Loaders are a type of construction machinery widely used in fields such as engineering, mining, and agriculture. They can be classified in various ways based on different dimensions such as power type, structural form, application, and tonnage. The following are common classification methods and specific types:
I. Classification by Power Type
This is one of the most common classification methods, mainly based on the source of driving power:
- Fuel-powered Loaders
Powered by fuel, they are the mainstream type in the current market with a wide range of applications. - Diesel-powered loaders: They have large torque, strong power, and relatively moderate fuel consumption. Suitable for heavy-duty operations (such as mining and large-scale infrastructure), they are the most commonly used type among fuel-powered loaders.
- Gasoline-powered loaders: They have slightly lower noise and lower initial purchase costs, but with weak power and high fuel consumption. They are only applicable to light operations (such as small-scale agricultural transportation and short-distance site cleaning) and have a narrow range of applications.
- Liquefied petroleum gas loaders: They burn more fully, and their exhaust pollution is slightly lower than that of diesel or gasoline models. They can be used for a short time in semi-enclosed places with certain emission requirements (such as large workshops), but their popularity is low.
- Electric Loaders
Powered by batteries, they belong to new energy models and are a development trend in recent years.
Advantages: Zero emissions, low noise (suitable for indoor or residential area operations), low maintenance costs (no need for engine maintenance), and low energy consumption costs (electricity is cheaper than fuel);
Limitations: depends on batteries (4-8 hours of work on a single charge), long charging time (about 1-2 hours for fast charging), high initial purchase cost (30%-50% more expensive than fuel-powered machines of the same tonnage), and battery performance may decrease in low-temperature environments.
Applicable scenarios: Indoor warehouses, municipal sanitation (operations in residential areas), places with high environmental protection requirements (such as around food factories and pharmaceutical factories).
II. Classification by Structural Form
According to the different overall structures and walking modes, they can be divided into:
- Wheel Loaders
With tires as walking components, they are the most common type.
Advantages: Fast driving speed (usually 20-40km/h), flexible transition, and little damage to the road surface. Suitable for operations on flat or semi-rough sites (such as construction sites, warehouses, and farmland);
Limitations: Poor passability in muddy, soft, or extremely rough terrains (such as deep ditches and swamps). - Crawler Loaders
With crawlers as walking components, they have a large ground contact area and strong grip.
Advantages: Adapt to extremely complex terrains such as muddy areas, swamps, and mine slopes, with large traction, suitable for heavy-duty and harsh environment operations;
Limitations: Slow driving speed (usually less than 10km/h), inconvenient transition (requiring trailer transportation), great damage to the road surface, and not suitable for flat and hardened roads. - Skid Steer Loaders
Compact in structure, adopting wheeled or crawler-type, they can turn 360° in place and have extremely strong flexibility.
Advantages: Small size (short wheelbase and extremely small turning radius), suitable for operations in narrow spaces (such as inside factories, roadways, and small construction sites). They can quickly replace attachments such as buckets and breakers to achieve multiple functions;
Limitations: Small load capacity (usually 1-3 tons), suitable for light operations, not for heavy loads.
III. Classification by Operational Application
According to the main operating scenarios and functions, they can be divided into:
- Engineering Loaders
The most common type, mainly used in infrastructure projects (such as road construction, site leveling, and earth transport), mining (loading ore and muck), etc. Usually of medium and large tonnage (above 5 tons), they emphasize power and durability. - Agricultural Loaders
Mostly small and medium-sized (2-5 tons), with flexible structures, they can be equipped with attachments such as buckets, grass forks, and bulldozer blades. Used for farmland leveling, straw transportation, feed loading, crop transfer, etc., they adapt to the characteristics of scattered agricultural sites and diverse operations. - Forestry Loaders
Often equipped with special attachments such as log grapples, they are used for wood transportation, stacking, and forest cleaning. Some models are equipped with protective devices (such as cabs to prevent wood chips from splashing) to adapt to complex terrains in forest areas. - Sanitation Loaders
Mostly small and medium-sized or electric models, used for urban garbage cleaning, snow sweeping, road cleaning, etc. They emphasize low noise and low emissions, and some are equipped with closed buckets to prevent garbage from scattering. - Special Loaders
Designed for special scenarios, such as explosion-proof loaders (used in flammable and explosive places such as coal mines and chemical industry, with explosion-proof functions) and plateau loaders (adapted to high-altitude and low-pressure environments, with specially adjusted engines), etc.
IV. Classification by Rated Load Capacity (Tonnage)
This is a core indicator to measure the size and carrying capacity of loaders, usually divided into:
- Small loaders: Rated load capacity of 1-3 tons, suitable for light operations (such as agriculture, small construction sites, and indoor warehouses), with small size, flexibility, and low cost.
- Medium loaders: Rated load capacity of 4-6 tons, the most widely used, balancing power and flexibility, suitable for medium and heavy-duty operations such as general engineering, mining, and warehouses.
- Large loaders: Rated load capacity of 7-10 tons, used in heavy-duty scenarios such as large mines and heavy infrastructure, with strong power, large bucket capacity (5-10 cubic meters), and high operating efficiency.
- Extra-large loaders: Rated load capacity of more than 10 tons, mainly used in extra-large mines (such as open-pit coal mines and iron mines), designed for extreme heavy loads, with extremely high output, but large size and high cost.
Summary
The classification of loaders is essentially to adapt to different operational needs - from power type to structural form, to tonnage and application, each classification corresponds to specific scenarios and functions. In practical applications, a loader may belong to multiple categories at the same time (for example, a "5-ton wheeled engineering loader" belongs to medium-sized, wheeled, and engineering types). When purchasing, a comprehensive judgment should be made based on specific working conditions.
