Only the best will do

The march of Lovol excavators and wheel loaders into Australia continues unabated, with more and more new models making it onto our shores.

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The influx of the Chinese-made Lovol machines been led by Queensland-based authorised dealer Equipment Specialists Australia (ESA), whose marketing philosophy has always centred on higher-end product.

As ESA Operations Manager Lawrence Perkins is quick to point out, this means that the business only imports machines that will be suitable for its customers and Australia's harsh environments.

"For example, the loaders are already being placed in recycling centres handling concrete waste, stick raking in the harsh outback and in underground mining: proof of their toughness, reliability, performance, safety and trust," he said.

One key characteristic of the loaders is the hydrostatic transmission drive (HST), involving the transfer of engine power using hydraulic fluid. A big gain from an HST is the elimination of mechanical items with fixed gear ratios or slipping torque converters, giving operators infinite variable speed control or more direct output control without uncontrolled slippage.

"You get 25 per cent fuel saving, 80 per cent brake lifesaving along with engine life savings, less tire wear, smoother operation and increased performance, and the biggest advantage is not paying for costly overheads and a sticker," Lawrence said.

"Currently, about 70 per cent of loaders sold in Europe are now hydrostatic, with most of the big name brands releasing them for retail sale over there.

"But more recently, larger wheel loaders with HST have been developed, as operators begin to realise that the system makes machine operation easier, smoother and much faster with owners gaining the savings and increased production - a win-win.