First Doosan DL420-7 loaders in Germany
Ottenbüttler Sand take delivery of the country’s first two DL420-7 wheel loaders for sand pit operations
DAMMFLETH-based Ottenbüttler Sand GmbH have taken delivery of the first two Doosan DL420-7 wheel loaders in Germany, and according to managing director Jonny Peters, the new DL-7 machines compare very well against their DL420-5 predecessor, one of which is still in service at the company.
‘The new-generation machines represent a clear improvement in several areas,’ said Mr Peters, ‘providing very high performance and excellent driving comfort that more than matches the other top brands.’
The two new DL420-7s are currently in use in the company’s sand pits at Ottenbühl and Peissen, where they are used to extract fill sand for processing into different size groups by dry screening.
‘The previous DL-5 wheel loaders from Doosan offered outstanding performance in the sand pits with low fuel consumption. We are getting the same or better output with the new machines, with the ergonomics for the operator and the driving comfort being taken to new levels,’ explained Mr Peters.
The two wheel loaders are in operation in the sand pits for around 10 hours a day. Their main tasks involve removal of material direct from the walls of the pits, feeding the screening plant and then loading the graded sand on to trucks. The machines are also used in construction waste recycling.
Mr Peters continued: ‘We are very satisfied with the machines and the drivers are enjoying working with the DL420-7s.’
One of the drivers added that the new DL420-7 model always offers excellent traction thanks to its automatic limited-slip differential. This is particularly evident in the fact that none of the wheels slip when pushing the standard 4.5 cubic metre bucket into the sand faces. The DL420-7 wheel loader also climbs the steep inclines effortlessly owing to its torque converter lock-up system.
Before Mr Peters ordered the wheel loaders from his dealer, Atlas Hamburg, he had the opportunity to test a pre-series DL420-7 model in a sand pit for two months. During this period, the wheel loader operators were able to try out the Doosan machine extensively. All agreed that the DL420-7 is exactly the right machine for use in the sand pit, so the first was ordered from Atlas Hamburg at the same time as the test machine was returned.
The DL420-7 is powered by the new Scania DC13 Stage V 6-cylinder engine which produces 257kW (345hp) of power at 1,800 rev/min and provides maximum torque of 2,196Nm at 1,100 rev/min.
The new engine meets Stage V emission regulations without the need for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), through the use of selective catalyst reduction, diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter (DPF) after-treatment technologies. The ash cleaning cycle on the DPF has been improved to more than 6,000 h and the operator is fully informed about the status of the DPF via a soot level indicator on the new 8in touchscreen display in the cab.
A major feature of Doosan DL-7 wheel loaders is the completely redesigned cab, which offers greatly improved visibility, the use of touchscreen displays and much more space for the driver.
In addition, the new EMCV (Electric Main Control Valve) joystick fully integrated in the armrest is another standard feature in the cab, providing the operator with smoother and precise controllability of the wheel loader. The wheel loaders at Ottenbüttler Sand are also equipped with a full lighting package and a compressor for cleaning the cab.
For more than a decade, Ottenbüttler Sand have relied largely on Doosan machines, all of which have been purchased from dealers Atlas Hamburg. In addition to the DL-7 and DL-5 wheel loaders, the company currently has Doosan DX255LC-5 and DX180LC-5 HT excavators, a DX19 compact excavator and a DL250 wheel loader in operation.
