Mecalac now offers the AS1600 swing loader. With the ability to pivot its bucket 90 degrees to either side, the AS1600 represents a departure from traditional wheel loader design. A rigid frame and 4-wheel steering provide productivity and stability while driving, operating, and unloading in virtually any condition or terrain. The AS1600 provides space management, requiring only half the space of conventional loaders for tasks such as loading trucks or discharging materials into trenches with a standard 2.1-cubic-yard bucket.

The key to the 12-ton AS1600’s appeal is its design, giving it the ability to swivel its fully loaded bucket 90 degrees on either side. This opens up a number of opportunities to approach jobs differently – taking up just one lane of traffic, for example, on a road job, rather than the two necessary for operating traditional loaders — and transforms space management and logistics.

The equipment features three steering options — 2-wheel, 4-wheel, and crab — which offer further flexibility for congested jobsites. Operators can simultaneously drive, pivot, and maneuver, increasing productivity and safety and making common tasks such as backfilling a trench easier and more efficient. After loading material, operators can simply back up, rotating the bucket in the process. Materials can then be discharged over the side while the machine reverses along the trench, streamlining operations and reducing unnecessary downtime, noise, and environmental impact.

The AS1600 also provides increased stability over traditional articulated loaders. An automatically engaging rear axle allows operators to pivot the bucket up to 90 degrees in either direction without reducing overall stability. This is a significant improvement over traditional equipment that can become unstable with only a 45-degree turn. Stability combined with maneuverability results in a small turning radius — a 20% smaller footprint than regular loaders — to maximize mobility in even the most confined spaces.

Bucket capacities range from 2.1-3.3 cubic yards to give contractors options for projects of all sizes.