37
CONSTRUCTION EUROPE
SEPTEMBER 2014
COMPACT LOADERS
A
trend has been identified suggesting
that the compact tracked loader (CTL)
is finding favour in some European
countries, adding to the options that are
available.
John Chattaway, Bobcat’s product manager
for compact loaders in the Europe, Middle
East and Africa (EMEA) region, said that
although the CTL concept was not new, it had
started to expand the normal compact loader
customer base in some European countries
and industries.
He said, “The CTL is now replacing wheeled
loaders in some applications and opening up
new applications for others.
“Although the different rates of economic
recovery make the market expansion
inconsistent, the trend is clear enough to be
able to identify. From the CTL industry peak
in 2007, the European market recovery has
been slow as the southern mainstay markets
continue to be depressed.”
He added that customers nowadays more
clearly understood the CTL’s advantages over
different types of wheeled loaders.
“This includes how the CTLs offset the
initial higher purchase price and marginally
increased maintenance costs. Additionally,
the reduced downtime by not having
punctures, and the cost savings associated
with not needing to keep spare wheels in
stock, is appealing to the rental suppliers and
contractors alike,” said Chattaway.
He explained that the CTLs basic benefits of
high flotation allowed work to continue on
poor ground and in bad weather.
“This is now also joined by the
understanding that the high flotation allows
work in applications that require less ground
disturbance and damage – for example,
landscaping or clean up at the end of a
project.”
He said that contractors realised that the
CTL could be one of the first machines on
site that was able to access difficult areas,
and move materials and equipment “with
impressive performance capacity”.
He added, “Then, after the multi-purpose
CTL continues to work even during poor
weather, it can be the last machine on the site
performing clean up and repair where larger
or wheeled products are not allowed to go
because of damage to already constructed
areas.”
Rental companies were also investing in
the product, said Chattaway, as demand
increased and new customers were keen to
try out the product before investing.
CUSTOMER-ADAPTED OPTIONS
While Volvo Construction Equipment has not
launched any new compact wheeled loaders
lately – the most recent machines were the
L25F with new stage 3A engine and the
L30-35G with stage 3B engines – Per Leis,
utility director for EMEA, said that customer-
adapted options and attachments were the
main focuses now.
He said that as work in urban areas was
increasing, the demand for smaller machines
of less than 2 tonnes was increasing.
“The compact wheeled loader business,
together with the compact excavator
business, is growing and we see a positive
development for Europe and some parts of
EMEA,” said Leis.
He added that as a result of the economic
situation, the rental sector was increasing. He
gave France as an example, pointing out that
about 60% was rental.
“Volvo has managed to sell high numbers
of machines to these companies – the
development has been quite good,” he
said. “Several importers and dealers are
developing their rental channels because the
rental sector is increasing.”
He added that he hoped this would allow
Volvo increased presence in other countries
besides Germany and France, which he
regarded as the main compact wheeled
loader volume countries.
He said Volvo was quite new in the field of
skid steer loaders.
“The total market in Europe is quite
small,” he said, but he added that successful
introductions had been made, mainly in
Switzerland, Norway and Russia.
“New Stage IIIB models are introduced
in the autumn, and they have several new
options that are beneficial for our customers.”
He wouldn’t divulge more details of
what was happening in Volvo’s product
Interest in tracked
models of compact
loaders is growing in
some parts of Europe.
Sandy Guthrie
looks at a
sector that is all about
being able to access
difficult areas
Tracks suit
The C238 compact track loader from
New Holland now fully meets the
Tier 4 Interim regulations
Bobcat’s Chattaway said tracked models had
advantages over wheeled loaders
