[sparkycuda]

Track loaders were very popular up to about 1990, then excavators began to dominate. Not confirmed yet, but I've heard CAT will be dropping track loaders in the near future. Komatsu dropped them about 8 years ago (at least in North America and Europe). As the construction market changes and shrinks, fewer models will be available from everyone. Generally, excavators are more versatile than track loaders, so the loaders will gradually fade. Same thing has happened with big dozers. In the 1980's Komatsu had over 300 large dozers running in Kentucky alone. Today, only about 20 large dozers are sold in the state - all brands - each year. No telling what new machines may appear over the next 20 years, but they will be high tech!

Ken