An ultra-compact wheeled loader with agricultural work potential has been added to the light construction equipment range produced by Chinese manufacturer Sunward.

The SL12W is powered by a 25hp Kubota diesel engine, stands a tad over 2.3m tall with an open canopy fitted, and measures just 1.3m wide with chunky 31×15.5-15 tyres.

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An articulated chassis provides steering and the 1.55m wheelbase, while contributing to the overall length of 3.53m to the front of the implement carriage, or 4.2m to the lip of its standard 0.38cu m bucket.

The all-important lift capacity is quoted as 1,300kg, which can be taken to a full-height lift of almost 2.8m, measured to the attachment pivot, or 2.6m to a level bucket.

Unlike most agricultural-oriented loaders, a Z-bar linkage and centrally mounted hydraulic cylinder perform the bucket crowd and dump functions.

As expected, oil flowing through a two-speed four-wheel drive hydrostatic system gets the little loader on the move up to its 11mph top speed.

Options include a fully glazed cab, which can be equipped with air conditioning in place of the standard spec’s heater/blower.

The newcomer complements a three-model range of wheeled skid-steer loaders with operating capacities from 750kg to 1,300kg, 2.3m and 2.4m lift heights, and 65hp or 74hp diesel engines, and a 1,200kg tracked loader.

Sunward South-West, a trading title of agricultural and construction machinery business Conagri, which has created a showroom and workshops at its Exeter base, has the franchise for all Sunward product sales and support in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

Earlier this year, a partnership was formed with agricultural machinery dealer Michael Burdge at Weston-super-Mare for sales and support in Somerset and Wiltshire.