INTERNATIONAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
Big growth in Middle East Compact Track Loader market
The compact track loader market has seen big growth in the Middle East.
According to Bobcat, one of the key
changes in the compact equipment
sector in the Middle East is the significant
growth in the Compact Track Loader
market in the region. Since 2017, Bobcat
has increased its share of the market,
with sales of compact track loaders more
than quadrupling in the same period.
The growth is being driven by
increasing demand among contractors
for safe, stable and high performing
machines that can be combined with a
wide range of attachments that help them
to expand the amount and type of work
they can carry out with the same loaders.
Ernesto Anton, district manager
Middle East for Doosan Bobcat EMEA
says that this growth is due to the
unique characteristics of compact track
loaders as tool carriers and the wide
array of attachments that they can work
with. “We sell an expanding array of
attachments to Middle East customers for
both skid-steer and compact track loaders
depending on the particular application,
including Forestry Cutters, Planers, Wheel
Saws and Sand Cleaners. Landscaping is
a much more important application in the
area and customers are also looking for
the high lift capacity offered by our track
loaders”, Anton says.
Bobcat compact track loaders provide
a very stable platform for working with
a wide range of attachments. Using
the exclusive, quick change Bob-Tach
www.equipmentandhire.co.za
mounting systems on the machines,
attachments can be added or removed
very quickly, ensuring the attachment
fits securely and safely to the machine
in seconds. Ideal for users needing
to change attachments regularly, the
Power Bob-Tach is a time-saving,
electro-hydraulic device that makes
the connection to the attachment
automatically.
As tool carriers, compact track
loaders offer many advantages over the
comparable wheeled machines. They
can provide increased productivity in
many conditions with a lifting capacity
approximately 25% more than the
equivalently sized wheeled loaders.
While wheeled machines may
outperform tracked machines for sheer
manoeuvrability on hard surfaces, the
rubber tracked undercarriage on track
loaders ensures improved traction on
rough terrain; soft, sandy surfaces and in
wet, muddy conditions. Unlike crawler
or tracked loaders with steel tracks,
compact track loaders offer exceptional
manoeuvrability and fast cycle times.
The increased ground contact area
and the lower centre of gravity means
compact track loaders are generally more
stable than wheeled machines, especially
when shuttling backwards and forwards.
The much better traction of compact
track loaders provides 15% more pushing
force than equivalently sized wheeled
machines, allowing them to push heavier
loads without getting stuck.
Moreover, since compact tracked
loaders are equipped with dedicated
rubber tracks, they will not mark paved
surfaces and are therefore ideal for travel
over and use on public roads. In fact, the
excellent traction and flotation is ideal
when working with planer and wheel
saw attachments, where the machine
hugs the surface for excellent stability
and provides superior pushing power
and precision for cutting into asphalt
and concrete. Compact track loaders are
also ideally suited for use in the rapidly
expanding market for 2D and 3D laser
grading systems.
Overall, the smoother ride over rough
surfaces enhances operator comfort and
helps keep loose materials in the bucket.
The lighter ride over all terrains also helps
to eliminate downtime from damaged
tyres.
Approximately three times less than
wheeled machines, the low ground
disturbance of compact track loaders
allows them to work on delicate surfaces,
such as established lawns or asphalt,
minimizing damage and reducing the
need for tidying up after the job is
complete. By distributing weight over a
larger area, compact track loaders also
offer a smooth ride with the high stability
and manoeuvrability needed for grading
and backfilling on rough terrain.
The widest range of compact track
loaders is available from Bobcat, with four
models offered in the Middle East, namely
the T590, T650, T770 and T870, with rated
operating capacities from 971 to 1726 kg
and tipping loads from 2774 up to 4931 kg.
Bobcat also sells the company’s MT55
mini-track loader in the Middle East, with a
rated operating capacity and tipping load of
254 and 732 kg, respectively.
In the Bobcat range, there is a choice
of size and boom configurations - radial
and vertical lift path models – similar to
those in the company’s market-leading
wheeled skid-steer loader range. There
are various options for Bobcat rubber
tracks with multiple tread patterns
available, so that the performance of track
loaders can be optimized by selecting a
track that exactly matches the application.
Wide tracks are a good choice when
lower ground pressure and flotation are
desired. For increased ground pressure,
added traction and pushing force, it may
be better to choose a narrower track.
MARCH 2020
11