Capital Equipment News March 2017

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

MARCH 2017

Chinese construction equipment industry

at large.

The key innovations of the product are the

vertical lift loader arms on an articulating

frame and the mechanical self-leveling Z-bar

bucket linkage on a vertical lift loader – both

said to be industry firsts.

The vertical lift was developed as an

innovative way to increase customer value

when purchasing a loader. Vertical lift vastly

improves the wheel loader’s primary function:

lifting and carrying a load, by providing a

heavier tipping load and a higher lift height

and reach than conventional wheel loaders

of the same power and weight.

Fuel costs are greatly reduced since the

reduced operating weight of the vertical lift

machine allows more material to be moved

per horsepower than with a conventional

radial lift machine. This allows customers

to move more tonnes per hour for lower

initial investment, and lower owning and

operating costs than would be required with

conventional radial arm technology.

“This technology will create a new class of

machines. Our ‘truly new’ LiuGong vertical lift

loader will be the first ever for an articulating

frame loader. The vertical lift loader will

provide performance and value that no radial

arm wheel loader can match,” says Edward

Wagner, director of LiuGong New Technology

and Test, inventor and lead engineer of the

technology.

“This technology is universally applicable

and it is especially advantageous for

stockpiling and truck loading applications,”

adds Edward.

The idea of vertical lift loader technology

was first generated in 2010 and then started

and further developed in 2011. After four

years of development, LiuGong expanded the

team and went into final development stage

in 2015. The new product will be ready for

mass production this year.

German engineering

At CONEXPO 2017, Liebherr presented

the new generation of its XPower wheel

loaders. Liebherr XPower is an integrated,

innovative machine concept that is said to

set new standards in terms of fuel efficiency,

performance, robust design and comfort.

The new power-split transmission of the

XPower wheel loaders makes it possible to

combine the two types of drive, hydrostatic

drive and a mechanical drive. It is variable and

continuously adapts the mixing ratio of the

two drive paths without noticeable switching

and without interrupting traction power.

Thanks to the power-split drive, the

wheel loaders are optimally powered to

ensure maximum productivity, whatever the

application. The hydrostatic

drive is most efficient for

material uptake and traveling

over short distances, and the

mechanical drive is the more

efficient and powerful option

for long distances and for

driving uphill. This gives the

operator the ability to work

in a variety of applications,

from maintaining material

stockpiles to hauling and loading crushers

and trucks with greater speed and improved

fuel efficiency.

The combination of these two drive types

in a single wheel loader ensures maximum

efficiency and outstanding fuel savings in

every situation, enabling operators of the

Liebherr XPower wheel loader to reduce their

fuel consumption by up to 30%.

The Liebherr Power Efficiency system (LPE)

plays a key role of controlling all components

in real time to achieve maximum possible

efficiency. It is this special optimisation that

enables the XPower generation to achieve

such greater fuel savings, resulting in

considerable operating cost savings for the

operator.

Liebherr has reinforced the lift arm and

optimised the lever ratio. The improved

Z-bar linkage provides break-out forces up to

20% higher than those of previous machine

generations. Liebherr customers can choose

between Z-bar linkage and industrial

linkage for the XPower L 550, L 556, L 566

and L 580 wheel loaders. Z-bar linkage is

ideally suited to conventional wheel loader

applications such as quarrying. The optional

industrial lift arm, is best suited to uses

with heavy equipment.

Liebherr has also re-engineered the

bucket design. The optimised buckets

penetrate the material more effectively

to facilitate fast and efficient loading.

Load capacity is increased as a result of

the mounting position of the components.

Liebherr fits heavy components, such as the

engine, at the back of the machine, which

shifts the centre of gravity towards the rear

axle and removes the need for additional

counterweight. The ideal weight distribution

results in high tipping loads and greater

handling capacity per hour of operation.

The key innovations of LiuGong’s new Vertical Lift wheel loader are the

vertical lift loader arms on an articulating frame and the mechanical

self-levelling Z-bar bucket linkage on a vertical lift loader – both said to be

industry firsts.

Liebherr XPower is an integrated, innovative machine concept

that is said to set new standards in terms of fuel efficiency,

performance, robust design and comfort.

EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT – CONEXPO 2017 REVIEW

Our ‘truly new’ LiuGong vertical lift

loader will be the first ever for an

articulating frame loader. The vertical

lift loader will provide performance

and value that no radial arm wheel

loader can match.”