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Bobcat L23 and L28 articulated loaders

Bobcat has launched the company’s new 25hp L23 and L28 small articulated loaders (SALs), offering high lift capacities in confined spaces, ease-of-use with simple controls and low ground disturbance for working on any terrain. The new SALs continue Bobcat’s expansion in the compact wheel loader market and confirm that the company now has the largest loader portfolio of any manufacturer in the world.

Designed and built by Bobcat at the company’s North American facilities, the new SALs offer impressive stability and tipping loads of up to 1.39 tonnes. It is therefore easy to place loads with the SALs over trenches and pavements, a task that is further enhanced by the excellent all-round visibility on both machines. The high lift capacities compared to machine weight are ideal for heavy lift and carry operations in confined areas. The extendable boom on the L28 provides more options for easy placement of loads and counterweight options allow the user to customize the capacity to the application.

The machines’ compact size, with a width of just over one metre combined with a tight turning radius, allow Bobcat SALs to work easily even in tricky and hard to reach areas. Despite their robust construction, the SALs are also built to be light enough for easy transportation, reckons Bobcat.

Entering the SAL market allows Bobcat to extend the breadth and reach of its loader range, increasing business opportunities for both the company and the comprehensive network of Bobcat Authorised Dealers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The new SALs allow Bobcat to attract more customers in the growing landscaping, light construction and municipality maintenance markets, as well as powering growth in agriculture and horticulture.

Bobcat SALs are available with canopy and cab versions, both specially designed to provide extra space where needed for easy entry, exit and operator comfort. The controls are intuitive for all levels of operator experience and an enclosed cab and heated seat are available for colder climates.

A simple twin-pedal design on the SALs enables quick direction changes: one pedal moves the machine forward, the other puts it into reverse. These travel controls are easy for operators to master, making the SAL a great choice for seasonal employees or rental customers. It is also convenient and simple for operators who need to master controls for multiple machines.

In addition to its good lift capacity, the L28 has a telescoping lift arm that extends the lifting height and reach. It also includes an innovative dual-cylinder design that keeps the load level as the operator moves the bucket and handles materials at height. The telescopic cylinder is synchronised with a hydraulic levelling link, providing assistance with levelling and helping to prevent spillage over the back of the bucket, again greatly improving ease-of-use and productivity.

To ensure the new SALs are truly multi-purpose machines, Bobcat has developed a special version of the proprietary Bob-Tach attachment mounting system allowing the use of both S70/MT55 and S100/S450 approved attachments. The in-line mounted, high-torque engine is Stage 5 certified but mechanically governed so that it can be used in all regions. The efficient cooling system on the SALs offers improved operation and component protection for class-leading performance.

Specifically designed not to damage surfaces, Bobcat SALs achieve very minimal ground disturbance not only through the use of an articulated joint, which enables the rear tyres to match the front tyre path when turning, but also the turf-safe mode that limits wheel slippage. This means Bobcat SALs are ideal for those landscaping, construction and maintenance projects where space is minimal and ground care is needed.

Depending on the operating conditions, Bobcat SALs automatically enable one of two traction modes: High-Traction Mode for control over rough and slippery terrain or Turf-Safe Mode for the least possible ground disturbance. In the High-Traction Mode, when the steering wheel is not turning, improved traction provides excellent control and mobility over rough or slippery terrain.

The Turf-Safe Mode allows active steering and keeps the wheels from scrubbing on the ground, causing the least possible ground disturbance. In addition, an optional traction assist, similar to a differential lock, enables the operator to momentarily override the automatic modes to travel through adverse conditions at the touch of a switch.

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