international
construction
november 2014
EQUIPMENT
74
CASE
With a long history in compact wheeled
loaders, Case has set out tomake its
latest F series itsmost advanced yet.
Neill
Barston
reports from its Paris launch
(FOPS) that shields drivers from
objects such as rocks of up to227
kg, falling from a height of 5m.
In addition, themachines have
a narrower turning circle to aid
operationwhenworking in tight
environments.
According to customer feedback
given toCase, one of themost
important factors on this type
ofmachine is the attachment
changeover time.The company said
this has been improved through its
connected-under-pressure system,
which automatically depressurises
themachine’s connectors without
hand tools.
The series’ Fiat PowerTrain
(FPT) – a sister company toCase –
industrial engines span from58 to
74hp (43 to55 kW).They feature
a 3.4 litre 4-cyclinder turbocharged,
multiple injection,high-pressure
common rail engine type that has
beendesigned to operatewithout
Compact power
C
ase has developed a
new range of compact
wheeled loaders complying
withTier 4Final/EU Stage IV
emissions requirements. Among
the key features of the four core
F-seriesmachines is a focus
onminimising servicing and
attachment changeover times, while
maintaining productivity.
The newmodels are the 4.9 tonne
operatingweight 21F, 5.2 tonne
121F, 5.4 tonne 221F, through to
the largest loader, the 6.2 tonne
321F, whichhave beendesigned
to offer up to400 kgmore lifting
capacity thanpreviousmodels.
Another area that has been
updated are the cabsThe 21F and
121F are under 2.5mhigh, aiding
transportationunder bridges of
up to4m if loaded on a truck,
while incorporating a new roll-over
protective structure (ROPS) and
falling object protective structure
the need for a particulate filter to
meet latest emissions standards.
Offering enhancedhydraulic
systems, the series has high
performance options (increasing
flow from70 to130 litres per
minute) available on the 221F
and321F.This enables the use of
powerful attachments such as snow
blowers and asphalt planers.
Efficient design
The 4-wheel drive hydrostatic
transmissionprovides a 33 km/h
speed option on the 221F and
321Fmodels with a two-gear
mechanical gearbox. ‘Turtle’ and
‘rabbit’ speed canbe engagedunder
load in order to increasemachine
efficiency.
Speaking at the launch event
inParis, AndyBlandford, vice
president ofCaseConstruction
Equipment, said the new range
had already gained strong initial
feedback from customer evaluation
of its prototypemodels.
“We have listened to the
requirements of customers with the
F series of loaders inhaving lower
cabs and improving attachment
compatibility and comfort within
cabs.
“Fromday one the series has
had customer input, so this series
will be important for us.We are
expecting it not just todowell
inAustria,Germany and
Switzerland, but othermarkets as
well,” he said.
iC
The largest
of the new
F-series
compact
loaders, the
321F.
Andy Blandford, vice president of Case construction equipment at the
launch of the F-serieswheeled loader Case’s test centre near Paris.
