From shovels and spades to wheeled machinery, the world of small equipment was evolving gradually — but suddenly, it’s rushing headlong into the 21st century. With the RC.30, a driveable, all-surface loader that fits in the back of a pickup, ASV Inc. unveils rubber-tracked technology that reduces hand labor, works with power and traction, and goes just about anywhere — all without harm to sensitive terrain.
“We believe we’ve developed the perfect tool, one that will drastically change how the world views the concept of hand labor versus heavy equipment,” said Brad Lemke, director of new product development, ASV. “Too often, hand labor and today’s equipment are not economical solutions. The RC.30 will change that — and at an affordable price.”
The RC.30 is currently being shipped to dealers in the United States. According to Lemke, the machine was a response to what the company saw as a gaping hole in the industry: namely, the need for a machine that was small and maneuverable, but could be driven comfortably by a seated operator; plus a vehicle that was powerful and stable, yet also extremely gentle.
“With the growing expense and shortage of hand labor, combined with the importance of finishing jobs efficiently in any terrain or space, it was time to develop industry-changing technology,” said Lemke.
Already known for its Posi-Track all-purpose crawlers, the popular machines that inspired Caterpillar to invest in the company, ASV spent two years researching and developing the RC.30.
The result was a vehicle that combines comfort with maneuverability, and is propelled by ASV’s proprietary, rubber-tracked technology. The track system gives the RC.30 the power and traction to dig, grade, backfill, remove snow and perform a variety of other tasks, as well as to work on sensitive terrain — turf, sod, pavement — without doing harm.
“There are a lot of small machines on the market, so making it small was not the only goal,” said Lemke. “It had to be powerful, so it could work hard, all day long. It had to be comfortable, with easy-to-use controls. And, it had to be gentle, because an operator shouldn’t have to repair damage after the job is done.”
The versatility of the RC.30 is achieved by transferring the weight of the machine to the ground through 24 wheeled contact points located on the inside portion of the rubber tracks. With a maximum number of wheels supporting the track, the machine’s weight is spread evenly to the ground.
Moreover, the undercarriage is attached to the frame with two suspended heavy-duty rubber-torsion axles. The suspension minimizes the shock load on the track and the machine, resulting in greater durability. And, to minimize maintenance, all bearings on the undercarriage are sealed.
“The RC.30 is truly a paradox in the world of equipment — a machine that’s powerful and rugged, yet small, comfortable and gentle,” said Lemke.
Powering the RC.30 is a Caterpillar 3013 model engine, which delivers 31.5 hp (23 kW). In addition, the machine is operated from inside a comfortable cab with easy-to-use, pilot-operated controls. The vehicle, which has an operating weight of 2,850 lbs. (1,283 kg), stands less than 4 ft. wide by 6 ft. high (1.2 by 1.8 m) wide. It comes standard as a loader, but with its quick-attach system, the RC.30 operates attachments such as backhoes, augers, dozer blades, trenchers and mowers.
According to John Perkins, owner of Perkins Landscape Contractors in Minneapolis, who ran prototypes of the RC.30 for several months, the machine increased his productivity by at least 50 percent and significantly slashed labor costs.
“Because we were helping prove its design for ASV, we put that RC.30 into some ugly situations, and it always came through. For a contractor, it’s a very special tool, which lets you cut labor costs almost down to nothing,” said Perkins. “And, if you can knock two or three guys off payroll, that’s huge. You don’t have to worry about the RC.30 not showing up for work, and there’s no withholding tax or payroll. All you have to do is fuel it and it will run all day long.”
Given its versatility, power and light impact — plus the ability to use attachments Perkins believes the RC.30 will excel in the market.
“All of the other little machines act like little machines — you can’t rely on them,” he said. “The RC.30 operates like a much larger machine, but with the ability to work in so many different places. It’s so versatile, you could put a vibratory plow on it, install irrigation piping in the morning, and then put a sod rolling attachment on and sod over it in the afternoon.”
Perkins added that work such as backfilling, sod rolling, digging in tight or sensitive areas, earthmoving, mowing and snow removal are just a few of the areas in which the RC.30 can excel.
“With the RC.30 alone and a bunch of attachments, there isn’t a project you couldn’t tackle,” he said. “You could have an extremely successful business with just that one machine and a pickup truck. Plus, it’s extremely well built, requiring only minimal maintenance.”
For more information, call 800/346-5954 or visit www.asvi.com.
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