Just up and over the North Dakota border, one company is already using its SDLG loader to great effect.
Double K Excavating, based out of Tuxford, Saskatchewan, Canada, was the first company to purchase an SDLG wheel loader in North America, and has been putting it to good use ever since. The 30-year-old excavating business purchased an SDLG LG959 wheel loader for a wide array of duties, including underground water and work, road construction, snow removal, lagoon building, material handling and more.
Cole Koch, superintendent and part-owner of the family-operated company, said he found the LG959 to be an ideal machine for Double K’s needs, especially giving the unique demands of the region’s seasonal demands.
"A wheel loader isn’t something we use for 10 to 12 hours a day, every day. We look at it as a support machine," he said. "Some days it will get eight hours, some days only two or three. So it doesn’t make sense for us to purchase a more expensive, premium machine."
After just a few days of working with the LG959, Koch felt the wheel loader had already lived up to its reputation for quality. He’s even considering purchasing another loader this spring.
"It’s been great working with the LG959 so far," he said. "The engine runs well, the machine has a lot of power and the hydraulics function smoothly. It’s done great starting in cold weather, too, which is important for this region. The cab is pretty roomy compared with other brands — it has great visibility."
Double K purchased the LG959 from Regina-based Redhead Equipment, one of SDLG’s eight North American pilot dealers (SDLG plans to expand with more dealers beginning in July). Customers in the Dakotas will want to contact ASC Construction Equipment, which has locations in Bismarck, Fargo, Minot and Williston. Double K and Redhead have been doing business together for decades.
Dean Wolfe, salesman with Redhead Equipment, said the attractive price of the LG959, as well as Double K’s particular needs in this region, convinced the company to purchase the new SDLG wheel loader over a more expensive used machine from another brand.
"Double K wasn’t looking for a 2,000-hour-a-year wheel loader," he said. "For the limited number of hours the machine would run and for the amount of money the company wanted to spend, it made more sense to purchase a brand new SDLG machine with a 1,500-hour warranty than a used machine from another brand."
With the cold weather and shortened farming season in the Midwest, a more expensive wheel loader, or a used machine, didn’t make as much sense. With Double K just a few hours north of the Dakotas, one can assume these lessons apply for our region, too.
The LG959 used by Double K excavating is a 4 cu. yd. (3 cu m) wheel loader with an operating weight of 38,250 lbs. (17,350 kg). It features a Tier III Deutz engine with 224 hp and 777 lb.ft.; ZF transmission and axles; wet disc brakes; a hydraulic quick coupler and 3rd function hydraulics; a modern fit and finish with high visibility; and an operator friendly cab. The base comes with a 12-month, 1,500-hour warranty.
Wolfe also said the LG959’s ease of use was a factor in the purchase. Without the fancier electronic setups of more expensive wheel loaders, operators can quickly jump in and operate the machines. As typical SDLG customers won’t be running their loaders all day, every day throughout the year, a big time requirement to learn to operate and maintain the machine isn’t a wise investment either.
"The SDLG wheel loaders are very simple to run — there are not a lot of quirks," Wolfe said. "Anyone can learn to run the LG959 in a matter of minutes."
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