SDLG entered the North American market in the second half of 2013 and is proving to be an early hit with the agriculture, construction and snow removal industries.
SDLG entered the North American market in the second half of 2013 and is proving to be an early hit with the agriculture, construction and snow removal industries.
So far, the company has launched three wheel loaders in North America: The LG938L — a 2.4 cu. yd. (1.8 cu m) loader with a rated load of 3 tons (2.7 t), the LG959 — a 4 cu. yd. (3.1 cu m) loader with a rated load of 5 tons (4.5 t), and the LG958L — an additional 4 cu. yd. (3.1 cu m) loader with a rated load of 5 tons (4.5 t), but with slightly different features.
Currently, SDLG products are undergoing an introduction phase with select dealers before being rolled out to a wider customer base across North America in the coming months. So far, SDLG dealers reside in North and South Dakota, Alaska, Georgia, North and South Carolina, California, Texas, New York and Saskatchewan, Canada. Recent introductions to Latin America, Russia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and much of Asia have had considerable success.
The company’s products attract customers who are looking for new machines that are reliable, simple and with a more competitive price point than premium, features-led equipment. SDLG is enjoying a growing reputation for the high build quality of its products and the reliable service support the brand provides.
“The availability of SDLG machines in North America will provide customers with a new alternative when it comes to purchasing their next wheel loader,” said Al Quinn, SDLG’s director in North America. “We believe that the SDLG value promise of high reliability in a value priced product will be appealing to many customers, especially those who would otherwise look at purchasing a used machine. The brand’s arrival in North America is great news for customers who want cost-effective machines that are durable and high quality.”
Double K Excavating, based out of Tuxford, Saskatchewan, Canada, purchased the first SDLG wheel loader sold in North America. It chose the LG959 model to perform a wide array of duties for its 30-year-old excavating business. Among the LG959’s many tasks will be underground water and sewage work, road construction, lagoon building, material handling and more.
“A wheel loader isn’t something we use for 10 to 12 hours a day, every day. We look at it as a support machine,” said Cole Koch, superintendent and part-owner of the family-operated company. “Some days it will get eight hours, some days only two or three. So it doesn’t make sense for us to purchase a more expensive, premium machine.”
A Look at SDLG
Wheel Loaders
The LG938L has an operating weight of 23,150 lbs. (10,501 kg). It features a Tier IV Deutz engine with 160 hp (119 kW) and 530 ft. lb. of torque; ZF transmission; dry disc brakes; a hydraulic quick coupler and 3rd function hydraulics; a modern fit and finish with high visibility; and an operator-friendly cab. The base unit price is $94,500 and it comes with a 12-month, 1,500-hour warranty.
The LG959 has an operating weight of 38,250 lbs. (17,350 kg). It features a Tier III Deutz engine with 224 hp (167 kW) and 777 ft. lb. of torque; ZF transmission and axles; wet disc brakes; a hydraulic quick coupler and third function hydraulics; a modern fit and finish with high visibility; and an operator-friendly cab. The base unit price is $144,500 and it comes with a 12-month, 1,500-hour warranty.
The LG958L has the same basic specs as the LG959, but with dry disc brakes, rather than wet disc brakes, for versatility and easy maintenance. The base unit price of the LG958L is $134,500, and it also comes with a 12-month, 1,500 hour warranty.
All three wheel loaders include strong breakout forces and high dump clearances, which make them particularly well-suited to the material handling needs of grain, feedlot and dairy operations, as well as construction and snow removal, according to the company. Multiple ISO-interfaced attachments, including hay and silage handling attachments, pallet forks and general purpose forks, provide the versatility needed for a wide array of agriculture applications.
“Although new to North America, SDLG has been sold in more than 80 countries and is the number one selling wheel loader in the world. We are already seeing its benefit to the agriculture, construction and snow removal industries,” Quinn said. “Some of our very first customers are using SDLG wheel loaders on their farms to great effect. They report that the machines are well-built, easy-to-operate and offer great return on investment.”
Reliability
SDLG wheel loaders include standard features that make them versatile to simplify work, including an ISO-interface hydraulic quick coupler for easy attachment change-outs from inside the cab, and full-powered third function hydraulics. The load-sensing, fully hydraulic articulated steering; industry-leading transmission; low-pressure open center hydraulics; and a reversible engine cooling fan add to the wheel loaders’ reliable performance. ROPS/FOPS cabs on SDLG wheel loaders feature floor-to-ceiling glass, joystick controls, air conditioning, radio with USB interface, and control panel functions in the most modern of operator environments.
The SDLG dealer network, composed of seven companies in 15 retail locations, will sell the company’s field-proven construction equipment, as well as provide thorough parts and maintenance support. Each of the dealers in the network is equipped with a complete service center that offers customers a one-stop-shop for service and warranty work. Trained technicians at each location are able to work on SDLG machines “from axles to engines.” A central parts depot in Atlanta, Ga., will supply parts to all the dealers.
The dealer network locations include:
• Construction Machinery Industrial of Anchorage, Alaska. Established in 1985, this Alaskan-owned business operates from four locations, selling and renting construction and mining equipment, as well as providing parts and service support for a range of brands.
• Redhead Equipment of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1948 under the name W.F. Fuller Machinery Limited, this dealer has received several awards for its work in the construction industry.
• ASC Construction Equipment of Bismarck, N.D.; Buford, Ga.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Piedmont, S.C. This company is a leader in the distribution, rental, sales and service of construction equipment for both the construction industry and public works sector.
• Sheehan Mack Sales & Equipment of Sioux Falls, S.D. This third-generation dealership provides quality customer service in the trucking and equipment industry.
• VCES of Turlock and Fresno, Calif. VCES Turlock is the SDLG 10,000 sq. ft. (929 sq m) flagship store. Both the Turlock and Fresno locations will provide full parts and service support for SDLG.
• ROMCO Equipment of Dallas and Houston, Texas. This family-owned business was founded in 1961 and has eight branches.
• Vantage Equipment of Syracuse, NY. This construction equipment provider was established in 2004 to serve upstate New York. The company also supplies the paving, material handling, drilling and sewage markets, among others.
SDLG’s dealer network is made up of knowledgeable dealers with many years of experience working with construction equipment, according to Quinn.
“This is a top-notch group of dealers who really know the business,” he said. “SDLG will be supported by companies that have been selling and servicing construction equipment for decades. They are the backbone of SDLG’s rollout into North America and we couldn’t be more confident in these dealers’ ability to serve the market.”
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