Innovation moves apace, even in the world of heavy machinery. That’s the spirit behind CASE Construction Equipment’s latest creation: the Impact concept, a compact wheel loader powered by a fully electric powertrain. In addition the vehicle is cab-free. it can work in tight, hazardous spaces without putting the operator at risk. While it does not have autonomous driving capabilities, it is steered remotely also from a dedicated control lounge office.
A technological marvel
David Wilkie, head of Industrial Design CNH, shares the inspiration behind the creation of this strikingly unconventional vehicle. “The Impact is a technological marvel”, says Wilkie. “It brings together all the latest technology and, although designed for the future, it is closer to reality than you might imagine. It is fully functional and many features could go into production in the near future.
Electric and no use limitations
The decision to make it remote-controlled – the operator controls the vehicle from a distance of a few hundred metres – was dictated by the fact that this wheel loader has to work in hazardous environments such as quarries and construction sites, where the unexpected can always happen. The possibility of anyone getting hurt is thus eliminated”.
“Being fully electric”, adds Luca Fabbian, Concept Design Project Manager at CNH, “it can work in places and at times when vehicles with internal combustion engines are prohibited. On a construction site in the city centre, or at night, a traditional vehicle would make too much noise. The Impact, on the other hand, is very quiet and has no such limitations”.
Complete creative freedom
Let’s talk design — because even in the world of heavy machinery, looks matter. While function shapes the form of a work vehicle, design is what gives it brand identity and product appeal. “We started with a blank canvas”, says Jakub Sulikowski, Senior Designer at CNH and the driving force behind the project. “At first, there were no technical constraints — we had complete creative freedom”. What followed was a wave of bold, visionary concepts that caught the attention of the company. The excitement grew, and soon the call came: take it beyond the drawing board and build a real, working concept. The designers then teamed up with Innovation Engineers , determined to turn vision into reality- without losing the powerful visual punch of the original sketches.
Showing the “muscles”
“With the Impact”, continues Sulikowski, “our goal was to capture the form of a wild animal, one that is best kept at a distance. The initial idea immediately resonated so we set about honing it. There were no major rethinks. This resulted in a particularly unstructured design that highlights the machine’s muscularity and also fits in with its relatively compact proportions”. Instead of a cab, the Impact has a turret equipped with cameras that can be raised and lowered, changing the height of the vehicle and allowing it to operate even in confined spaces. This solution has made it possible to lower the centre of gravity and greatly improve stability.
The aim is craving attention
The Impact’s uniqueness is also underscored by its colour. “We wanted to create a vehicle that immediately showed off its distinctiveness”, explains Wilkie. “It’s a vehicle that craves attention. So we dared to use vivid metallic orange instead of the brand’s traditional power tan orange. It was a gamble, but in the end it won everyone over. It’s a vehicle that turns heads”.
(Full article in A&D no. 274)
