John Deere Marks 50th Anniversary Of Deere Loader Backhoes

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This year, John Deere is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launch of its first loader backhoe, the 50-horsepower JD310. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

It was in 1971 when John Deere released its first loader backhoe, the 50-horsepower (37.3-kilowatt) JD310, which was built in the company’s Dubuque Works facility. Deere says that machine’s descendant, the 310L, is still a cornerstone of its backhoe family today, as the manufacturer celebrates the product line’s 50th anniversary. With an eye toward the next few decades, Deere has recently begun testing the Deere E-Power, its first-ever battery-electric backhoe loader, in cooperation with electricity, natural gas, and clean energy provider National Grid.

Committed To Innovation

To commemorate five decades of loader backhoe innovation, Deere is making a replica toy model of the JD310 that proudly displays a special 50th anniversary icon available for sale on its online store.

“This anniversary celebrates half a century of reliability and providing customer value stemming from the introduction of our backhoe lineup in 1971,” says John Deere Construction & Forestry Product Manager Brian Hennings. “We are proud of the advancements we’ve made to our backhoe loader line in the last 50 years and are committed to providing our customers with continued innovation.”

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As Deere looks back on 50 years of loader backhoe innovation, the company is hard at work perfecting its first battery-electric backhoe, the Deere E-Power. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

A New Era

Deere’s current backhoe loader lineup includes the 310L, 310L EP, 310SL, 310SL HL, 315SL, 410L, and 710L compact, midsize, and large models. Deere says its backhoes have continually evolved to meet customers’ changing needs, holding up the newly redesigned 103-hp (76.8-kW) 310SL and the 69-hp (51.5-kW) 310L EP that was introduced in 2012 as apt examples.

The 310SL makes operators 16% more productive in trenching applications as compared to the previous design, Deere says. The backhoe uses PCLS (pressure-compensated load-sensing) hydraulics and provides enhanced multifunction ability, smoother machine control, and up to 15% increased craning capacity through its Lift Mode. For its part, the 310L EP features a redesigned powertrain complete with synchromesh manual transmission and 3.3-liter Yanmar engine that meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 emissions regulations without any external aftertreatment components.

Deere says the upcoming electric Deere E-Power will provide performance similar to that of the 100-hp (74.5-kW) diesel-powered 310L, but will produce zero tailpipe emissions.

Source: Deere & Company