May 16, 2017 – SDLG has launched three new wheel loaders in Southeast Asia: the L956F, L958F, and the L968F. Immediately available through SDLG dealers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, these wheel loaders are suitable for the moving of stockpiled materials in environments such as quarries, batching plants and coal mines.

The trio of wheel loaders is part of the F-series range, which supplants the older L-series and features design updates to the frame, chassis, transmission, cabin, engine hood and counterweight.

"Customers demand machines that deliver ever-greater productivity while retaining the same reliability. With their large breakout force and tipping load, energy-saving features and durability, we are confident this new range of affordable wheel loaders will provide customers with an excellent return on investment," said Anthony Neo, SDLG director of sales support.

The L968F is the largest of three F-series wheel loaders that have launched in Southeast Asia, and is suitable for mining and other heavy-duty applications.

The F-series wheel loaders offer greater comfort for the operator, greater ease of maintenance and enhanced durability than previous generation models. They are powered by six-cylinder Weichai engines that meet the emission standards of the various markets. The 5 t-rated L956F — with dimensions of 8,180 mm by 3,024 mm by 3,423 mm is the smallest of the three wheel loaders and is highly suitable for general use. Its bucket, designed for wear-resistance, has a capacity of 3.0 m3.

Both the 5 t-rated L958F and the 6 t-rated L968F are designed for heavy-duty applications. The machines' larger wheel bases offer them greater stability when maneuvering in harsher terrain. The L958F has a wheel base of 3,300 mm while the L968F's is 3,400 mm. The L968F is the heavyweight of the series and has a range-leading bucket capacity of 3.5 m3. While the biggest in size, the machine also excels in operability; it has a steering angle of 38° and a minimum turning radius of 6,062 mm.

The L958F, like the larger L968F, is specially designed for mining and heavy-duty applications. The operator is key to maximising the machine's capabilities. Hence, it is equally important for the operator's comfort to be taken care of, especially in the tropical heat of Southeast Asia. With a curved glass design, the air-conditioned cabs of the F-series wheel loaders offer operators 15 per cent more space to move in. At the same time, improved dampening of the transmission translates to less cabin vibration, less noise and greater overall comfort for the operator.

Several design elements have been introduced to help make maintenance more efficient, improving uptime for customers. On all the F-series wheel loaders, the engine hood and heat dissipation hood have gull-wing designs that ensure easy access to the engine. In addition, all three wheel loaders feature a centralised electrical system for easy repairs, with a central fuel gauge, engine tachometer and digital-display panel that indicates malfunctions in real-time.

"We expect demand to be high for these loaders because the improvements will increase efficiency, cost-savings, and productivity for users," said Neo. "When SDLG was planning for this next generation of loaders, we listened to the market and applied the inputs we received in the design of these machines. After testing these loaders ourselves, we're confident that they meet customer expectations and will be very popular with customers looking for great value."