Chinese construction machine manufacturer SDLG is seeking to cash in on the high demand for wheel loaders in India with the launch of a new vehicle for the market.
The L958F was presented at Bauma ConExpo India 2018 this week, where visitors were afforded the first viewing of in the country. Featuring a larger bucket capacity, heavier operating weight and a new cooling design system than the outgoing model, SDLG is intent on exploiting the high demand for wheel loaders on the subcontinent.
Surat Mehta, head of the SDLG business in India, said, “With the Indian government continuing to invest in infrastructure, the new L958F wheel loader will be a great fit for heavy-load applications such as material handling, land clearing and general earthmoving.”
Useful features
The 5-ton rated wheel loader has a bucket capacity of 3.2m³ and a maximum dumping distance of 1.12m. The Deutz Tier III engine has a rated power of 162kW at 2,000 rpm. The L958F also features a cooling system designed with an area-enlarged radiator, and optimized inlet and outlet air channels that provide high cooling efficiency — a feature that will be highly useful in the Indian heat.
The new wheel loader is already available in other Asia-Pacific markets but its appearance at the four-day event in Delhi was the first public sight of the vehicle in India.
“Wadi stone is a particularly harsh material, and one that places extreme demands on equipment,” said Devanand Bugde, a plant engineer at Naeem Dhofar Trading Company, Oman, which started using the L958F in June this year.
“Throw in summertime in the Middle East, where temperatures can go up to 40°C, and crusher dust into the mix, and the result is a demanding operating environment! But, so far, the L958F has handled this tough environment very well.”
Bauma ConExpo 2018 is taking place at the HUDA Ground in Gurgaon, Delhi, from December 11-14. In September, the L958F was launched in Australia, click here for more information.
