I was at the unveiling this week and have been involved with the project for some time. Its well designed machine.
The machines they are releasing first are the large frame 75 hp, they will release the 100 hp (or so) machines later. When those hit the ground i will be ready for a new 3k +ROC wheeled machine. We will see at that time if their machine fits what i need. However based on what i see so far, i would own one without hesitation. Many of the components are similiar to what i run, Engine is the same 3.4, the drive motors on ctl are same, pumps are same of course configuration i am sure is different. The controls are pilot, and still being tweaked but i thought the feel was real good, just some small improvements i thought could be made in response, but then i have been running E/H and so i am used to minimal joystick input.
Well as for tweeking, our 185 JCB has snapped one of the rear boom pins twice.I think it's very hard to compare anything to the JCB, even though its a skid steer, it is soooo different with the one sided loader arm. I like the idea of the side entrance, but it's awfully hard to sell an old school operator on that idea that the arm won't tweak. I have a Volvo dealer near me and they sell the Volvo skids (JCBs) and I have yet to see one on a job.
I think it's very hard to compare anything to the JCB, even though its a skid steer, it is soooo different with the one sided loader arm. I like the idea of the side entrance, but it's awfully hard to sell an old school operator on that idea that the arm won't tweak. I have a Volvo dealer near me and they sell the Volvo skids (JCBs) and I have yet to see one on a job.
I think it's very hard to compare anything to the JCB, even though its a skid steer, it is soooo different with the one sided loader arm. I like the idea of the side entrance, but it's awfully hard to sell an old school operator on that idea that the arm won't tweak. I have a Volvo dealer near me and they sell the Volvo skids (JCBs) and I have yet to see one on a job.
From my experience the JCB skidsteers are junk.
I'm not really talking about the Robot in particular, but more about JCB's long presence in the North American market without much traction. They have the global market share lead in backhoes, but barely have a blip in market share here. I think this is directly associated with not having a strong dealer network focused on their product as the primary revenue generator.
I see much the same thing happening with the Wacker product in general. They have many dealers and sub good products, especially hand held, but the majority of their dealers already have prime lines such as Bobcat, Kubota, Deere, CNH, etc. overcoming that resistance will be extremely difficult for them just as it has been for JCB, a very successful company with lots of money to throw at the challenge.
I'm not really talking about the Robot in particular, but more about JCB's long presence in the North American market without much traction. They have the global market share lead in backhoes, but barely have a blip in market share here. I think this is directly associated with not having a strong dealer network focused on their product as the primary revenue generator.
I see much the same thing happening with the Wacker product in general. They have many dealers and sub good products, especially hand held, but the majority of their dealers already have prime lines such as Bobcat, Kubota, Deere, CNH, etc. overcoming that resistance will be extremely difficult for them just as it has been for JCB, a very successful company with lots of money to throw at the challenge.
I don't disagree that WN has some challenges ahead to make this project a success. The first priority is to put out the best performing product that they can. I think WN will do that. Will it be perfect, no, but it already is very competent, and the fine tuning left to do will only build upon that. These machines will be able to go head to head with anything in their class and be very productive. It will not have the electronic wizardry that the D series has but, it will be a solid, productive machine, much like TK and Kubota in that sense.
I talked with a lot dealers during the unveiling, I was tasked with demoing the machine and then answering questions after the dealers had run it. Your right Digdeep in that many already carry something else. ASV, Deere and CNH seemed to be majority of the makes that were carried by the ones I spoke with. They all had their reasons for looking for alternatives and options. The stores carrying ASV would like a CTL for applications not suitable for the suspended undercarriage and for those stores it makes total sense. The WN dealers and their customers have been asking for a skid steer/CTL for sometime. This product is a result of that request. The fact that many of their dealers carry something else, I don't think is that big of deal (although there are plenty of other challenges). Many of these dealers like and want to do business with WN, that was very apparent during the unveiling. There is no doubt that WN has built a loyal following among their dealers and that will help move machines.
Well...you can count me as someone that wants to see what they've come up with. I don't wish failure on any OEM, and I'd like to see the product do well, but I still think it will be an uphill climb for them.