Go big or go home. This is a popular phrase LiuGong Machinery Corporation, Asia’s leading full-line equipment manufacturer, takes seriously.
In the past four years, the company has quietly expanded its ability to produce large-sized construction equipment machinery. Through smart acquisitions, redirection of some of its R&D efforts and new partnerships, LiuGong now has added large tonnage machines to the top end of several of its key product lines, including excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, rigid dump trucks and electric mining trucks. Already, LiuGong has a leading position as a long-line CE producer. With 14 product lines and more to come, LiuGong has the broadest product portfolio of any Asian manufacturer, according to the company.
“We add larger sized machines to the top end of our lines when we have the right things in place to design and produce them, and to also service and support our customers,” said David Beatenbough, LiuGong’s vice president of R&D. “Producing these machines requires a certain degree of specialization. That’s why our 899 wheel loader was our first foray at the larger machines. We have such a deep experience and reputation with wheel loaders and such a vast product line — it was just a natural for us to start there.”
Beatenbough added that LiuGong’s acquisition of Dressta in 2012 further expanded the company’s expertise in bulldozer and track technology. Dressta has a suite of very large machines, and LiuGong is benefiting from Dressta’s historic and collective knowledge.
“We have two teams running cooperative projects between our Poland facility and China right now. One is to develop an even larger mining wheel loader, and one to develop mining bulldozers,” he said.
Many of these products, including the even larger sizes that are in development, enable LiuGong to address the needs of the mining sector. Industry predictions are for the mining segment to continue to grow, creating demand for mining equipment. But mining costs have been increasing. Pressures to improve operational efficiency, margin and shareholder return is a prime force in the segment.
This trend suits LiuGong, since the company focuses on building highly efficient, durable and productive equipment in the mid-class range — an appealing value proposition for miners.
In 2009 LiuGong introduced its CLG 899 wheel loader powered by a 525 hp (391 kW) Cummins engine. The CLG 899 now represents the top end of LiuGong’s expansive 13-model wheel loader line. With an operating weight of 110,231 lb. (50, 000 kg) and an 8.7 cu. yd. (6.7 cu m) bucket capacity, the machine is capable of safely carrying loads with a top speed of nearly 22 mph (35.1 kmh) in forward and reverse. Its maximum dump clearance of 132 in. (3,35 cm), allows it to work alongside LiuGong’s new rigid mining dump trucks.
When LiuGong acquired 42 percent of mining truck manufacturer Beijing Capital Steel Heavy Duty Truck Co. Ltd. in 2011, LiuGong began producing rigid body dump trucks, and now offers the SGR 50A. Powered by a 525 hp Cummins diesel engine, the 59,525 lb. (27,000 kg) machine has a payload capacity of 110,231 lb. It can travel safely at speeds up to 34.8 mph (56 kmh) and with its 25-second hoist time and 18-second lower time; it’s both speedy and efficient.
The company will be introduced its new Model 945E excavator at Bauma 2013. With its 100,310 lb. (45,500 kg) operating weight, it’s the largest excavator in LiuGong’s growing, 17-machine stable of track-mounted excavators. Featuring a 376 hp (280 kW) Cummins engine and a 2.8 cu. yd. (2.2 cu m) bucket, the 945E is ready for high-production, high-volume applications in quarrying and heavy construction.
“In all, we’re very pleased with the progress we have made in these large-sized machines,” said Beatenbough. “We’ve added to the top of our very key lines such as excavators, and we intend to keep pushing up on these sizes.”
For more information, visit www.liugong.com.
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