With 20 machine debuts at Bauma, LiuGong aims to be a Top 10 construction equipment maker

LiuGong Motor Grader

LiuGong 418D motor grader.

“The shift from ‘made in China’ to ‘created in China’ has inspired LiuGong to accelerate innovation in science and technology with the aim of becoming an industry leader,” says Guang’an Zeng, chairman, LiuGong Group and LiuGong Machinery, in remarks made Monday at the Bauma trade show in Munich, Germany.

The 61-year-old company’s vision is to be a top 10 global construction equipment manufacturer (today it is No. 21) and top three Chinese construction equipment manufacturer by 2025. Today, one-third of the company’s income is from overseas business. More than 100,000 LiuGong machines are now working outside of China.

One way of doing this is placing an emphasis on using global talent; for example, Kevin Thieneman, from North America, has been named the company’s new vice president of global strategy and aftersales. The company opened up a new European headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, and increased its European production base for excavators and wheel loaders, now being produced alongside Dressta dozers and pipe layers.

Zeng also said that the company is working on an electric-powered wheel loader and compact excavator and intends to launch them in China next year.

New machines

LiuGong and Dressta are showcasing a 20-machine line up at Bauma, including nine machines making their global debut at the show. These include:

LiuGong 410D motor grader

Due to a five-post cab with a single C-pillar, the LiuGong 410D motor grader, pictured above, has a 324-degree in-cab visibility which the company calls best-in-class.

New impact resistant materials offer better weight distribution and increase the machine’s recyclability, according to LiuGong. The 193-horsepower machine weights 34,171 pounds.

The grader recently won a Red Dot product design award. “All of the controls have been repositioned ergonomically, the amount of stretch  required has been designed for minimum efforts,” says Howard Dale, chairman of LiuGong Europe. The grader can also be retrofitted for a machine control system.

LiuGong 909 ECR excavator

LiuGong 909 ECR Excavator

Designed for rental applications, the compact radius LiuGong 909 ECR excavator, uses a variety of attachments, including buckets and hammers. The 19,621-pound machine is powered by 59-horsepwoer engine.

LiuGong 950 demolition excavator

Liugong’s 950 demolition excavator was designed with partner Kocurek UK and features a 98.4-foot-long reach boom, which “allows the 950 to punch above its weight,” says LiuGong.

The change from high reach equipment to standard equipment – and vice versa – can be done in 30 minutes or less. The cab is modified from a standard machine by replacing the front window with a five-layer laminated glass and extending glass to the roof.

The front and roof glass are joined to the front screen to give operators additional upward visibility.

Dressta TD-15

The Dressta TD-15 dozer has been completely redesigned to make it compliant with European Stage V emission standards.

The 45,767-pound machine features load-sensing steering to provide more precise blade and ripper control, reducing fuel consumption up to 10 percent, says the company.