CASE DL550B dozer loader hybrid surfaces

CASE Construction has lifted the cover off its DL550B dozer loader which the company said is a powerful two-in-one machine designed for grading and loading applications.

The dozer loader was officially unveiled at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 as a commercial machine but originally made an appearance at the 2017 show as a concept machine named “Project Minotaur".

CASE said the DL550B has the footprint of a compact track loader (CTL) and the chassis-integrated C-frame and blade of a dozer.

“Our goal with this ‘concept’ was to see it through all the way,” said CASE product manager for compact equipment, George MacIntyre.

“The DL550B is here today as the result of the passion and drive of our engineering, product validation and manufacturing personnel, the real-world operators who spent hundreds of hours running prototypes around the country, as well as the enthusiasm shown by the construction industry in providing feedback to how this machine should perform in the field.”

The DL550B features a true dozer-style undercarriage for optimal dozing performance and is available in either steel or rubber track configurations to provide contractors with flexibility based on the types of turf/jobs they work on.

It will also feature CASE Universal Machine Control, which allows it to be outfitted straight from the dealer with any of the three major suppliers of grade/machine control technologies. It will also be compatible with CASE SiteControl CoPilot, which provides a mastless machine control experience with basic control of slope/grade.

The machine weighs approximately 8164kg and offers an output of 114hp.

It is also available with an optional fully integrated ripper and is compatible with a wide range of heavy-duty attachments to handle a wide range of tasks such as initial site clearing and finish grading.

The DL550B features a six-way blade and a C-frame that attaches directly into the chassis and primary coupler of the machine.

This design provides the stability and smooth operating plane of a small dozer and ensures that all operating power and stress is channelled through the chassis instead of the attachment coupler and arms of the machine.

“A standard CTL with a dozer blade attachment can be effective for occasional work, but that combination doesn’t provide true six-way blade performance, or the long-term precision possible with the DL550B,” MacIntyre said.

“This design is much better for strength and reliability as the pushing power is channelled through the entire machine. We have also integrated dozer controls for a much more intuitive experience for the operator versus the complicated control arrangement that comes with a common attachment blade.”

To use other attachments with the DL550B, the operator simply hydraulically detaches the C-frame and blade to match up with a bucket, forks or other attachments available for skid steers and CTLs.

The machine comes standard with a 1.25 cubic-yard bucket, available with either a cutting edge or SmartFit teeth system.

Major changes to the DL550B compared to the original concept at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 include an evolution from radial to a vertical lift geometry and an increase in rated operating capacity from 2041kg up to 2494kg (at 50 per cent tipping load).

“We found that the vertical lift pattern helped us achieve both the dozing performance we were looking for while also expanding its ability to serve as a high-capacity CTL,” MacIntyre said.

“The vertical lift pattern allows us to reach deeper into trucks, and additional enhancements in machine structure and performance allowed us to increase the rated operating capacity by 1000 pounds, making the DL550B one of the most powerful and versatile machines ever built within this footprint.”

CASE said the DL550B also offers auxiliary hydraulic options that exceed any of the CTLs in its current lineup — up to 151l/min at 4100 psi — which offers superior performance when used with high-speed attachments such as mulchers and grinders for heavy duty land clearing and site development work.

“We envision the DL550B as the next great two-in-one machine that will help simplify fleet management and expand service offerings for its owners,” MacIntyre said.

“From landscapers to residential contractors, smaller businesses that have thought about buying a small-frame dozer to expand will now get comparable performance out of a machine that also doubles as a CTL — a machine platform that they are likely already operating.”

The DL550B features electro-hydraulic dozer joysticks that operate similar to ISO controls in skid steers and CTLs — changing from dozer to CTL operating function is as simple as the push of a button.

Forward and reverse travel, and steering, is controlled with the left hand while boom and bucket controls are manipulated by the right hand when operating in CTL mode. The same right-hand controls operate the lift, angle and tilt functions of the six-way blade when in dozer mode. Popular CASE dozer features such as blade shake, as well as manual pitch adjustment, are also incorporated.

The machine is compatible with 2D and 3D machine control solutions to accurately perform a series of grading tasks, from sub-base up to finish grade. CASE said this is useful especially on smaller yards or jobsites where larger dozers or graders may not be able to gain access.

The DL550B will also be available with CASE Universal Machine Control that provides a universal harness for blade guidance systems, universal machine brackets and mounts, and universal jumpers to integrate any industry solution into the machine.

This allows the DL550B to be deployed, straight from the dealer, into any fleet-wide precision or machine control solution an operator may deploy on their jobsites.

It is also compatible with CASE SiteControl CoPilot. The easy-to-use system allows operators to set a desired slope/grade reference and automatically holds that slope/grade without the need for lasers, masts or GPS—regardless of underfoot conditions—enabling both seasoned and less-experienced operators to easily achieve and maintain a smooth surface, slope or grade throughout the work area.

Once the operator has set the slope/grade specifications, the system automatically adjusts the blade position to produce a reliable and consistent quality surface, eliminating the need for additional passes hence reducing fuel and labor costs.

Other additional features include an 8-inch LCD multifunction display, integrated backup camera and CASE SiteWatch telematics that allow operators to streamline fleet management and planned maintenance activities.

For more information, visit CaseCE.com