Companies in the Midwest are using more and more equipment that is manufactured in China, due to its value pricing and heightened manufacturing quality. The trend is being reported among both small and large companies, reverberating throughout the construction equipment industry.

Some 62 percent of wheel loaders purchased in North America are in the 2.5 to 3.5 cu. yd. (1.9 to 2.7 cu m) range, so SDLG is launching a new model wheel loader to meet the growing demand of this size class. The SDLG LG948L has a 3 cu. yd. (2.3 cu m) bucket capacity, ideal for most farming and material handling duties, and will be available to customers in July.

Al Quinn, director of SDLG North America, said the company spoke directly to customers across the country to assess their application needs, and in doing so, found that a wheel loader with a 3 cu. yd. capacity would hit the "sweet spot."

"We spoke to customers at Dakotafest in South Dakota, as well as others around the country, and found that most of them were impressed with SDLG’s wheel loaders," he said. "Some customers, though, expressed that they would like an option with more capacity than the 2.4 cubic yard model LG938L, but not quite as much as the 4 cubic yard model LG959. Releasing the 3 cubic yard model LG948L enables us to fill that gap and offer a lineup of wheel loaders that can fit more customers’ needs."

As with other SDLG models that are available in the Midwest, the LG948L is aimed at wheel loader customers that don’t need the special features of premium-priced machines, or those that might be in the market for a used loader, but find the low price and solid warranty of a new SDLG model just as valuable.

Typical SDLG customers in the Midwest are using their SDLG wheel loaders for applications as diverse as farming duties, feedlot operations, snow removal, general construction, material handling and more. With their value pricing, several customers in the region say they are ideal for the seasonal changes in the Midwest — essentially, being able to park the wheel loader during the winter months without worry of running the machine 24/7/365 to pay for itself.

Among the LG948L’s notable features:

• 3 cu. yd. (2.3 cu m) capacity

• 173 hp (130 kW) Duetz Tier IVi engine

• 27,100 lb. (12,292 kg) max breakout force

• 30,200 lb. (13,698.5 kg) operating weight

• Dry-disc brakes

• ZF transmission

• Hydraulic quick coupler with 3rd function hydraulics standard

• Modern fit and finish, high visibility, operator friendly cab

• Easy access to engine compartment for cleaning and maintenance

• 12-month, 1,500 hour warranty

"The LG948L is a great example of SDLG’s growth in North America," Quinn said. "As the products become available at more and more dealerships around the region, so too, will our array of product offerings."

SDLG reports that it is selling more machines in the Midwest than in any other region, due to the area’s application demands and seasonal work schedules. In releasing the 3 cu. yd. LG948L, the company is responding directly to the needs of the Midwest, offering a wheel loader directly in the middle of the regions’ most desired price range. The company said demonstrations will be available at all of its dealer locations.

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