The Indonesian company PT Varia Usaha Beton bought 10 new SDLG wheel loaders to help it move rocks, stones, and aggregates at both batching plants and crushing plants it owns in East Java and West Java.

At the several batching plants and crushing plants concrete producer, PT Varia Usaha Beton, owns across East Java and Central Java in Indonesia, stockpiled rocks, stones, and aggregates must be transported to hoppers onsite for crushing daily. The transportation of these materials is a relatively simple task, with no need for features of premium machines. So, when the concrete producer was on the market recently for wheel loaders to fulfill this role, it looked towards SDLG's cost-effective and simple-to-operate machines.

No need for premium features
"In concrete production, wheel loaders carry out simple load-and-carry operations. We don't need premium features which would cost us money we don't need to spend," said Didit, a production manager at one of PT Varia Usaha Beton's crushing plants. "As such, SDLG wheel loaders are perfect for us as they are not only fit-for-purpose but, with the cost savings they deliver, we were able to buy up to 10 units, which will help our batching plants and crushing plants keep pace with concrete production demands."

The crushing plant where Didit is based is in Pasuruan, a city in East Java. An L956F, one of the 10 new SDLG wheel loaders (comprising five L956F units and five LG936L units) bought by PT Varia Usaha Beton, is deployed onsite. Despite the lack of premium features, the machine, supplied by local dealer PT Indotruck Utama, has impressed - notably with its ability to navigate challenging terrain.

Can handle demands
Making hundreds of trips daily between the stockpiled material and the hopper, the plant's sprawling 10- to 20-hectare grounds with inclines of up to 15¦ have proven no obstacle to it.

"Without a powerful engine, going uphill with the loads that the L956F is expected to carry would be a challenge. But the L956F's powerful Weichai Tier II engine has so far demonstrated that it is more than capable of handling the demands," said Didit, who highlighted the machine's comfortable cabin and responsive transmission as two of the operator's favorite qualities.

The L956F features three-level damping, therefore minimising vibratory motion including mechanical oscillations and noise. Indoor noise is reduced to 80 dB, and the cab offers a curved window with a wide field of vision. The L956F has an operating weight of 17,200 kg, and a rated load of 5,000 kg. Its maximum dumping height is 3,040 mm, and its dumping distance is 1,095 mm. It has a rated power of 162 kW.

PT Varia Usaha Beton was established in 1988. It is a supplier of concrete and building materials in Java, Indonesia. In addition to ready-made concrete, the company also provides precast concrete, concrete masonry units, and crushed stone and sand.