Liugong targets Indian utility market with compact loader

Liugong has launched the 2 tonne capacity CLG 818 wheeled loader onto the Indian equipment market at bC India. The company says it is targeting the utility market, which is currently dominated by backhoe loaders.

The unit features a 50 kW Kirloskar engine and has a 5.6 tonne operating weight. It can be fitted with a 0.8 – 1.2 m3 bucket.

Liugong already sells 5 tonne and 3 tonne capacity loaders in the country, which are manufactured at its factory in Indore, India, along with graders. It claims a 40%+ market share in the 5 tonne loader class, and has hopes its 2 tonne model will have a similarly strong position.

Liugong India director for sales & service, Nischal Mehrotra said, “We hope we’re going to rule the market with this machine. There is a gap in the market for this size loader in India.”

He continued, “Backhoe loaders are utility machines in India, not production machines and we want to position the 818 as a utility machine.”

General manager for finance, Ashok Kumar added, “We will provide it with a range of buckets, plus we can provide forks for log handling and grapples for the scrap industry. We can also supply extended arms to target the sugar industry, where there is a need for extra dump height to load hoppers. That is seasonal work, so the quick hitch is important.”

Both were optimistic about the prospects for the Indian construction industry following the election of Narendra Modi’s government earlier this year. Mr Kumar said, “The previous government was not making any decisions about investment. However, the new government is setting up special departments to speed up the process. The next year should see a boom in construction and implementation.”

He concluded, “We are optimistic and the country is optimistic too.”