by Nick Drew | Mon 18 Apr 2016
Liebherr demonstrates machines for less regulated markets
Liebherr dominates the blog for the coming days and I make no excuse for that, as they recognised the potential of the blog and kindly invited us over for an exclusive early look at their products. In this post we will take a look at some of the machines being demonstrated at their “Mini Bauma” event in a nearby quarry.
The event held at the so called BRICS Demonstration Park made a welcome break from the hussle and bussle that is Bauma and what I am certain will have been record breaking crowds. All the machines showcased during this event have been designed to meet the needs of customers from less regulated markets such as Russia, India, China, South-East Asia and South Africa.
As we know most excavators from Liebherr are designed and built at the company’s impressive facility in Colmar, France, however these machines aimed at the less regulated markets are still designed in France but the majority are now built in China helping to make them around 35% cheaper than previous models.
I was invited to get hands on with a trio of machines the L 524 wheeled loader, the R 922 and R 954 C SME excavators. I rarely get to operate wheeled loading shovels during the course of my work, but I was delighted to get behind the wheel of the smallest machine on the demo plot the L 524.
The smallest in the mid-range line up of Liebherr wheeled loaders the L 524 for the less regulated markets takes it power from a Stage IIIA Liebherr engine which offers a power output rating of 85kw (116hp). It has a maximum operating weight of 11,290kgs and bucket capacity ranges from 1.70m3 to 4.00m3.
I put the machine to work shifting about some pipe bedding material and I must say it was a pleasure to operate, controls were ergonomically placed, easy and simple to use and all round visibility was excellent. There was plenty of power in the push with very little noticeable wheel spin when loading the bucket.
Next up on the demo plot for me was some seat time on the largest machine at the quarry, the 60 tonne class R 954 C SME (Super Mass Excavation) hydraulic excavator. These models are actually built in Brazil, once again aimed at the less regulated markets.
Climbing on board I was greeted with the familiar Liebherr excavator cab layout, so I instantly felt at home in the machine. A quick tug on the levers brought the Liebherr six-cylinder engine to life offering me 240kw (326hp) as I powered into the dig, of course shifting around pipe bedding material is no great challenge for such a machine, but it was great to get a feel for the machine during the brief period I was on it. In its SME configuration the machine is fitted with a 6.7-metre boom, 2.35-metre dipper stick and a 3.7-cubic metre bucket.
Last up for me was the R 922 which sits in the highly popular 22 tonne class bracket. Aimed once more at the less regulated markets this machines features a Stage IIIA six-cylinder Liebherr engine which offers a power output of 110kw (150hp).
Although designed for this specific market as an operator one would never know the difference in terms of machine ability, productivity and comfort, I felt this machine compared with most Japanese manufactured machines in terms of speed, power and smoothness on the controls and one thing you can always be assured of with a Liebherr product, it will always be well if not over engineered to be capable of many years of reliable service.
I was very impressed with my brief test drive experience, but now it was time to head back to the showground and to beat the inevitable Bauma traffic jams, Liebherr had ingeniously laid on a fleet of branded rickshaws to take us all back!