Earthmoving equipment manufacturer Dressta is launching the first of three new hydraulic crawler dozers later this year, and has ambitious growth plans funded by parent company LiuGong, the Chinese construction equipment manufacturing giant. Guy Woodford reports
Being launched in Q3 2015, the TD-9 is the first of the bunch and, like the two other hydrostatic crawler dozers to follow, has key components from globally renowned suppliers such as
Equipped with Cummins Tier IV Final engines, the three new dozer models cover a power range of 54-74kW. This innovative engine technology boasts ultra-clean after treatment systems while simultaneously providing claimed excellent fuel efficiency.
Power, performance, reliability and durability are all said to be delivered with the new crawler dozer line-up, which are also said to offer the highly prized gains of enhanced productivity and a reduction in overall operating costs.
The new TD-9 model is said by Dressta to have been validated by expert operators at a series of pre-launch performance trials at the firm’s Polish proving grounds. The state-of-the-art crawler dozer was presented to equipment owners and dozer operators from the key markets of the US and Canada. They put it to the test in a series of challenging trials designed push the performance of the new hydrostatic dozers to the limit, and provided their feedback to help perfect the machine’s performance.
“The operators’ input in regards to ergonomics and command of control played a key role in refining the design. As a result, the low-effort controls for the blade and dual path hydrostatic drivetrain deliver the required response in all applications of machine performance.” said Howard Dale, Global Vice President of Sales at Dressta, which also includes wheeled loaders, backhoe loaders, pipelayers among its four main product lines, with conveyor belt movers a complementary product.
Speaking at a recent Dressta Media Event at the company’s Stalowa Wola HQ in southern Poland, Dale added: ““With these new models we’re targeting the important markets of North America and Canada, where there’s pretty good demand. The size of industry is around 1,800 units a year, at the shipment level last year. Main applications are residential, landscaping and for rental operations.”
Dale emphasised how the new hydrostatic crawler dozers were just part of the exciting “game changer” R&D programme being followed by the ambitious brand. “Dressta and LiuGong have identified a strategic investment plan for the business, this covers the areas of R&D, product development, and manufacturing. The R&D investments are targeting new designs and new concepts to revitalise the range. I’ve seen some of the work going on behind the scenes for the next generation of machines and you’ve really got a game changer in the industry.
“If I look back through the history of construction equipment, it was probably the horizontal directional drills in the 1980s which were the first new machines we’d seen in a long time. What we’re developing with the new dozers is as significant as that.”
Focusing on LiuGong, Dale said investment in manufacturing facilities will be used as a platform to launch further products from the Chinese construction equipment manufacturer into the European market, to extend the company’s reach and improve sales penetration in both southern and northern Europe, and also North America.
The former Shanghai, China-based Regional Director for
Meanwhile, of Dressta’s standing among competitor OEM crawler dozers, Dale said: “If you look at the competitive landscape it’s quite polarised. You’ve got the volume players like
Held on March 25-26 2015, the Dressta Media Event also included an impressive presentation of more than 25 of Dressta’s latest crawler dozer, wheeled loader and pipelayer models, some of which were being showcased at
