducing the DL200TC, Doosan also notes that routine maintenance can be performed from ground level.

Caterpillar now is offering its set of options geared toward more rugged applications (including demolition and scrap recycling) on some smaller wheel loader models.

Caterpillar wheel loader models 924H, 924Hz, 928Hz and 930H are now available with a number of new guarding options, a new cab filtration system, a reversing lighting package and new remote breathers for drive train components, according to the company.

The company’s hitch-guard package is designed to protect the articulation area and reduce the probability of material packing. The new heavy-duty rear guard enhances protection of the rear of the machine and is designed to provide access for radiator cleaning and other maintenance by swinging out of the way. In addition to the new rear guard, the company’s windshield guard has been modified to provide additional cover on the lower cab window panels.

A new, factory-installed reversing lights package for these Caterpillar models illuminates the work area to the rear of the loader when the transmission is in reverse gear. “The well-guarded pair of halogen lights enhances visibility for the operator and others working nearby for safer operation in dimly lit areas,” the company says.