Positive feedback for Develon DL420CVT-7
Develon wheel loader with continuously variable transmission makes a good impression at Max Wild
MAX Wild GmbH, based in Berkheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, have added a new Develon DL420CVT-7 wheel loader to their fleet. Supplied by local authorized Develon dealer Süddeutsche Baumaschinen Handels GmbH, the machine was tested by the company and the feedback from drivers was very positive.
When Roland Wild, managing director of Max Wild GmbH, and Thomas Macho, regional sales manager for Süddeutsche Baumaschinen, talked about purchasing a new wheel loader with a 4m3 bucket volume, Mr Macho suggested the DL420CVT-7 from Develon. Since Max Wild had already had a machine from Develon (formerly Doosan Construction Equipment) in the company for several years, which had left a good impression, he decided to take the new DL420CVT-7 on test for two weeks.
Following an overall positive assessment from the drivers at the end of the test period, the machine was then taken on long-term rental. When the performance continued to be convincing during the rental period, the wheel loader was finally purchased and repainted in the Max Wild company colours by the company’s in-house paint shop.
Mr Wild said: ‘Our drivers have the right to have a say in the selection of our machines. When they expressed their satisfaction with the wheel loader after the initial test period, we continued testing the DL420CVT-7 on a long-term rental. When the wheel loader was also convincing in this period, we finally decided to buy it.’
One of the operators added: ‘The performance of the machine was top. For me as a driver, the machine is also very comfortable to use, and together with the low fuel consumption, that absolutely convinced me.’
The new wheel loader is used in the company’s gravel pit. Here, the machine usually performs continuously for 8h a day, its main tasks ranging from truck loading to direct quarrying to feeding the screening plant. Mr Wild said: ‘In the three months since purchasing the machine, we have achieved an average fuel consumption of 12.4 litres/h. That is a very good value. We haven’t had any interruptions so far as the wheel loader has proven to be very reliable.’
One of the main reasons for the machine’s excellent fuel efficiency is its CVT transmission. Marc Glesius, sales manager GSA at Develon, said: ‘The advantages of a mechanical and hydrostatic transmission are combined, which eliminates the disadvantages of both systems. The variable transmission changes continuously from the hydrostatic drive to the mechanical drive as the speed increases and depending on the operational requirements.
‘The advantages of the system include, in particular, the excellent traction offered by a hydrostatic transmission and the ability to drive over longer distances with a purely mechanical transmission. The fuel savings of up to 30% are thanks to the lower engine speed, compared with conventional transmissions, that is necessary to achieve maximum speed and traction.’Mr Wild added: ‘The combination of the two drive types makes the wheel loader optimal for the work that needs to be done in its area.’
