With a bit of mud, ASV shares passion and processes

ASV Holdings pulled back the curtain and shared details of manufacturing compact track loaders and skid-steers when the LM team visited its factory and test track in Grand Rapids, Minn. The team even got to test drive some equipment. And what better way to demo machines than in mud?

During the event, ASV, or All-Seasons Vehicles, unveiled the VT-70 High Output posi-track loader. The new machine will be in production in July. See more details about the machine here.

The LM team also learned about the ASV brand. Founded 35 years ago, Terex purchased ASV in 2008 and absorbed the brand. That acquisition lasted until a 2014 joint venture with Manitex. ASV reintroduced its brand name and increased its dealer network to more than 200 locations in the past three years.

Justin Rupar, ASV vice president of sales and marketing, said the company’s 185 employees have a passion for working in all climates, seasons and conditions.

“Our goal is to create products to use year-round,” he said. “We want to do work in more places. And do it quicker, better and leave the surrounding area undisturbed.”

The products

According to Regan Meyer, ASV’s dealer development and marketing manager, the company boasts the smallest and the largest track loaders. The RT-25 is ASV’s smallest machine with a 48-inch width and an operating capacity of 665 pounds. The RT-120 is the company’s largest machine with a 71-inch width and an operating capacity of 3,745 pounds.

The ASV undercarriage is a unique component of the machines, said Buck Storlie, ASV product line manager. “It all starts on the ground,” he said. “And these machines are designed from the ground up.”

The chassis ASV creates for track loaders is different than the one for skid-steers. Storlie, who’s worked at ASV for 24 years, said this helps with the machine’s weight balance and helps lift capacity.

A skid-steer pivots on the back with the weight distributed to the back. But Storlie said track loaders need to pivot on the center point. This allows for less wear on the track tread and gives the tracks a longer life. The weight balance also provides a performance advantage when the machines are working on a hill or slope.

The different chassis for track loaders removes the frame work that is on a skid-steer. This gives ASV track loaders a ground clearance advantage and a unique center of gravity. These features help a track loader maneuver over stumps, logs or other obstacles in its path. The open track design allows for debris to fall out and prevents build up in the undercarriage components.

ASV performs testing on the machines, which can work in temps ranging from -30 up to 118 degrees F. The machines can operate at 100 percent load, 100 percent of the time, Storlie said. The spec sheets show the exact numbers proven at the test facility, Meyer added.

Testing CTL’s in the mud. (Photo: LM Staff)

Buck Storlie, ASV product line manager, discussing the new VT-70 High Output CTL. (Photo: LM Staff)

Nick Schrapp, ASV product reliability and testing manager, demonstrates the testing facility machine that operates a CTL at 100 percent load. (Photo: LM Staff)

The ASV team at the test track and facility in Grand Rapids, Minn. (Photo: LM Staff)

LM‘s Jake Goodman getting ready to operate ASV’s RT-65. (Photo: LM Staff)

Dallas Gravelle, assembly area manager, and Frank Gangi, welding and fabrication manager during a tour of ASV’s Grand Rapids, Minn., factory. (Photo: LM Staff)