Chinese backhoe loader looks familiar

by Nick Drew | Thu 21 Jan 2016

Chinese backhoe loader looks familiar

When Volvo announced it was dropping its popular backhoe loader from the product range there was an almost instantaneous outpouring of grief from the machines faithful customers on social media with many just unable to understand the decision, well maybe all hope is not lost.

Many end users of the popular Polish built BL71 model I have spoken to have struggled to come to terms with the fact that they won’t be able to replace their machines for another Volvo backhoe loader next time around and are now starting to consider their options. One customer said “I don’t get it, just when they had it right, they discontinue it, and I’m really not sure what I will go for next?”

As a business of course, Volvo had good reason to drop backhoe loaders, sales of which have been in decline for some time for all manufacturers. Along with milling machines and motor graders, the 3 products were considered to no longer be a good “financial and strategic fit” in Volvo’s product portfolio. Some money and manpower from those areas went into developing the SDLG brand, including export potential.

Well, all hope might not be lost as the Chinese SDLG B877 does bear a striking resemblance to the former Volvo machine in many ways. This might not come as a surprise though as Volvo Construction Equipment holds a 70% share in the Chinese SDLG (Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery Co) company who in addition to the backhoe loaders manufacture wheeled loaders, excavators, graders and rollers for the Chinese market. [youtube width="725" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QrKqU-Lvxo[/youtube] These machines are already being marketed in Africa, Middle East and other emerging markets but it’s currently unclear if they will be brought into the European market anytime soon, although long term plans for machines with Tier 4 Final engines would suggest it might happen. Check out this B877 “walkaround” video from SDLG. [youtube width="725" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdJd2bHHbPw[/youtube] I guess its a case of watch this space here on the Digger Man Blog for future news on this machine.

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