Crawler Loaders and their Importance in the Earthmoving Industry
Widely used in construction and in any operation involving earthworks, the heavy-duty vehicles referred to in the industry as crawler loaders have long played an indispensable role. The year 2009 marked the start of a new era when it was determined that, for the first time, the number of people living in urban settlements exceeded the rural population; a trend that is accelerating.
In regions where continued migration and population increases are driving the need for urban expansion and new housing projects, it is often necessary to build in areas where to do so would be nearly impossible without the aid of heavy earthmoving equipment. Projects such as these can only be carried out efficiently and economically with the use of vehicles such as these, in conjunction with excavators and tractors equipped with the specialised attachments required for grading and scraping.
Their caterpillar tracks that facilitate their movement over even the most uneven and punishing terrain are only a part of the reason for the success of these crawler loaders and other equipment employed in large-scale earthmoving operations such as this. Tracks are not the only feature they have in common with military tanks, however. Their highly durable construction is also on a par with that of these armoured war machines.
Powered by tough diesel engines, unlike those in the earlier versions of these vehicles, they are now positioned towards the back of the vehicle. This has improved overall stability and performance while also providing additional rear-end ballast that enables them to handle much larger loads than previously. When combined with a modern hydrostatic drivetrain, there is very little that can impede the progress of one of these tough mechanical workhorses.
That same need for extreme durability applies, not just to the outer structures, but also extends to every single component used in the manufacture of these vehicles. This can only be achieved with the use of the highest quality raw materials engineered with the emphasis on precision. These are the very same qualities that have served to position the crawler loaders and other heavy-duty earthmoving equipment bearing the world-famous Liebherr brand, as among the world’s foremost in their class. Among those other products are both wheeled and tracked excavators, articulated trucks, telescopic handlers, and pipe layers.
Bearing in mind that vehicles and equipment such as this will often be required to operate for lengthy periods and in remote areas while those who must rely upon them are also bound by tight construction deadlines, the need for reliability is a given. Despite their tough construction, accidents and breakdowns can occur on occasions. Consequently, service excellence has been as much an essential element of the Liebherr Group’s philosophy as quality since the Hans Liebherr invented the mobile tower crane in the post-war Germany of 1949 that was the first step to becoming the global giant of today.
It is only natural, then, that such a company would choose its distributors with care, especially in Africa. With facilities and trained engineers for service, plus adequate stocks of spares and accessories in cities in South Africa and eight other African countries, the company to manage sales and maintenance of Liebherr crawler loaders and related equipment could only be Kanu Equipment.
