Analysis: The future development trend of domestic wheel loaders

For a long time to come, wheel loaders will continue to be one of the most important types of construction machinery. The annual domestic demand will remain stable at around 20,000 units, but domestic loader manufacturers are rapidly expanding. The competition is even fiercer. Various manufacturers have developed new products to meet the challenges of the market.

1. Market Prospect of Wheel Loaders

1.1 Market demand analysis

(1) International Market

The world's transportation, energy, and other infrastructure projects are developing rapidly. The annual investment amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars. At present, the total volume of loaders in the world has reached 150,000 units. The United States, Japan, and Western Europe are the countries and regions where loaders are mainly produced. The annual output is more than 10,000, of which 46,000 are from the United States and 29,000 from Japan. The sales volume of world construction machinery has reached 45 billion U.S. dollars, and it is expected to reach 50 billion U.S. dollars by the year 2000. Among them, the United States accounts for 40%, Japan accounts for 35%, and the rest are the European Union and other countries.

(2) Domestic market

Affected by national policies and investment directions, the development trend of the domestic market in the next 5 to 10 years will be:

From the perspective of the region, the market demand in Anhui, Henan, and Jiangxi is on the rise, and the country’s policy of investing in the central and western regions will also give the region a broad market perspective.

From the user's point of view, the state encourages the coexistence of multiple economic forms, and the demand for the private economy and individual users continues to rise. The demand for large-tonnage loaders and other engineering construction machinery has increased as a result of large national engineering construction.

1.2. Market risk of domestic wheel loaders

In the rapid development of the excavator industry, the demand for loaders in earthwork projects has been partially replaced by excavators; the state has strengthened resources and environmental protection, reorganized the coal industry structure, restricted small coal mining, and affected the demand for loaders in coal mining systems; The turnover and loading and unloading operations of bulk materials at stations and ports tend to be large-scale and automated, which restricts the demand for loaders.

1.3. Influence of the State's GATT Policies and Regulations

Since January 1, 1998, the imported equipment for domestic and foreign investment projects encouraged by the national industrial policy has been exempt from customs duties and import value-added tax, including 5m3 and above of wheel loaders and other equipment.

The total level of China's tariff has dropped from 35.9% to 23%, of which the engineering construction machinery has dropped from 15.7% to 13.6%, which will affect the production of loaders of more than 6 tons in China.

2. Competitors faced by wheel loader manufacturers

2.1. Foreign competitors

The products produced by Caterpillar in the United States represent the technological level and development direction of today's world engineering construction machinery, ranking first in the world; Japan Komatsu is closely followed by Caterpillar's strong competitor; Western Europe is the loader. The third-largest group of companies, which owns Italy's Fiat, Aris, Sweden's Volvo, Liebherr, O&K, Zeitman, UK JCB, and other famous companies. At present, these engineering construction machinery manufacturers have now entered the Chinese market in an all-round way, mainly forming monopoly positions on loaders of more than 6 tons. Loaders in small and medium tonnage will not pose a great threat to China, but foreign manufacturers are studying the characteristics of the Chinese market. Develop new products that suit China's national conditions and further expand its market share.

2.2. Domestic competitors

There are nearly 90 domestic loader manufacturers that can be counted, of which there are more than 30 specialized production plants with an industrial output value of more than 3 billion yuan. The main manufacturers are: Liugong, Xiagong, XCMG, Changlin, Chenggong, Yigong, Shangong, etc. These manufacturers have long experience in the production of loaders, strong strength, high market share and comparison. Good after-sales service has always established a good image in the minds of users and maintained their existing status and advantages. The relatively large investment in technical reforms of the "Eighth Five-Year Plan" and "Ninth Five-Year Plan" has gradually become effective and effective. This has enabled companies to display their vitality and vitality.

The local manufacturers have realized the huge market and efficiency of the loader, and have listed it as a pillar industry to support them and provide preferential policies. The new members like Fujian Longyan and Shandong Mengling have joined. The rapid development momentum and fiercer competition.

After world-class companies such as Komatsu, Licensing Haier and Volvo have established joint ventures in China, Caterpillar's joint venture or wholly-owned production of loaders has increased the possibility of competition in the domestic market.

