USING LESS TO DO MORE

LIUGONG 975F MEETS A NEED IN THE 70TONNE EXCAVATOR MARKET

The latest star to join LiuGong's formidable F-Series excavator range, the 975F, has been impressing Spanish quarry owners Grupo Sainsa at their expansive site at Trespuentes, near Vitoria in the Alava province in the Basque Country region. Awesome Earthmovers recently travelled to Spain to speak with the team at the quarry which produces stone for use in highways and public building construction and in the manufacture of concrete and asphalt.

The quarry, one of two operated by the company in the country, took delivery of the excavator earlier this summer from DIR International Trading, LiuGong’s exclusive dealer for Spain. The quarry processes around 3,000 tonnes of material on a daily basis and the 975F is already proving invaluable in coping with increasing demand throughout the region.

Filling a need in the European market for 70-75 tonne excavator, the LiuGong 975F, one of the biggest in the manufacturers range to date, is powered by a Stage V emission standard compliant 375kW (503HP) Cummins X15 engine which delivers a bucket breakout force of 397 kN. Equipped with a double Kawasaki pump, it achieves a combined flow rate of 2 x 504 L/min. Standard features include a 5.0m3 HD performance bucket and a 650 mm wide triple grouser chain.

“We decided to invest in this new LiuGong after listening to some favourable comments about the brand from other site operators,” says quarry manager Jorge Sánchez Tejero. When we visited the quarry, the LiuGong 975F had only been working there for several weeks, with just 100 hours on the clock, but adds Jorge: “So far we haven’t been disappointed; in fact, the more familiar our operator Gaizka gets with the excavator, the more complimentary he is about the machine’s handling and performance.”

Gaizka also spoke about how comfortable and spacious the cab is, featuring the very latest advanced control system that places all of the machine’s operating functions close to hand, making life a lot easier for him.

BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY

The new machine has also significantly enhanced productivity and efficiency at the quarry, as Jorge explains: “Before, it took two truck loads to keep our crusher constantly fed, but because the LiuGong excavator is more powerful than our previous machine and it has a bigger bucket, it takes just around six minutes load up sufficient material on one truck for the crusher, so we are using less labour to do the same amount of work, making our operation more productive and more efficient.

“We’ve only been operating the 975F for 15 days, so it is too soon to judge the new excavator on its fuel economy, but we are confident it will deliver us good results.”

When we visited the quarry to see the excavator at work, both DIR International’s CEO David Iglesias and Aftermarket Manager Javier Arlegui were also there to ensure the LiuGong 975F was meeting the quarry operator’s demanding expectations.

"We decided to invest in this new LiuGong after listening to some favourable comments about the brand from other site operators...

David Iglesias has spoken of how LiuGong provided Grupo DIR with the perfect business opportunity when they took on the dealership six years ago. “They have excellent products, built, tested, and supported in Europe, but they also have a long-term mindset focusing on building relationships and trust. Over the last four years, they have really helped us to establish LiuGong as a leader in the Spanish market.”

MEETING CUSTOMERS’ REQUIREMENTS

DIR International Trading has a long-term commitment to the Spanish construction machinery market and customers. Its goal is not only to provide high-quality and reliable construction machinery, but also professional, comprehensive solutions for the customers. “LiuGong meets the needs of Spanish customers in this aspect very well and I have full confidence in the future,” said Iglesias.

Europe, of course, is one of the key regions in LiuGong’s global development strategy and it has invested heavily in recent years in personnel development, local manufacturing, R & D, distribution channels, and regional headquarters; Awesome Earthmovers recently enjoyed a tour of its new regional hub in Stalowa Wola in Poland.

The 975F was one of seven brand new machines launched by LiuGong at this year’s Hillhead show when LiuGong Europe’s Chairman, Howard Dale, commented:

"The new LiuGong 975F has significantly enhanced productivity and efficiency at the quarry, and saves on labour…

“Changing the game is what the LiuGong brand is all about. We want to be in a league of our own, where customer-oriented design, toughness, intelligence and control set us apart. Just a decade ago, our name was relatively unknown. Now, through our customer-focused approach, we are on a completely new pitch.”

And Dean Thornewell, Managing Director of LiuGong UK, added: “With the 975F, we continue to change the game by creating the very best operator experience; combining design, toughness, intelligence and control. I believe the way we have listened to customers, learnt from them and used their insight has helped to establish our reputation and elevates the LiuGong brand in the UK and across Europe. Many customers now see us as a strong and highly credible alternative to mainstream brands.”

Those sentiments were certainly borne out when we met up with Grupo Sainsa’s site manager Jorge Sánchez in Trespuentes to speak about the new LiuGong 975F. Jorge says he has been so impressed that he would have no hesitation in investing in the brand in the future. He also spoke very highly of LiuGong dealers DIR International Trading.

“The dealers have been very supportive of us,” says Jorge. “They’ve already been on site to make sure we are happy with the machine and we are confident they will respond quickly if we ever have any issues going forward.”