August 17, 2026
Development Library
At construction sites, expectations continue to rise - not only for greater safety and productivity, but also for reduced operator fatigue and more consistent work quality. A track loader is expected to handle a wide range of tasks, from digging and loading to grading and material handling, making versatility and the ability to adapt to the unique demands of each jobsite more important than ever.
Since its founding, Takeuchi has been committed to building machines from the perspective of the jobsite, continually pursuing solutions to the challenges faced by operators in the field. But the ideal machine for the jobsite continues to evolve with the times. In addition to the high levels of basic performance expected of construction equipment, customers now seek greater compatibility with ICT, customizable controls tailored to individual operators, intuitive interfaces, and the potential for future automation and remote operation. The value expected from construction equipment has expanded significantly.
To meet these changing demands, Takeuchi took on a new technological challenge while preserving the natural, intuitive operating feel it has cultivated over many years. The result is the TL11R3 - the first Takeuchi track loader to feature an electric-over-hydraulic (EH) joystick controls.
The TL11R3 uses EH control to operate the lift boom, attachments, and travel through electronic signals. This delivers quick response and precise control, while also enabling features that are difficult to achieve with hydraulic pilot controls, including adjustable control sensitivity and automatic control functions.
But this development was about far more than simply changing the control system. The greatest challenge was to preserve the natural, intuitive operating feel that customers have come to value in Takeuchi machines, while creating new value made possible by EH control. That became the central theme of the TL11R3 development.
Hydraulic pilot control uses hydraulic pressure generated by the operator's joystick movements to control functions such as the lift boom and travel. It provides the smooth, natural operating feel characteristic of hydraulic pilot control - a quality that has defined the intuitive operation of Takeuchi track loaders for many years.
EH control detects joystick movements as electronic signals and uses those signals to control hydraulic functions. In addition to fast response and precise control, it enables a wide range of functions made possible through electronic control, including adjustable control sensitivity and automatic control features.
TL11R3 Development Team
To meet the needs of North America, the world’s largest market for track loaders, we adopted EH control for the first time on a Takeuchi track loader. EH control offers significant potential, including greater flexibility for future feature development, compatibility with a wide range of attachments, and the potential for future automation and remote operation. Another major advantage is the ability to adjust operating characteristics to suit the operator’s skill level and preferences.
At the same time, the natural and intuitive operating feel that customers have valued in Takeuchi machines for many years was something we could never compromise on. Our core concept was to preserve that familiar feel while delivering new value made possible by EH control.
Developing the TL11R3 was a process of trial and error to achieve the operating feel Takeuchi had envisioned.
After completing the prototype, the development team sent the monitor machine to North America and visited jobsites with local sales representatives. They listened directly to operators and continued refining the machine based on their feedback.
TL11R3 Development Team
Our goal was an operating feel that is as natural as using your own hands and feet. We wanted the machine to respond naturally and intuitively to the operator's commands, without requiring conscious effort. That is the kind of operating feel Takeuchi has valued for many years.
The smooth, natural feel of hydraulic pilot control has a significant impact on operator satisfaction and is one of the reasons Takeuchi track loaders have earned such a strong reputation.
At the same time, the feel of some EH-controlled machines on the market was different from the natural feel we wanted to achieve. While EH control can improve responsiveness and precision, it also requires careful tuning of how the controls feel and how the machine responds to operator input.
Even after we completed the initial TL11R3 prototype, the basic control performance had been achieved, but the operating feel had not yet reached the level we were aiming for.
We sent the monitor machine to North America and visited jobsites together with our local sales representatives. We listened directly to operators and repeatedly fine-tuned details such as control sensitivity and the machine’s response characteristics.
We incorporated feedback from the field and input from our sales representatives throughout the development process, making improvements along the way. After a long process of trial and error, we finally reached a point where we could confidently say, “We believe our customers will be satisfied with it.”
Once you operate the TL11R3 yourself, we believe you will immediately recognize that, while featuring EH control, it retains the natural and intuitive operating feel that has always been characteristic of Takeuchi.
The TL11R3 marks a new chapter for Takeuchi’s track loader lineup, with a refreshed concept and a focus on delivering new value. While building on the operating feel that customers have valued for many years, we set out to create a track loader that meets the changing needs of the market and our customers.
The TL11R3 was developed by listening to the market and addressing each challenge along the way. At the heart of its development was Takeuchi’s long-standing commitment to “building machines from the field up.”
TL11R3 Development Team
The TL11R3 was a major challenge as we looked to evolve our track loader lineup and move beyond its existing concept. Throughout the development process, we went back to the fundamentals of Takeuchi’s approach to manufacturing: listening closely to the needs of the market and our customers and pursuing the value they truly need.
What we wanted to achieve with the TL11R3 was more than simply adding new technology. While featuring EH control, we wanted to create an operating feel that would make customers think, the moment they got in the machine, ‘This is a Takeuchi.’
No matter how many new features or performance improvements we add, we must never lose sight of what our long-standing customers value. The operating feel and ease of use we have developed over many years are qualities we want to carry forward.
At the same time, technology is constantly evolving. By making the most of the possibilities EH control offers while continuing to listen to the voice of the field, we want to keep evolving our track loaders to meet the needs of the next generation. That is what we set out to achieve with the TL11R3, and we believe it is a challenge that will help shape the next generation of Takeuchi.
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