John Deere is celebrating 50 years of backhoe loaders that first started with the introduction of the JD310 model in 1971. Today, the Deere 310L, the latest generation of the original model, remains a cornerstone within the John Deere backhoe lineup as a result of the continuous improvement to the design and efficient performance.
“This anniversary celebrates half a century of reliability and providing customer value stemming from the introduction of our backhoe lineup in 1971,” said Brian Hennings, product manager, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “We are proud of the advancements we’ve made to our backhoe loader line in the last 50 years."
Today, additional models, such as the 310SL and 310L EP continue to advance to meet changing customer needs. The newly redesigned 310SL machine now includes pressure-compensated load-sensing (PCLS) hydraulics, the 310SL provides better multifunctioning, smoother machine control, and up to 15 percent greater craning capacity with Lift Mode, according to the company.
The 310L EP also features a Yanmar 3.3L engine. The design minimizes machine complexity and the number of parts that must be maintained by the customer, resulting in lower total cost of ownership and enhanced uptime.
John Deere has also begun testing its first battery electric backhoe loader with National Grid, an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company. Aimed at lowering its carbon footprint and promoting sustainability, the Deere E-Power backhoe loader targets the performance of a 100-horsepower 310L diesel-powered machine, but with zero tailpipe emissions.
Helping commemorate the anniversary, John Deere has created a replica toy model of the original JD310 backhoe loader to help customers celebrate the 50th anniversary at home. Available for purchase in late summer, at johndeerestore.com, each model will feature a unique 50th anniversary icon.
