Enter Sandman: CASE unveils Metallica edition compact track loader

CASE Construction Equipment has unveiled a special edition compact track loader at the Helping Hands charity concert held on December 13 at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, USA, organised annually by Metallica’s All Within My Hands charitable foundation.

But it wasn’t just any regular CTL, it was a one-of-a-kind unit adorned with graphics inspired by Metallica’s frontman and co-founder, James Hetfield.

Hetfield himself commissioned CASE to come up with a special edition loader and the CNH design team came to the table with multiple design proposals inspired by Hetfield’s colorful and successful career and persona.

The winning proposal, submitted by rising CNH design talent, John Piper, featured one of Hetfield’s tattoos - a skull with wings - alongside Hetfield’s name and other Metallica related wording in the sharp iconic font from the band’s logo and album artwork. He also drew from the pinstriping in Hetfield’s private hotrod collection.

All these elements were integrated atop a sandy camouflage pattern reminiscent of Hetfield’s signature Snakebyte electric guitar – a direct request from the artist.

CNH Senior Designer, Darin Weisensel, led the production phase of this project, working to bring the custom design to life on the CASE TV450B.

The TV450B is built at the CASE production facility in Wichita, USA, and is the second largest CTL in the CASE lineup, offering 90hp and total flow of 149l/min to power a range of implements.

With a rated operating load of 2045kg, the machine is ideal for all sorts of jobs including digging, loading and landscaping.

Following its debut, the custom-designed CASE TV450B compact track loader will head to Hetfield’s ranch where it will be put to work.