Varied municipal work requires an array of capabilities and capacities.
Municipal work is a blending of different trades. Equipment needs to be equally versatile. It was with this eye on versatility that the Village of Slinger, Wis., added a new skid steer to its fleet: the Tier 4 Final SR210 from CASE Construction Equipment.
“Being a smaller town and cross training as much as we do, it's very important that all our equipment is flexible so that we can be as efficient as possible,” says Greg Moser, DPW and utilities superintendent, Village of Slinger.
As Moser made the case to add the new equipment, three primary factors stood out: the value provided by the versatility, the reaction of his operators, and the serviceability of the machine matched with the proximity/responsiveness of his dealer.
Power, Hydraulics Provide Versatility
Weighing in at 6,970 pounds, the SR210 is an all-purpose skid steer rated at 74 gross horsepower. The machine offers class-leading bucket breakout force (7,270 pounds) and torque (232 foot pounds), and Moser opted for high-flow auxiliary hydraulics (33.2 gpm) for added power and attachment versatility.
The ability to operate attachments that require a higher flow helps save the village money by bringing work in-house that would otherwise have to be contracted out.
“We own a bucket, forks and a snow pusher, but we rent out stump grinders, millers, jack hammers, anything like that,” says Moser. “Basically anything that [manufacturers] can make for those machines we want to be able to utilize.”
With the SR210, CASE built power and performance usually associated with a full-frame model into the footprint of a medium-frame skid steer. That power and reduced size has proven important.
“It's got great lifting capacity for the size,” says Al Strupp, an operator and mechanic with the Village of Slinger. “The weight is distributed perfectly. I never have any problem lifting stuff up. I can lift the same amount at half throttle as I can [while] wide open.”
The Operator’s Perspective
Moser’s second consideration revolved around the feedback of the operator. The SR210 features one of the widest cabs in the industry, as well as the lowest entry threshold of any skid steer in the industry.
“First thing I noticed right away sitting in the machine [was] the comfort in there,” Strupp says. “The cab is nice and big. You don't feel like you're cramped up or anything. The air ride seat is great. When you're in the machine for 10 to 12 hours and you're not fatigued or anything, that's what stands out.”
The Ride Control feature, another option that Moser opted for, also helps improve operator comfort as minimizing movement of the bucket and arms also helps minimize movement inside the cab.
The greatest benefit of the cab, however, in terms of performance and jobsite awareness, might be its visibility. In addition to the view to the bucket, to the rear and to the side of the machine, the SR210 also features industry-exclusive side lighting.
“Visibility on this machine is top notch,” says Strupp. “Just being able to see the front of the bucket real nice, see over the bucket, seeing what you're actually doing in front. To tell you the truth, I haven't been in a skid loader that's been better than this.”
Serviceability is King
The third consideration Moser made relates to the serviceability of the machine and the proximity/responsiveness of their dealer. Downtime is not an option, as much of the village’s work has a direct impact on the public.
“The machine is one thing,” says Moser, “but who is going to be there after the sale that's going to take care of you when you need it? I know in our case, [CASE dealer] Miller Bradford & Risberg is nearby, and they support everything we have very well.”
In addition to dealer support, the machine lends itself well to easy maintenance and upkeep. The engine features a maintenance-free Tier 4 Final emissions solution that requires no filter replacement or fluids.
“The first thing I look at is how easy it is to work on and how easy it is to maintain,” says Strupp, “Ground serviceability and everything like that. I've worked on a lot of equipment. This stands out. It's so easy to maintain, it's not a chore anymore.”
All things considered – from performance to operator feedback and serviceability – Moser believes the SR210 meets all the criteria required to be a workhorse for the Village of Slinger for years to come.
“We don't have a huge fleet, but the fleet we have has to be as versatile as possible, and this allows for a lot of that.”