Wheel loaders, also known as front end loaders or bucket loaders,are used primarily for material handling, digging, road building, site preparation and load-and-carry. The earliest versions were actually small agricultural tractors outfitted with a loader bucket to transport light materials. Over time these machines evolved, first as rigid frame wheel loaders in the late 1930s, then to articulated wheel loaders in the 1940s.
Wheel loaders, also known as front end loaders or bucket loaders,are used primarily for material handling, digging, road building, site preparation and load-and-carry. The earliest versions were actually small agricultural tractors outfitted with a loader bucket to transport light materials. Over time these machines evolved, first as rigid frame wheel loaders in the late 1930s, then to articulated wheel loaders in the 1940s.
As wheel loaders increased in size, safety concerns arose, particularly concerning the positioning of the loader pivot arm. These concerns ledto the adoption of a front mounted pivot in the late 1950s. Hough was one of the first manufacturers to produce a wheel loader with a safer design, followed quickly by Caterpillar, Case and Allis-Chalmers.
Today's wheel loaders are comprised of a pivoted frame with the engine mounted over the rear wheels. A cab or canopy rests over the frame. The machine's pivot arrangement gives the wheel loader the ability to work in small turning circles.
Wheel Loaders News and New Products
Fri September 01, 2017
Strategy Improves Total Operation for Britton Industries
Family-owned and operated Britton Industries, a producer of natural and dyed mulches, screened topsoil, leaf compost and aggregate products, has been servicing the landscaping and construction markets of central New Jersey and southern Pennsylvania for more than 28 years....
Wed October 09, 2019
Doosan Infracore North America LLC will exhibit a DX42-5 mini excavator and a DL200-5 wheel loader in its booth — C5577 — in the Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the annual World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Feb....
Thu September 12, 2019
John Deere Extends 20,000-Hour 944K Hybrid Wheel Loader Warranty
Confident in the strength and long-lasting design of its machines, John Deere is extending the eight-year/20,000-hour power electronic components warrantyon the 944K hybrid wheel loader. The warranty supports John Deere's commitment to the durability and reliability of its popular 944K hybrid wheel loader, which was recently named as a finalist for the Diesel Progress Summit Awards in the Electrification Application of the Year category....
Wed September 11, 2019
JCB Wheel Loaders Now Available With High Lift Option
JCB announced a new high-lift (HL) loader arm option for its 457 HT wheel loader. With a hinge pin height of 15 ft. 5 in. (4.7 m) — 23 in. (58 cm) higher than the standard ZX loader arm — the JCB 457 HT HL is now the highest lifting four-cylinder, 4.5-cu....
Tue September 10, 2019
Hitachi Delivers Construction-Duty Workhorse With ZW180-6 Loader
Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America's updated ZW180 — a member of the Dash-6 line-up of mid-sized wheel loaders — weighs in at 32,100 lbs. (14,560 kg), delivers 26,530 lbs. of breakout force and is powered by a Cummins 200 hp Tier 4F QSB6.7 engine....
Wed August 14, 2019
John Deere Rolls Out Powerful L-Series Wheel Loaders
Designed for the toughest and most demanding work sites, the new John Deere Class Production Class L-Series wheel loaders offer customers the power and comfort they need on the job. Three models — including the 744L,824Land 844L— are equipped with a roomier cab, new electrohydraulic (EH) controls and an improved HVAC system, resulting in better overall all-day comfort and productivity, according to the manufacturer....
Mon August 12, 2019
Komatsu Introduces WA900-8 Wheel Loader
Komatsu America Corp. 's WA900-8 is a 256,618 lb. (116,400 kg) wheel loader that is equipped with an EPA Tier IV Final certified emission regulations-compliant engine and is purpose-built to load 70 to 150 ton haul trucks....
Mon June 24, 2019
LiuGong North America Introduces 877H Wheel Loader to U.S. Market
LiuGong North America (LGNA) has introduced its new 877H wheel loader, a high production machine, to fill the gap between its 856H and 890H wheel loaders. The new machine has a Cummins QSL9 engine, generating 331 hp....
Thu June 20, 2019
Hitachi ZW220-6 Covers All the Bases for Loader Versatility
The release of the ZW220-6 shows how Hitachi Construction Machinery Loader America has raised its sights to deliver productivity and efficiency for the most demanding owners and operators. The ZW220-6 is the first of Hitachi's new mid-sized wheel loaders in the Dash-6 Series, fully equipped to excel in the full range of duties expected from the top tier in this class....
Wed June 05, 2019
Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Finds Traction in Snow-Removal Market
Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas is showcasing its focus on equipment solutions for the snow-management market when it participates in the June 25 to 28 SIMA Snow and Ice Symposium in Grand Rapids, Mich....
Wed June 05, 2019
Volvo Dig Assist Start and Load Assist Now Standard on Excavators and Wheel Loaders in North America
Volvo Construction Equipment continues to unlock the full productivity potential of its excavator and wheel loader lineup with its basic package of Dig Assist — Dig Assist Start — now standard on new EC220E to EC480E excavator models, and its Load Assist system now standard on new L150H to L260H wheel loader models....
