Wacker Neuson launches North American line of compact loaders

Wacker Neuson has launched four skid steer and compact tracked loaders developed for the North American market and said the new range would help it fill gaps in its distribution network in the region.

“We didn’t have a skid steer loader line, that is the reason why we have gaps in the distribution network”, said Chris Barnard, president and CEO of Wacker Neuson’s North American subsidiary, speaking at Conexpo, “We have now completed the puzzle.”

The four models comprise two skid steers and two compact tracked loaders, being built in Europe but jointly designed by Wacker Neuson’s Austrian and US design teams.

The SW 24 is a radial lift skid steer with 2350 lb of rated operating capacity and the SW 28 is a 2800 lb, vertical lift model. The compact tracked loaders are the 3500 lb ST 35 – a radial lift unit – and the ST 45, a 4500 lb, vertical lift loader.

More machines in the range will be introduced over the next two years, with the full line likely to be available by the end of 2016. Although they are currently being produced in Europe, Wacker Neuson hopes to eventually make them in North America.

Cem Peksaglam, Wacker Neuson’s CEO, said; “With the introduction of the skid steer loader series, we complete our portfolio of compact machines in North America. This makes us even more attractive to many dealers and we can now provide customers with high-quality and high-performance compact machines, all under one roof.”

At the company’s Conexpo press conference it also revealed preliminary financial results for 2013, with revenues up 6% to €1.16 billion. Sales increased in the Americas and Europe but were down in Asia Pacific. Profits before interest and tax were up 12% to €95 million.