Case Skid Steers and Track Loaders the Army’s Newest Recruit

Yesterday, Case Construction Equipment welcomed guests from the U.S. Army TACOM (Tank-automotive and Armaments Command) as the company commemorated the recent production startup of a new line of military skid steer loaders. Case has begun manufacturing and shipping the first of several thousand model M400W skid steers and model M400T compact track loaders. Case is providing the equipment as part of a $160 million contract with the U.S. Army TACOM that could span 10 years, depending on contract renewals.

The CNH manufacturing plant in Wichita will produce and ship more than 3,000 skid steers and compact track loaders. The long-term contract calls for as many as 1,900 skid steers and nearly 1,500 compact track loaders. The project is a boon to the Wichita plant and the local economy, with production likely to continue through at least 2017.

“Case earned this award based on our ability to satisfy all key TACOM criteria,” said Pat Hunt, director of Strategic Accounts, Case Construction Equipment. “This includes the ability to support the vehicles with parts and technical services globally, the technical performance and reliability of our machines, and our past performance in supporting other military contracts. In all these areas, Case was evaluated as ‘Excellent,’ and Case skid steers and compact track loaders were deemed to provide the best overall value to the military.”

Hunt and other Case executives participated along with TACOM officers in ceremonies today celebrating both this new project and the company’s more than 150-year history of supporting the U.S. Military.

Meeting Special Military Requirements
In addition to the M400W skid steer loader, Case will build the M400T compact track loader under the TACOM contract. Each unit will be shipped with a full complement of attachments — including an auger with fittings for two sizes, a 4-in-1 multi-purpose bucket, pallet forks and a hydraulic hammer with multiple attachments.

The M400W and M400T are equivalent in size and general specifications to the civilian model 420 Series 3 skid steer loader and 420CT Series 3 compact track loader, respectively.

However, to fulfill the Army’s special requirements, the new machines also include:
• Four tie-down and lift points to meet requirements for various means of transport, including lifting by helicopter
• A weapons rack
• 24-volt starting and charging system, providing the ability to power auxiliary equipment.
• Removable steel crawler tracks for the skid steer
• A fuel injection pump that enables the machines to use JP-8 military-blend fuel
• A military-spec NATO slave cable receptacle that allows the machines to provide an electric jump-start to any other military vehicle.

The skid steer and compact track loader project is among several recent contract awards to Case from the U.S. military, totaling more than 5,000 machines. For example, in 2008 Case began fielding armored and armor-ready backhoe loaders under a contract with the U.S. Army to build nearly 700 units.  Some of these machines have been deployed to support the U.S. Army in Afghanistan and Iraq. Production of these units at the Case plant in Burlington, Iowa, is schedule for completion in May.

Other current Case contracts with the U.S. military include refurbishing more than 300 M4K rough-terrain forklifts, and more than 550 MW24C wheel loaders. The company provides refurbishing for military equipment at its Case Remanufacturing Center at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.