New features from Kioti on its Canadian line of tractors and loaders
The Kioti brand, which is a division of South Korea-based Daedong Corp., has announced updates to its Canadian line of tractors and loaders.
The brand currently offers one model of compact loader , which is available as a skid steer (the SL750) or compact track loader (the TL750). Both are 74 horsepower models.
To better meet the needs of some buyers who look for loaders in that size range, Kioti has introduced the Flow+, high-flow hydraulic option.
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“Right now, we’re sitting in the 74 h.p. size class, which is the biggest for both the skid steers and track loaders,” says Justin Moe, product manager for Kioti’s construction division.
“Within that, you see a pretty high take rate for high-flow units. It’s become more and more prevalent over the years. These machines have really turned into tool carries, not just pick and place or digging machines. You see the prevalence of snow blowers, sweeper brooms, rotary cutters, especially in agricultural applications.
“We knew we had to come out with high flow, so Flow+ is kind of our first stage into that.”
The Flow+ option pushes the flow rate up from the standard 21.9 g.p.m. to 34 g.p.m. That gives these machines one of the highest flow rates in the industry segment.
The higher flow rate with the Flow+ option comes from an additional gear pump. Two pumps split hydraulic functions.
Although the general cycle time for functions such as lifting the loader arms won’t change with the addition of Flow+, using powered attachments won’t have as much effect on reducing the response rate of those other systems when operated at the same time.
“Where you’ll notice a difference is in multi functioning,” says Moe.
“You’ll see improved multi functioning.”
With the Flow+ option, the overall pressure rate has been lowered from 3,335 p.s.i. to 2,900.
“The lower pressure also means the system has a little more protection,” he adds.
“Very high pressure is hard on the hydraulic components. Bringing the pressure down a little bit makes it a little easier on those components.”
The brand expects to add a third hydraulic system option for even greater flow rates in the near future, which will be useful for higher demand attachments such as those used in forestry operations. No official release date has been announced for that feature yet.
Kitoi is also jumping into the telematics field, now offering that technology for its line of utility tractors with the new Kioti Connect App.
It offers the typical range of telematics information along with AI-powered predictive analytics, allowing it to provide information regarding anticipated failures.
“We started rolling it out this year,” says Youngjin Son, senior vice-president and chief product technology officer.
“It will provide location and running time. We can have other sensors depending on the machine. We can provide the information ahead of time so that a customer can prevent the expected failure. Before something happens, they can fix it. That’s the main goal.”
Kioti Connect is available on the 66 to 73 h.p. RX tractor line as well as the larger HX Series and compact construction machines. The service will come with a free use period on each new machine, and owners can opt to subscribe and continue it.
Kioti Connect will also be expanded later this year, making it available on the brand’s smaller compact utility tractor lines.
“We will expand (it) with all tractors by the end of this year, even small sub-compacts, our lower-cost tractors,” adds Son.
“We will absorb those costs within Kioti to provide value to our customers.”
Finally, Kioti plans to expand the top end of its tractor line, with the introduction of a 140 h.p. model later this year, which will be a good size fit for livestock and forage producers.
Source: producer.com