The new product will be ready for mass production this year.

LiuGong used this year’s CONEXPO to show its Vertical Lift wheel loader, said to be the first of its nature. Initially unveiled at LiuGong’s global dealer conference in November 2016, the new technology is said to mark an important milestone for LiuGong and for the Chinese construction equipment industry at large.

The key innovations of the product are the vertical lift loader arms on an articulating frame and the mechanical self-leveling Z-bar bucket linkage on a vertical lift loader – both said to be industry firsts.

The vertical lift was developed as an innovative way to increase customer value when purchasing a loader. Vertical lift vastly improves the wheel loader’s primary function: lifting and carrying a load, by providing a heavier tipping load and a higher lift height and reach than conventional wheel loaders of the same power and weight.

Fuel costs are greatly reduced since the reduced operating weight of the vertical lift machine allows more material to be moved per horsepower than with a conventional radial lift machine. This allows customers to move more tonnes per hour for lower initial investment, and lower owning and operating costs than would be required with conventional radial arm technology.

“This technology will create a new class of the machines. Our ‘truly new’ LiuGong vertical lift loader will be the first ever for an articulating frame loader. The vertical lift loader will provide performance and value that no radial arm wheel loader can match,” says Edward Wagner, director of LiuGong New Technology and Test, inventor and lead engineer of the technology.

“This technology is universally applicable and it is especially advantageous for stockpiling and truck loading applications,” adds Edward.

The idea of vertical lift loader technology was first generated in 2010 and then started and further developed in 2011. After four years of development, LiuGong expanded the team and went into final development stage in 2015. This new product will be ready for mass production this year.