The recent CONEXPO exhibition in Las Vegas was a turning point for Chinese wheeled loader manufacturer SDLG, now under the full ownership of Lingong Group. Since gaining full control of SDLG from Volvo Construction Equipment in 2025, Lingong has been consolidating and strategising its way forward in an increasingly competitive global market. The brand SDLG is playing a critical part in Lingong’s ambitious expansion plans worldwide.
At CONEXPO, Lingong’s presence was highlighted by its core subsidiaries of SDLG – Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery – and aerial work platform manufacturer LGMG – Lingong Heavy Machinery. There were multiple product launches, including the debut of LGMG’s new global service brand, LGMG ProCare.
The US event was Lingong’s first global appearance as a consolidated brand. Building on its recent brand upgrade, the company unveiled an expanded construction equipment portfolio and a new global service platform to better support customers across North America, Europe and other key markets.
It was mid-2025 when Volvo CE finalised the sale of its 70% stake in SDLG to a fund predominantly owned by the Lingong Group which was the minority shareholder in the company at the time. According to the Swedish equipment maker, the deal ended a 19-year partnership that allowed Volvo CE to gain a foothold in the China market.
In a New Year message this past December, Zhizhong Wang, chairman of Lingong, said the past year had been a milestone in the history of Lingong Group’s development. He noted that SDLG had transitioned from a foreign-led operation to an independent development, ushering in a new stage of development. In the past year, the group has established a new corporate strategy.
While continuing to specialise and excel in its traditional product lines, the strategy is to expand into emerging markets and achieve product clustering, technological modernisation, efficient management and enterprise internationalisation. Globalisation and digital and intelligent technologies, that promote breakthrough operations, will be key elements of this strategy.
In 2024, Lingong Group reported healthy revenue of around US$5.7 billion. However, in his New Year message, Chairman Wang said he fully expects this to rise to around $14.5 billion by 2030. As part of this, Lingong will undertake the task of “building a new SDLG” in order to become one of the leading domestic and globally recognised major construction machinery groups.
But Chairman Wang also noted that, while SDLG is a wholly owned Chinese company now, Lingong’s goals will be achieved only with much more international cooperation down the line. “We aim to deeply integrate into the global industrial and value chains, forging advantages in a higher level of international cooperation and competition to secure our future,” he said.
“We will uphold the concept of sustainable development, actively fulfill our social responsibilities and strive to achieve a balance between economic and social benefits. We are deeply aware that the development of Lingong Group relies on the support of all sectors of society and the trust of our global customers.
“This will allow us to create greater value for our customers, deliver better returns for our shareholders, provide broader platforms for our employees and contribute more to social progress,” he said.
Three global manufacturing bases
SDLG currently operates three overseas manufacturing bases: a wheeled loader production facility in Bangalore, India; an excavator production base in São Paulo, Brazil; and a heavy machinery facility in Monterrey, Mexico, which is shared with the greater Lingong Group.
To back up its strategy, there were 20 SDLG models, including excavators and wheeled loaders, on display at CONEXPO. But importantly, the event was the global debut for five SDLG models: three skid steer loaders STR1000H, TV1100H and SR800H; two utility all-terrain vehicles U113H and the electric U203HEV.
“These five new models are the result of the group’s long-term vision – products developed through in-depth market research and close study of real-world customer operating conditions,” explains Guohua Miao, director of product and technology planning at the SDLG General Technology Research Institute. The institute is led by SDLG and jointly established with Shandong University, Linyi University and key enterprises across the industry chain. “The models represent key growth areas for SDLG in international markets. They are designed for construction, agriculture, landscaping, livestock management, urban jobsites and road maintenance applications.”
SDLG’s track skid steer and wheeled skid steer loaders have been particularly well received by customers thanks to their agility, compact footprint, powerful performance and wide range of compatible attachments. Market prospects for these machines are strong, says Mr Miao.
The stand-on skid steer is designed specifically for tight, confined spaces such as yards, gardens, farms, residential properties and indoor environments. It can pass through doorways as narrow as 915mm and with a variety of attachments, it meets diverse operating requirements. It, therefore, replaces manual labour in confined areas while improving both efficiency and safety.
The two UTV models, with their all-terrain capability, 4WD drivetrains and fully independent suspension, offer outstanding mobility and adaptability across a wide range of applications including agriculture, livestock, landscaping and construction.
“Together, these new products complement our existing lineup of mini excavators, compact excavators and compact wheeled loaders, says Mr Miao. “They form a complete solution for small-footprint jobsite operations, moving customers from single-machine ownership to integrated, scenario-based solutions. We will continue to expand our skid steer, stand-on skid steer and UTV ranges to address an even broader spectrum of specialised applications and working conditions.”
Mr Miao says that each of the five models represents the best-selling machine in its respective product category – skid steer loaders (track and wheel), stand-on skid steers and UTVs. “As we are newly entering these three segments with limited time and development resources, we prioritised launching the highest volume, most mainstream models in each category first. Over the next one to two years, we plan to introduce a full series of products across all three segments to address a wider range of customer needs.”
