Get FinancingNew CASE Precision Grader Blade Allows Track Skid Steers To Grade Like A Motor Grader
CASE Construction Equipment has announced a new Precision Grader Blade attachment for large compact track loaders (CTLs). Equipped with a 108-inch (2,743-millimeter) moldboard, the new attachment is compatible with 2D and 3D machine control solutions originally developed for motor graders, such as CASE SiteControl technologies powered by Leica Geosystems.
“This is built for those applications where contractors have always wanted the power and precision of a motor grader, but were unable to justify it based on size, access, or cost,” says CASE Construction Equipment Product Manager Jerry Hutkowski. “It takes the large-frame CTL that many contractors already own and turns it into a powerful precision-grading solution capable of working on sites where a larger machine isn’t practical or can’t gain access.”
A Smart, Simple Solution
CASE says its new Precision Grader Blade attachment is “plug and play” for CTLs with auxiliary hydraulics and 14-pin electrical connections. A pair of tires leads the assembly from the front. Importantly, the operator controls the blade through the track loader’s existing joysticks, reducing the learning curve for the new blade.
The Precision Grader Blade is compatible with single or dual laser receivers, sonic tracers, and GNSS/GPS devices, as well as with total stations. “It allows them to see the immediate advantages of machine control in fine grading applications, including greater productivity, improved quality, less rework, and less wear and tear on your equipment,” Hutkowski says.
Dual lift cylinders can jointly change the elevation and slope of the moldboard, providing 60 degrees of combined blade rotation and 26 in. (660 mm) of total blade side shift. “Even at full rotation, the blade provides 97 in. (2,464 mm) of grading width for optimal productivity and windrowing,” says Hutkowski, “and the side-shift capability allows for easy work around obstacles such as manhole covers and existing utilities.”
Thoughtfully Designed To Last
CASE powder-coats the Precision Grader Blade’s metal surfaces for a durable, attractive finish. The manufacturer uses greaseless, composite pivot-point bushings and sealed hubs on the attachment’s heavy-duty axles to reduce maintenance demands.
The blade comes standard with a bolt-on, reversible cutting edge. One option provides dual mirrors to give the operator a better view of the moldboard. Another adds bolt-on side plates to help the blade retain material like a grading box.
Source: CNH Industrial