In 2022 Develon introduced its very first crawler dozer, the 140-horsepower DD100.
Its second dozer to market is the DD130, a D4-sized machine that checks in at 145 horsepower and has a six-way power-tilt angle blade, standard electro-hydraulic controls, and a heavier than usual frame for its size.
It isn’t often that a major category like dozers sees the arrival of a new OEM, so the DD130 was an easy choice for a Construction Equipment Field Test.
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 in Wilmington, Illinois, hosted the test on what was a sterling November day. Conditions could be called “medium sloppy” just 48 hours after a significant rain.
Operator/instructors and dozer experts Josh Zimmer and John Ambrose did the honors, which included fine grading, slot dozing, and operation on a slope.
Let's see what the Local 150 pros thought of this market newcomer...
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Frank Raczon has covered and influenced the equipment industry for 35 years, including 15 years as senior editor of Construction Equipment, and marketing, advertising, and public relations work with the industry's top manufacturers. In addition to authoring "Caterpillar: Modern Earthmoving Marvels" (Motorbooks, 2015), he has won numerous awards in his career, highlighted by nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Business Marketing Association, and BtoB magazine. Raczon has also won a number of awards from publishing peer groups such as ASBPE and TABPI.