Case Construction Equipment launched its Minotaur DL550 compact dozer loader, a new equipment category. This delivers dozing and grading performance thanks to its 114-hp engine and 18,000-lb weight.
“Business owners and fleet managers looking for a compact solution that delivers countless benefits in a single footprint will immediately see the versatility this exciting new machine brings to their fleets and will quickly understand what a ‘compact dozer loader’ is capable of accomplishing,” says Jeff Jacobsmeyer, product manager for Case. “It’s what the industry has asked for. Customer input has been a major part of the design and engineering process since the first concepts were discussed, and the result is an entirely purpose-built, intentionally designed machine proudly built here in the United States.”
The Minotaur DL550’s chassis-integrated C-frame with a six-way dozer blade hydraulically couples into both the chassis of the machine as well as the attachment coupler. This provides the stability and smooth operating plane of a small dozer while ensuring that all operating power is channeled through the whole body of the machine. The C-frame can be detached to allow the operator to use the Minotaur as a loader with a heavy-duty 1.25-cubic-yard bucket or with common loader attachments.
Also standard is Case’s Universal Machine Control, which makes the machine ready for the addition of machine control technology from Leica Geosystems, Topcon and Trimble, which are sold separately.
Case said it tested the Minotaur through more than 10,000 hours in the field.
“We’ve put this machine through hell and back — pound for pound, there’s no machine like it that delivers the dozing power and precision, as well as the dynamic loading performance,” says Jacobsmeyer.
Compact footprint
Built on a dozer-style undercarriage and pushing with more than 25,000 pounds of drawbar pull, the machine is available with three different track options:
14-inch single-grouser steel tracks
18-inch triple-grouser steel tracks
7-inch rubber tracks
The 90- or 96-inch six-way blade connected to the integrated C-frame is the same blade featured on the CASE 650M dozer and gives the operator a full range of dozer controls and movements. The machine’s electro-hydraulic controls also deliver responsiveness, with the ability to adjust blade, steering and shuttle sensitivity. Operators can also independently set the speed of the blade tilt, lift and angle.
Case said its exclusive, fully integrated rear ripper comes standard with three shanks and can be expanded to five shanks for more aggressive ripping. The rear ripper feature must be selected when ordering as it cannot be added after purchase.
“The Case Minotaur DL550 is built like a dozer with the full control and operator experience of a larger machine,” says Jacobsmeyer. “That includes the ability to deploy a full range of 2D and 3D machine control solutions that turn this machine into a compact fine grading solution that can get into areas and job sites where it’s not practical to bring in a full-sized dozer.”
Read more: Case launches new equipment line with its Minotaur dozer loader
