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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
28
“On the electronic foot throttle pedal,
a throttle-smoothing feature monitors the
operator accelerator-pedal movement.
This feature provides additional operator
comfort and aids material retention when
using the foot throttle to modulate engine
and travel speeds. When the machine is
travelling over rough terrain, resulting in
the operator’s foot moving up and down
on the pedal, the electronics ‘clip’ the ex-
tremes of the pedal travel to yield steady,
even travel speeds,” he adds.
One of the key shortcomings of a skid
steer, especially when compared with other
comparable solutions such as the compact
wheel loader, is its limited loading height.
This is one of the downsides of the skid
steer which JCB recently addressed with
the launch of its Teleskid, the world’s first
skid steer and compact track loader with
a telescopic boom, at CONEXPO CON/AGG
2017.
The JCB Teleskid is a revolutionary
new product that can reach 60% further
forward than any other skid steer on the
market and – in an industry first – it is
said to be the only skid steer in the world
that can dig below its chassis to a depth
of around 1 m. In addition, this innovative
new machine can reach 8% higher than
any other skid steer.
“Through innovation, this machine will
surpass the expectations of our customers
as the world’s first skid steer and compact
track loader with a telescopic boom. The
JCB Teleskid can reach further forward and
lift higher and dig deeper than any other
skid steer,” says Tim Burnhope, JCB’s
chief innovation and growth officer. The
JCB Teleskid has a forward reach of 2,4 m
– making it 60% better than the nearest
competitive skid steer. With a lift height of
4 m, the JCB Teleskid can reach 8% higher
than any other skid steer in the world.
Stansfield says tyre wear and tear is an
area where there has been a lot of concern.
However, due to the inherent nature
of the skid steer design and steering/
turning principles, there have been large
improvements on tyre material compounds
and tyre types developed to cater for a
variety of different applications.
The road ahead
As machine designs continue to evolve,
so where will skid steer loaders go from
here? What are the potential trends for
future machine designs? Stansfield says
the skid steer loader will continue to be a
prominent machine in the compact load-
er segment. With an increased focus on
mechanisation and efficiencies on the job
site, the machine will continue to offer in-
creased hydraulic performance and lower
fuel consumption to cater for the ever-in-
creasing demands on loaders, as well as
the capabilities of loaders to function as
effective tool carriers.
Rengaraju says customers are demanding
more from compact machines such as skid
steer loaders, to offer more comfort and
improved visibility and versatility. “Cat
skid steer loaders are available with high
back, heated seats with independently
adjustable arm bar/joystick positioning for
exceptional operator comfort. The sight
lines around the machine are excellent and
can be further enhanced by a standard rear
view mirror and an optional integrated rear
view camera,” he says.
Rengaraju says future designs will further
look at expanding versatility with new
work tool attachments, machine features
and technologies that make attachments
easier to use. “Features such as creep
control allow maximum productivity and
comfort when utilising rotating work tool
attachments like brooms, trenchers, cold
planers (milling heads), among others,”
concludes Rengaraju.
b
Bobcat’s new T870 torsion suspension machine offers 10% more lift
capacity than the previous roller suspension model.
Pallet forks work effectively with vertical lift
loaders when placing pallets or objects at
maximum lift height due to the reach advantages
of the vertical lift path arm design.
SKID STEERS