In line with unique product requirements and changing preferences among its customers, LeeBoy India Construction Equipment is striding ahead with high-end earth moving equipment and heavy-duty drills for the mining industry. The company is gradually adding more products to its mining portfolio, which now consists of drill rigs, large-size motor graders, and crawler excavator.
At the IMME 2018, the 54-year-old US-based brand made a vibrant display of its flagship products aimed at mining customers from different regions of the country. This includes the 528-D crawler mounted with a blast hole drill, the high-capacity 995 motor grader (24-ton class), and 985 motor grader with an operating weight of 15 ton. High-performance backhoe loaders and concrete batching plants are also part of the brand’s offerings in India.
“We are constantly working on adding new products to our stable, as we keep listening to our customers’ needs and preferences. Large front-end loaders right from 12-20 ton classes are going to be our upcoming additions for mining operations”, said Mr. Amarnath Ramachandran, President – LeeBoy India.
Mining is a prime target area for the brand, he said, while adding that it was the customer demand from this sector that made the OEM to come up with heavy-duty graders 20-ton class ‘990’ and ‘995’ motor graders for earthmoving and mining projects. LeeBoy has come up with a 10-year product development plan based on customer demands from similar markets including Russia, South Africa, and Middle East, thereby guiding design, engineering, and manufacturing of future products in India, he added.
Technology, efficiency, and ergonomic comfort are the key areas of development for its products, the company claimed. It added that LeeBoy has partnered with those tech systems suppliers who have superior in-house R&D. Its products are powered by Cummins-sourced engines, transmission units from ZF, and axles from NAF. Its entire range of machines are equipped with air-conditioned cabins, driver information display screens, ergonomic seats, controls, and audio systems.
LeeBoy 995 Motor Grader: High-performance Proposition
This 24-ton (operating weight) heavy-duty motor grader grabbed the eye balls of visitors at the IMME 2018 trade fair. Powered by Cummins 8.9-litre engine producing 280 bhp, the machine features automatic power-shift transmission with torque convertor and lockup clutch.
The 995 comes with standard 14-feet or a 16-feet optional moldboard. List of attachments that can be donned are front scarifier, front dozer, pushblock, mid-mounted scarifier, or heavy-duty rear ripper. Mr. Ramachandran said that the machine has demonstrated its prowess at the Bengaluru airport project, by covering 700-800 m³ area per hour.
“Comparing to a regular grader that does 150 m³, the 995 is as good as three or four of those machines, but doesn’t cost that much. Buyers have to do the math and choose the products accordingly”, he commented.