Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85689
machine matters | by Wayne Grayson Compact track loaders offer versatility and a return on your investment B oasting many of the benefi ts and capabilities of its cousin, the best-selling skid-steer load- er (SSL), the compact track loader (CTL) has altered the landscape of the heavy equip- ment marketplace in a big way. That success has sparked much debate over whether a CTL or an SSL is the better investment. In the end, the choice comes down to matching the equipment to the application. CTLs are more versatile, able to work on soft ground and in wet conditions, but are also more expensive to purchase and operate than SSLs, which perform well on asphalt and in tighter spaces. But what kind of changes have CTLs undergone them- selves in recent years? With rising demand, the com- panies behind these versatile machines have not been content to let innovation stagnate. With new features that make for a more comfortable ride and a less dis- rupted jobsite, work is constantly being done to reinvent the wheel – or in this case, the track. 18 September 2012 | EquipmentWorld.com SMALL PACKAGE BIG POWER, Explosive growth Jamie Wright, Terex Construction Americas product man- ager, explains that CTLs saw a slow start in the U.S. mar- ket until about 10 years ago. "The CTL market shot up due to the demand that jobs get done faster and more effi ciently," Wright says. Caterpillar senior marketing en- gineer Kevin Coleman calls the last decade of growth in the CTL market "an explosion," as more customers have grown to favor the traction, fl otation, machine stability and minimal ground disturbance CTLs offer. "Compact track loaders are essential machines for many applica- tions," Coleman says. Bobcat loader product specialist Mike Fitzgerald agrees. "Compact track loaders are more powerful and productive than ever before, making them more than just an auxiliary piece of equipment," he says. "Because of the increased fl otation provided with their tracks, these loaders can work in softer ground conditions while carrying heavier loads, plus their versatility has