“We originally had the W50 and W80,” says New Holland Construction product marketing manager Daniel Kakareka. “To meet customer demands, we launched additional models and configurations to target a couple more audience areas than we were.”

The new W60C, W70C and W80C LR (Long Reach) offer 64 horsepower in the W60C and 74 in the W70C and W80C LR. They get that muscle from an FPT 3.4-litre, four-cylinder diesel mated to a powershift transmission.

“With the W50 and W60, the main difference is you’re jumping up a little on horsepower from 58 to 64,” Kakareka says. “The W50 has been a good machine for us, but in certain applications you can use just a little more power. That’s where the W60 is going to come in.

“You get a little bit heavier machine with the W80. The lighter machine (W70C) is going to save you a little bit of money. That’s kind of why we launched it. Not everybody needs the higher-end machine.”

The 3.4-litre engine does not require use of Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) fluid, relying on Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (CEGR) and Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) exhaust after-treatment, which significantly reduces maintenance requirements.

A powershift transmission is standard, but the two larger models get a high-speed version capable of 24 m.p.h. (38 km/h). A creeper gear allows for slow speed and high engine r.p.m. for running attachments.

The machines use a redesigned Z-Bar lift system and the W80C LR offers a longer, higher reach with the hinge pins placed about 12 inches (30 cm) higher. That does slightly reduce its lifting capacity compared to the other W80 model. Skid steer-style or JRB attachment coupler systems are available.

“The W80 Long Reach I think is going to be the popular one in the ag industry because of the additional hinge pin height you get with it,” says Kakareka.

”It’s a different boom design. You get a little less lifting performance on it. But most guys who need that boom height are lifting feed or lighter material where you don’t need the additional lifting performance. The W50 and W60 share the same frame size. The W70C and W80C share the same frame size as well.”

High flow hydraulics are available on the W70C and W80C, which will allow operators to run attachments more efficiently. The high flow is rated at 34 g.p.m. (128 litres per minute); standard flow is 22 (83 l/m) across the full line.

The brand’s FleetForce telematics system comes standard with a five-year subscription built into the base price.

Cab interiors also get an upgrade across the line.

“The cab has been completely redesigned,” Kakareka says. “We have a brand-new monitor. There’s a new control layout on the side and new joystick. You have everything right at your fingertips. We still have the control pad on the right-hand side.

“We had a bit of a gap in the lineup. I think these are going to close that and give a little wider range for our customers to make sure we’re matching the right machine to customers’ needs.”

The post New Holland loads up on wheel loaders appeared first on Farmtario.

The brand showed three machines at the Commodity Classic Farm Show in Texas in February with the latest round of updates.

Most notably for the 2024 model year in the line of telehandlers is the DualTech VT combination hydrostatic-powershift transmission.

“A lot of our competition push a Vario or hydrostatic transmission, which is great for when you’re loading material, but the disadvantage is when you’re on the road, you lose a lot of that power,” says Chris Gately, JCB’s agriculture product sales manager for North America.

“JCB has always leaned toward a powershift model. So, when you’re going up and down the road or across yards, it has its advantages.”

The DualTech VT functions in hydrostatic mode at speeds up to 19 km/h. At speeds up to 40 km/h, it switches to powershift.

“If you’re loading material or inching up into a pallet, you have a lot more control of a hydrostatic machine versus powershift,” says Gately.

“Basically, we’ve retained the two top-end gears from our standard powershift transmission. It’s the only telehandler with that type of gearbox.”

The unit made its North American debut at the U.S. Farm Progress show last summer, although it was available in Europe before that. While telehandlers are far more popular on European farms than those here, Gately says that is slowly changing.

“One thing we’re seeing a big growth in is with our hay guys. They can stack higher and they’re using them a lot in the field. It’s a lot more of an all-round machine.

“Really our market is that tractor-loader market. The way we see it, any dairy, feedlot or ranch that might be running a tractor loader, there’s no reason they couldn’t be running a JCB telehandler. But it is very different from what they’re used to, so we have to prove that concept.”

JCB’s line of telehandlers is designed specifically for agricultural use, says Gately.

“It’s built stronger. The hinge pins are lower for that ground engagement. It’s generally a lot stronger, more robust machine for those agricultural applications.”

Telescopic loader

The DualTech Vt transmission does not carry over to the TM Series articulated loaders the brand offers.

“We stick with just a powershift in our Telemaster TM,” says Gately. “We’ve made some changes to that transmission. We’ve gone to an eight-speed powershift, which makes the transition between gears a lot more seamless.”

