Komastu is one of the most established brands on the construction market today, having proved itself to be well capable on the pit in the mid-2000s.

Irish importer McHale Plant Sales will be displaying the WA320-8 wheeled loader at the Ploughing. This particular model is well suited to silage work, with many units already in operation across the country. The loader is powered by Komatsu’s latest low-emission Stage IV-compliant engine. Capable of churning out 170hp, it weighs in at an unladen weight of 16,225kg.

What to expect

The machine is equipped with wide-core radiators for added cooling, limited slip differentials and boom suspension. The option to spec the Wa320-8 with an auto-lube system is available and can make daily maintenance easier. The latest 320-8 has also added increased service intervals, from 250 hours to an impressive 500 hours.

The WA320-8 is fitted with the Z-bar linkage design typically seen on construction machines. The Z-Bar system has proven popular on silage pits because it provides good visibility out to the ends of large silage forks.

The 170hp WA320-8 weighs 16,225kg.

An inching pedal allows the operator to take control of forward speed and hydraulic speeds. By pressing the inching pedal, pump flow to the motors will decrease, reducing the ground speed and allowing the operator to use the accelerator to increase flow to the equipment hydraulics. The 320-8 is shod on agricultural-size 750-65R26 tyres, ideal for silage applications.

WA100M-8

Alongside the WA320-8 will be its smaller brother, the WA100M-8. The nimble 94hp compact loader only hit the Irish market this year, and comes with a 94hp Stage IV engine and an operating weight of 7,200kg.

The higher-specification, high-flow optional version has a maximum flow rate of 120l/min at 210 bar. It is fitted with a fully automatic hydrostatic transmission that sends power to each of its four wheels.

The 40km/h transmission has three speed ranges: creep 0-10km/h, 0-15km/h and 0-40km/h. The WA100M-8 is equipped with limited slip differentials, with 100% locking differentials available if desired.