ONE OF the 'surprise' show day launches at LAMMA was a new range of agricultural JCB Loadall telescopic handlers.

The new Series III Loadalls are the culmination of a succession of significant product upgrades over the past six years by JCB and the big feature in these newbies is a 'class-leading cab interior space, noise levels, climate control and all-round visibility'.

The successful Command Plus cab is already a farm favourite and now the Loadalls get the benefit of it high-end ergonomics which follow exhaustive end-user consultation on topics such as visibility, comfort, control and practical demands.

It is roomier, has a neater control layout and provides considerably more dedicated storage space. Visibility to the front wheels and beyond has been transformed by a low-set dash panel and upwards to a raised bucket or fork by uninterrupted glazing.

There's also increased lift performance for all 6, 7 and 9.5m models in the telehandler line-up, which can also come with optional hydraulic levelling adjustment at the front axle for precision load placement.

The range has four models with up to 200kg increased load capacity over their predecessors – the 6m lift 538-60, 7m 532-70 and 542-70, and the 9.5m high-lift 536-95. The heavy-lift, bulk handling 560-80 which has an 8m lift height and six-tonne lift capacity remain the same, and the 536-70 LP continues unchanged with its low profile cab.

There are AGRI (including AGRI Smart Power and AGRI TorqueLock 4), AGRI Plus, AGRI Super and AGRI Pro variants as before, providing a choice of features and equipment levels, and options covering LED lighting packages, towing hitches and front-end implements from the extensive JCB AGRI range of attachments.

Power units are also unchanged – the 4.4-litre and 4.8-litre JCB EcoMAX engines serve up a choice of 55kW, 81kW, 93kW and 108kW (75hp, 109hp, 125hp and 145hp) outputs. But there's a new 40kph powershift transmission with four-speed torque converter lock-up for the 109hp engine to provide more performance and better fuel economy than the regular 30kph four-speed transmission.

The six-speed JCB Torque Lock auto powershift and unique JCB DualTech VT hydrostatic/powershift transmissions, which are both capable of 40kph, continue unchanged.