SR800H skid steer loader
A dual throttle control system supports constant power operation as well as loading, digging and other operating modes. Standard bucket capacity is 0.4m³. The SR800H, powered by a 49.9kW Yanmar engine, is compatible with attachments such as angle brooms, snow blades and pallet forks. There is a closed-circuit hydrostatic drive with wheel-side chain drive and four-wheel drive for reliable power transfer, smooth operation and excellent manoeuvrability.
Dump height is up to 2,390mm with a hinge pin height of 3,060mm at maximum lift. The loader is equipped with bidirectional electric self-levelling for improved balance and stability in loading, handling and transport operations.
Durable structural components combined with SDLG hydrostatic matching technology improves acceleration, operating efficiency and fuel economy. With its compact footprint, high agility, and wide range of attachments, the SR800H is well suited for road construction and maintenance, landscaping, municipal cleaning and snow removal.
TV1100H tracked skid steer loader
Powered by a Yanmar engine, there is a dual throttle control to improve adaptability across operating modes. An integrated enclosed ROPS cab with ventilation and heating has a high-back air suspension seat, a seven-inch LCD touchscreen display, multi-function electronic control joystick and keypad interface with selectable work modes. There is also one-touch start and auto start-stop for convenient operation.
Meanwhile, the SDLG-developed full electronic control system allows adjustable joystick sensitivity, skid steer compensation and bidirectional attachment levelling. The variable high-flow hydraulic system with customisable flow and pressure enables efficient operation of a wide range of attachments.
Dual-speed travel mode has a low speed for stable operation and high speed for faster site transitions. This is combined with cruise control for versatility across jobsite conditions.
STR1000H stand-on skid steer loader
Powered by a turbocharged Kubota D902-T engine, the compact STR1000H has a quick-attach coupler for rapid changeover of attachments on site.
The 250mm-wide tracks and an overall width of less than 915mm make it ideal for close-quarter operation on urban road sites. There is an integrated safety lockout system, operator presence control system and an anti-stall system to ensure safe and reliable operation during travel and work.
A four-section auxiliary valve with attachment has a flow rate of up to 55 litres per minute. This supports a wide range of attachments including mowers, augers, pallet forks and buckets, a true multi-purpose machine. The front upper cover tilts back at a wide angle and the operator platform can be rotated open.
U113H utility all-terrain vehicle
The U113H utility all-terrain vehicle is powered by a CAT three-cylinder engine with hydrostatic transmission. The unit’s operating weight is 1,480kg with a rated payload of 700kg and range up to 250km.
The front axle uses a limited-slip differential to reduce wheel slip and power loss. The rear axle features an in-housing differential lock activated by an electronic foot pedal and automatically disengages when released, preventing drivetrain damage from missed resets. The SDLG-developed automated manual transmission allows seamless switching between two-wheel drive and
four-wheel drive without stopping.
Electronic power steering automatically adjusts with vehicle speed, while the operator can set heavy-load and light-load modes. The steering wheel includes automatic return-to-centre, providing precise and smooth handling even on continuous curves.
Downhill travel does not require brake input. The hydraulic system provides engine braking for automatic speed control, eliminating runaway risk and preventing brake overheating on long descents. This is especially valuable in mining and mountainous conditions.
The cab is equipped with industrial-grade automatic air conditioning with strong cooling performance. A high-capacity alternator supports additional electrical equipment such as sprayers, small lifting devices and lighting systems.
U203HEV electric utility all-terrain vehicle
The unit’s 20kW electric motor with two-stage transmission delivers both high torque and high travel speed while a 24kWh traction battery supports long-range operation.
There is a limited-slip differential on the front axle and a rear axle with a differential lock. The rear lock is activated by an electronic foot pedal and provides an alert when engaged. Releasing the pedal disengages the lock to prevent drivetrain damage.
An SDLG-developed automated manual transmission allows switching between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive while in motion. The electronic power steering has speed-sensitive assistance. Drive modes can be set for heavy or light loads, and the steering wheel returns to centre automatically.
A high-capacity alternator supports a range of optional electric tools and attachments. An automatic downhill speed control uses hydraulic drag braking so the vehicle can descend safely without brake input, reducing the risk of runaway and preventing brake overheating on long slopes. A seatbelt warning system provides audible and visual alerts and limits vehicle speed if the belt is not fastened.
In response to carbon-peak and emissions-reduction goals and to help lower customers’ total cost of ownership over the full equipment lifecycle, Lingong will continue to increase investment in electric product R&D, delivering cleaner, more energy-efficient and new-energy equipment to its customers.
Founded in 1972, Lingong Group is one of China’s top five construction machinery manufacturers and has a mission statement of “Reliability in Action”. The group’s business portfolio spans five key segments: construction machinery, mining machinery, aerial work platforms, special machinery and components manufacturing. In 2024, Lingong Group reported revenue of around $5.7 billion. Since entering international markets in 2007, Lingong has expanded its presence to more than 140 countries and regions, supported by over 110 dealers and more than 60 subsidiaries, along with four R&D centres, five manufacturing bases and eight representative offices.
