The development of rubber tracks is closely tied to advancements in compact equipment and agricultural machinery.

Early Innovations in Compact Equipment

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, brothers Cyril and Louis Keller played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the compact equipment industry. They invented the world’s first compact loader, which later became the Bobcat skid-steer loader. This innovation led to the introduction of the M400 in the 1960s, marking a significant step in the evolution of tracked machinery.

Introduction of Rubber Tracks

While steel tracks were widely used in heavy machinery, the demand for a more versatile, lightweight, and ground-friendly alternative led to the development of rubber tracks.

In 1978, Yonggu Corporation pioneered the first agricultural rubber track machine for the Chinese market. This development played a crucial role in making rubber tracks more accessible for farming and construction, offering benefits such as reduced soil compaction and improved traction in various terrains.

Since then, rubber track technology has continued to evolve, with improvements in durability, flexibility, and applications across industries, including agriculture, construction, and military vehicles.

T.Kassal

Takeuchi invented the world’s first compact track loader in 1986. After noticing the wheels of compact skid-steer loaders getting stuck in mud and rough terrain, Takeuchi engineers went to the drawing board to create their next big breakthrough. 

The TL8R2 is the latest addition to Takeuchi’s fully redesigned track loader lineup setting yet another standard for performance, durability, serviceability, and operator comfort.Takeuchi’s TL10 was used for market development and testing and then the TL26 was brought to market in 1991. Around the same time period, ASV was also working on a compact track loader and introduced its first Posi-Track rubber track loader in 1990.Today the TL12V2 features a vertical lift loader arrangement and sets another benchmark for compact track loaders by delivering one of the most capable and innovative machines available to the market today. 

The TL12V2 features a vertical lift loader arrangement and sets another benchmark for compact track loaders by delivering one of the most capable and innovative machines available to the market today. 

T.Kassal