3, analysis of the status of domestic wheel loader

All manufacturers do not have their own competitive products, do not have their own key technologies and strong technical innovation teams, and their leading products have low grades, enterprises have heavy burdens, and production costs are high.

3.1、3t loader below

The products below 3t are mainly represented by ZL10, ZL15, and ZL16. There are also some small loaders that are refitted using tractor chassis, and are mainly used with the increasing number of agricultural transport vehicles. The main parts and components are engines, drive axles, gearboxes, and hydraulic components of general performance and quality. The more advanced technology of hydrostatic transmission products, hydraulic components are not easily supported domestically, and the product cost remains high, which restricts the development of such products in China.

3.2, ZL30 loader

The ZL30 loader main manufacturers are Chenggong, Changlin, Xugong, Yigong, and Shangong. The components of the product are relatively messy, and the manufacturer has a homemade bridge box with unique styles, relatively stable quality and performance, and advanced technology. The ZL30F loader recently developed by XCMG uses electric shift gearboxes to make new breakthroughs in the 3T class loader technology.

3.3, ZL40/ZL50 loaders

ZL40/ZL50 loaders, the main loader manufacturers own the product. The first generation of products have continued for decades and the country has used almost the same sets of drawings. Some manufacturers with weak technical strength still bring them to the market as their leading products. The second and third generations of products are mainly to optimize the working device and change the appearance. For example, Liugong ZL40B/ZL50C and Xugong ZL40E/ZL50E. The fourth-generation products are based on the third generation, and further optimize the performance and configuration of the whole machine. New technologies such as electric control boxes and wet brakes are applied and formed. The company's proprietary technology and patented technology enable the product to be introduced to the market with a brand new look.

3.4, ZL60 and 6t or more loaders

6t and more than 6t loaders, this is the largest domestic potential market products, before 1998, most manufacturers have developed the ZL60 loader, but due to transmission constraints, ZL60 loader failed to successfully market. At the '99 Beijing International Construction Machinery Expo, various manufacturers introduced a new generation of ZL60 loaders, most manufacturers choose the box or bridge produced by the joint venture of Liuzhou ZF, hydraulic components also have new configuration, the engine can be selected Steyr or Shangchai 6121 (Cat3306 ) The reliability of the whole machine has been greatly improved, bringing development opportunities to domestic large-tonnage loaders.

4. Development trend of domestic wheel loaders

Domestic wheel loaders are transitioning from low-level, low-quality, low-cost, functional-type to high-level, high-quality, medium-price, economical and practical. From imitation and counterfeiting to independent development, major manufacturers continue to invest in technology, adopt different technology routes, and make technological innovations in key components and systems, get rid of the current product design similarities, have no own characteristics and advantages of the status quo, from the low level The orderly competition has emerged as a leader in the loader industry.

(1) Large and small wheel loaders have been limited by objective conditions and total market demand during the development process in recent years. The most competitive medium-sized loaders will be updated faster and faster.

(2) According to the actual situation of each manufacturer, re-design the overall design, optimize the performance indicators, strengthen the strength and stiffness of the structural parts, so that the reliability of the machine has been greatly improved.

(3) Refine the system structure. For example, the damping of the power system, the optimization of the heat dissipation system, the optimization of the performance of the work equipment, the dust prevention of the hinges, and the design of industrial designs.

(4) The use of electronic technology and load sensing technology to achieve the automatic gear shifting and hydraulic variable system applications, improve efficiency, save energy, reduce loader operating costs.

(5) Improve safety and comfort. The cab is gradually equipped with FOPS & ROPS functions, the cab interior will move closer to the car, and the steering wheel, seat, and joysticks can be adjusted to allow the operator to work in the best position.

(6) Reduce noise and emissions and strengthen environmental protection indicators. With the increase of people’s awareness of environmental protection, the noise reduction and emission reduction of loaders has become a matter of urgency. Many major cities have now established motor vehicle noise and emission standards. If the engineering construction machinery does not meet the emission standards, it will be limited to the area. promotion of.

(7) Widely use new materials, new processes, and new technologies, especially mechanical, electrical, and liquid integration technologies, to improve the product's life and reliability.

(8) Simplify maintenance to the maximum extent Minimize the number of maintenance and repair time, increase maintenance space, generally adopt electronic monitoring and monitoring technology, further improve the fault diagnosis system, and provide methods for drivers to eliminate problems.