ASV Introduces SR-80, A Revolutionary Rubber Track Loader

New, Innovative Undercarriage, Automotive-Like Interior to Lead Industry

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (Jan. 9, 2005) - ASV, the preeminent manufacturer of rubber track loaders, today raised the bar even higher with the introduction of its new SR-80, a machine that features an exclusive, independent and multi-suspension undercarriage as well as a class-leading cab interior. With features like 2.84 psi ground pressure, 20-inch-wide tracks and 15 inches of ground clearance, the SR-80 represents the pinnacle of rubber track loader development.

"Nothing comes close to matching the performance of the SR-80. It immediately becomes the flagship machine on the market," said Brad Lemke, director of new product development at ASV. "In virtually every aspect that is important - ground contact area, suspension, track and machine width, cab interior - the SR-80 represents a breakthrough in technology for the rubber track loader industry."

The SR-80 will stand out in the 70 to 80 hp rubber track loader size class, the largest and most popular class of machines in North America. The SR-80 will be able to work in the widest range of applications and conditions, and with 55 percent of the machine's width riding on rubber tracks it will offer exceptional traction and flotation, and low ground pressure.

According to Lemke, the significance of the SR-80 begins with the undercarriage. The ISR-4 is a completely new undercarriage that ASV engineers have been developing for approximately two and a half years. While most rubber track loader manufacturers use rigid steel track technology on an existing skid steer chassis, the SR-80 - like all ASV machines - was built from the ground up to run on a unique suspended rubber track undercarriage. Among the ISR-4 undercarriage's many attributes are the widest rubber tracks in the industry (20 inches) and an independent, multi-level suspension, with four wheel carriages on each side that flex independently to maximize ground contact over uneven terrain.

"The undercarriage will flex in multiple directions, which means that it has the most track on the ground at any given time, even over difficult terrain," said Lemke. "The upshot of this is that the SR-80 will have more traction and more sensitivity to the ground than any other machine. It will also give the operator the smoothest ride available."

In order to optimize size, balance and performance of the undercarriage, the SR-80 was engineered with a purpose-built chassis that will give it the highest ground clearance available while also minimizing overall machine length and bulk. Within the chassis, ASV has introduced a new level of comfort, refinement and control for the cab.

"The most important part of any machine is the operator, and we've brought automotive comfort to the cab - something that has been lacking in compact equipment," said Lemke. "When you combine a new adjustable suspension seat, a unique split lapbar with a full gauge package for easy viewing of machine status, a new foot throttle and an option for a slide-up door, operators will find the interior every bit as exceptional as the undercarriage."

The SR-80 is powered by a turbocharged Perkins diesel engine and is rated at 80.5 gross horsepower. The SR-80 has a tipping load of 6,200 pounds and is rated with a 3,100-pound operating capacity (50 percent tipping load).

Tracks on the SR-80 are driven by two-speed drive motors, capable of travel speeds as high as 12.5 mph in the high speed range and as high as 7 mph in the low speed range, easily making it the fastest machine in its class. The standard hydraulic system on the SR-80 provides 30 gpm to its high-flow circuit and includes a new variable low flow control. The system's low-flow circuit delivers from 0 to 20 gpm and is controlled by a new thumb switch on the machine's joystick controls. Variable flow allows better control of grapples, multipurpose buckets and other attachments. With its hydraulic quick attach, the SR-80 can be fitted with virtually any industry-standard attachment, including a full line of performance-matched ASV Posi-ToolTM attachments.

For Lemke, the SR-80 represents what rubber track loaders are all about.

"When ASV pioneered the rubber track loader industry nearly 20 years ago, this is what it was all about - true low ground pressure with lots of traction and great ground clearance."

Specifications for ASV SR-80:

• Operating Weight: 8,972 lb.
• Engine: Perkins 804C-33T 80.5 hp turbocharged diesel
• Ground Pressure: 2.84 psi at shipping weight, 3.15 psi at operating weight
• Overall Width: 72 in.
• Track Width: 20 in.
• Tipping Load: 6,200 lb.  Operating Capacity: 3,100 lb. (50 percent tipping load)
• Maximum Speed: 7 mph in low range, 12.5 mph in high range