Kanga Loaders is an Australian brand of compact utility loaders. The company's headquarters are in

Yatala, Queensland Yatala ( ) is a suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the , Yatala had a population of 1,405 people. Geography The Albert River bounds the suburb to the north and west. Etymology The suburb takes its name from a prop ...

with 10 branches Australia-wide. Originally owned by the Jaden Group of companies and called the Dingo, Kanga Loaders is owned by Digga Australia with 6 series of stand-on Mini Skid Steer Loaders and assorted attachments.

History

1980s
The Kanga Loader was originally developed by John Alan Porter and Doug McIlwraith in 1980 as a simple motorized wheelbarrow and it was not until 1981 that the gas engine model painted red and white was released to the public. Two of the loaders manufactured in this period were still working in a privately owned rental yard and another in a North West Queensland opal mine. In 1985 there was a partnership breakup one of them bought the manufacturing rights and started manufacturing the machines under the name of Dingo (not to be confused with Dingo Australia that manufacturers Dingo Mini Diggers in Queensland) with the yellow and black painted "Dingo 1000" after the remaining partners had declined to do so. Porter and McIlwraith re-branded the company as Jaden Loaders. In 1988 the name was changed again to what it is today the "Kanga" loader. This was followed a year later, after extensive product development, by being awarded an "Australian Design Award". 1990s
In 1997 the Kanga Loader was introduced into the United States painted green and gold, this was when the standard colour scheme emerged from the previously black and yellow loader. Early 2000s
In 2000 a new model was released called the "Kanga Kid". This was followed in 2005 by the release of the MAXI 8 Series at the National Construction Exhibition in 2005. The Maxi 8 Series was a model available at the same time as the Kanga Kid and 5,6,7 Series. At this time they also had a Remote Control Loader named the D800R which was able to be used in a 200-metre radio range. Late 2000s
2006 saw a new development in the 5,6,7 Series of the Kanga Loader being redesigned and engineered to adhere to government guidelines for Workplace Health and Safety. This was followed in 2008 by a new model of the Kanga Kid being released, and the first mention of the loaders being available in both Track and Wheel. Early 2009 saw the announcement that the assets and brand KANGA had been acquired by Digga Machinery Attachments. Late 2010s
Although still referred to as Kanga Loaders, the business name changed to Kanga Loaders Global in order to strengthen their focus on the export market after feeling the effects of the GFC. Also in 2013, Kanga Loaders moved into its own manufacturing facility in Yatala, QLD. 2020 Kanga Loaders has expanded their business to the United States, with a product launch at th
American Rental Association Show
in February 2020 in Orlando, Florida. Th
Kanga Loaders USA
facility is located in Dyersville, Iowa.

Current range of Kanga Miniloaders

2 Series Studio Bucket.jpg, Kanga 2 Series Mini Kid Loader DW625-2.jpg, Kanga Loaders 6 Series Mini Loader DW625-3.jpg, 6 Series Diesel Kanga Mini Loader with Power Head and Auger DT725 studio.jpg, Kanga 7 Series Track Mini Loader DT825.jpg, Kanga 8 Series with Power Head and Auger

Awards

* 1989 - Winner of Australian Design Award * 2004 - Winner Premier Queensland Export Awards - Small to Medium Manufacturer * 2004 - Finalist Australian Export Award * 2007 - Highly Commended, Innovative Product of the Year; Manufacturing - Endeavour Award, Manufacturers Monthly * 2014 - Gold Coast Mayors Innovation Award

References

External links

*{{Official website, http://www.kangaloader.com Construction equipment manufacturers of Australia Manufacturing companies based on the Gold Coast, Queensland 1980 establishments in Australia Companies established in 1980 Excavators