There are three models in the series, the TM 120, 320 and 420, offering 73, 130 and 150 horsepower, respectively. They allow for lifting loads from about 15 feet to 17 feet 10 inches (5.4 metres).

“We updated our cab, so we have a more spacious layout, a seat-seat mounted joystick,” says Gately. “We’ve made some changes to the steering column to allow for easier entry and exit.”

He thinks the articulated TM loaders are a good next step when moving from a tractor to a heavier loader.

“It’s a hybrid wheel loader. It sits right between a payloader and a telehandler. For us, it’s another concept and solution for a farmer. It’s definitely an entry level machine for something like a dairy, where it’s getting to the size they’d like and need a payloader.

“It gives them that step from a tractor before they take that leap to a payloader. And with the extendable boom, it just makes it so much more versatile around the farm.”

Teleskid

JCB’s Teleskid steer design uses a single, extendable boom, allowing for a side cab entry rather than requiring an operator to climb in and out over top of the bucket and load.

“The Teleskid has been out since 2017,” says Lee Tice, product manager for skid steers, excavators and telehandlers at JCB.

“We have three models in the large platform. We have a track and wheeled variant, 3,600 pound operating capacity. Then we have a small platform tracked machine with about a 2,100 pound rated operating capacity.”

The Teleskid gets cab improvements for 2024.

A telescopic boom significantly improves lift height, which is limited on most skid steers.

“From a forward reach standpoint, you have about eight feet from the operator. Height is where it really shines,” says Tice.

“On the large platform you get 13.1 feet (3.9 metres) lift height, where your traditional compact track loader lift height is going to be around 10 feet, six inches.

“It really opens doors for what a skid steer can do. It gives it a multipurpose application.”

The post JCB updates designed for agriculture appeared first on Farmtario.

For one thing, operator visibility is restricted on the sides and especially to the rear, which can make avoiding obstacles difficult. Their low ground clearance can lead to problems in soft ground like in muddy corrals. And their slow travel speed makes it necessary to trailer them to locations that aren’t close to the farmyard.

Bobcat recently introduced a machine that has comparable lift capabilities to a top-end skid steer but overcomes those drawbacks. It’s the L95 compact wheel loader.

Jamison Wood, product development specialist at Bobcat, thinks it may be a better choice for many producers.

“Really, the first thing that stands out over a skid steer or compact track loader is the travel speed,” he said. The L95’s top speed of 38 km-h “is almost twice as fast as any skid steer we offer and a little bit more than twice as fast as what our track loaders can do.

“It avoids maybe having to trailer if you’re going to go retrieve bales. It can get across a yard more efficiently if you’re moving feed from one side to the other. In a farm or ranch application, the ground clearance is quite a bit better compared to a skid or track loader.”

The new L95 is the largest in Bobcat’s three-model compact wheel loader line, and it offers 75 horsepower and a 1.2 cubic yard bucket that can hoist a 1,805 kilogram load up to 3.2 metres.

“The improvements to the hydraulic capacity really help the machine perform with powered attachments under extreme loads,” he added.

Hydraulic flow rate is 27 gallons per minute.

The L95 is available with or without an enclosed cab, which can be equipped with a heated air-ride seat to smoothen out machine vibrations. The L95’s automatic ride control helps stabilize the bucket during travel over rough terrain to minimize spillage.

He said operators will find the visibility from the L95’s cab far better than what they could see in a skid steer.

“The other thing is where the operator sits in relation to the machine,” said Wood. “With a skid or track loader, you’re right on top of the bucket limiting your visibility when dumping into something like a feed wagon. With a wheel loader, the operator sits elevated with better visibility. You have a full glass cab all the way around you.”

A five-inch display screen inside the cab makes it possible to include an optional rear-view camera for more rear visibility. The L95 can connect with standard Bobcat attachments.

“We do have our power Bob-Tach design system on this,” said Wood.

“So from the operator seat you can open and close the Bob-Tach lever. If you’re using non-hydraulic powered attachments, you don’t even have to get out of the cab.”

Bobcat’s in-house turbo diesel engine mates to a two-range hydrostatic transmission for smooth speed changes, but drivers must come to a complete stop before changing to high or low. A telematic package is available.

“We have multiple packages depending on what a customer is looking to get out of their telematics,” Wood said.

He said the company is open for orders and the base L95 starts at around US$100,00 with an up charge of about $13,000 for the deluxe cab.

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