Liebherr Launch ‘6th Generation’ Wheel Loaders
The successful range of large Liebherr wheel loaders, with tipping loads of over 15 tonnes, has been replaced by a newly developed 6th Generation range of 2plus2 machines. The L564, L574 and L580 wheel loaders have been replaced by the new L566, L576 and L580, respectively, to coincide with the new Stage III/Tier 3 noise and emissions regulations for construction machinery engines.
Compared with the previous models, the new wheeled loaders are said to have more power, even greater operator comfort and additional safety features. The heart of the previous range has been retained – Liebherr’s travel drive with innovative 2plus2 technology, which the company says is site-proven to be the most economic and environmentally friendly wheel loader concept.
The most obvious visual feature of the ‘6th Generation’ range is the new design line, which will, in future, characterize all Liebherr earthmoving equipment.
New engines
New diesel engines are a core component. With the advent of Stage III/ Tier 3 noise and emissions regulations, Liebherr’s own engine factory, Liebherr-Machine Bulle S.A., in Switzerland has developed a new generation of diesel engines, which will become standard in various Liebherr construction machines with power requirements of between 130kW and 560kW.
A further new feature of the ‘6th Generation’ wheel loaders is the optimized cooling system, which is designed to efficiently handle the increased cooling requirements of the new diesel engines. Although the cooling area has been increased and an additional fuel-cooling unit has been incorporated, the overall system is still highly compact.
The electronics in the new loaders are based on an overall concept developed by the company’s in-house specialist centre, Liebherr-Elektronik GmbH, in Lindau. This feature will also be used in many other Liebherr construction machines in the future.
The operational stability of the new wheel loaders has also been enhanced
by optimizing the bucket linkage, which also contributes to increased productivity.
Easier to use and maintain
The ‘6th Generation’ wheel loaders provide 28% more cab space compared with their predecessors. The capacity of the standard air-conditioning system has also been increased with additional performance in reserve and the routing of air in the cab optimized to produce comfortable four-zone ventilation.
Access for maintenance has also been improved and increased: the cooling unit and engine compartment covers can now both be opened at the same time, making cleaning of the cooling unit considerably easier.
Active and passive safety
The new wheel loaders’ standard equipment has been enhanced by the addition of several important safety devices. These include a laminated front windscreen, larger external mirrors, four floodlights at the front and generously sized steps for safe and easy access to the cab.
Collision protection has also been included in the rear ballast and the rear lights have been incorporated into the counterweight in order to avoid damage in the event of a collision. In addition, the enlarged fuel tank (400 litres) can now be filled from the ground.
Liebherr-Great Britain Ltd, Normandy Lane, Stratton Business Park, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 8QB; tel: (01767) 602100; fax: (01767) 602110; email: info.lgb@liebherr.com; website: www.liebherr.com
