This week at CONEXPO, Prinoth officially launched its new flagship Panther T23r, the industry’s largest and most technologically advanced rotating crawler carrier. The new model is the first to feature Prinoth’s PowerForce undercarriage, a breakthrough design underpinning more than 20 patent applications, delivering unmatched terrain performance and operational efficiency.
The Panther T23r carries the largest payload at 22.5 short tons while maintaining compact dimensions of 9.8 ft (3 m) wide, 10.8 ft (3.175 m) tall and 40 tons total weight. Its continuous 360-degree rotating upper structure and rounded Hardox steel dump box with telescopic cylinder enable precise material placement in confined spaces where conventional haulers cannot operate.
The PowerForce undercarriage represents a fundamental advancement in crawler carrier design. Where competitors often rely on rigid walking beam systems that transfer every bump directly to the operator and cargo, PowerForce absorbs terrain variations while maximizing power transfer to the ground. The result is a machine that works harder, travels faster, saves fuel and significantly improved operator comfort.
Adaptive Independent Suspension System: The PowerForce undercarriage positions eight wheels on independent arms, each providing 7 in. of travel through hydro-pneumatic shock absorbers that automatically adjust to load conditions, absorbing terrain impacts and protecting the operator. This dual-setting system maintains consistent ride quality whether the machine is empty at 41,200 pounds or fully loaded at 85,400 pounds. Strategic weight distribution places 60 percent of the load on center wheels, improving zero-turn capability and reducing ground pressure.
During a press conference on Monday, Prinoth highlighted the new machine. Frank M. Gangi, product manager for the Prinoth Panther, highlighted this unique design. “You can imagine what this does for confidence when you’re driving over difficult terrain. This keeps the track on the ground where it’s needed, to provide you the best traction possible in many different environments. Along with that, these shock absorbers have dual settings,” Gangi said. “We’ve got one for when it’s empty, and one for when it’s full. You can imagine the weight of this machine is about 45,000 lb. It’s almost double that when it’s fully loaded. So having one shock absorber to handle this is very difficult. We have two settings that gives you a consistent ride dynamic regardless of whether you loaded or unloaded. This is the overall ride comfort that also helps maintain the machine. So all those shocks are absorbing the impacts, not the machine, and not the operator.”
Oblong Track Configuration: Prinoth engineers developed an oval track shape that reduces bend points by 50% and doubles the bend radius compared to conventional designs. This geometry minimizes energy loss at each track revolution, transferring more engine power directly to vehicle motion. The design also increases ground contact area for improved flotation in soft conditions and enhanced traction on slopes.
Precision Track Alignment: The PowerForce system achieves track pitch precision 10 times greater than standard crawler carriers. Engineered with precise link spacing, with an auto-centering “fox head” profile, the planetary drives deliver smooth sprocket operation, engaging 15 teeth simultaneously versus conventional single-point contact. Its roller and wheel configuration virtually eliminates de-tracking, even under extreme maneuvering, minimizing downtime and extending track life.
Automatic Track Tensioning: A dual-action tensioning system continuously optimizes track tension based on operating conditions. The system reduces tension when the machine is lightly loaded to minimize component wear, then increases tension automatically when additional traction is required. This real-time adjustment extends undercarriage service life while ensuring maximum performance across all terrain types.
“Automatic track tensioning has been out there for a long time, but it’s a constant tension that is kept. With the intelligence system, we look at what’s being done at the undercarriage level. If there’s a lot of torque happening, that tension increases, giving you the best performance possible,” Gangi said. “If there’s low torque that suspend that tension reduces, and that really helps with the durability of the undercarriage, the tracks and all the components, because that’s where a lot of the stress happens, is when it’s under tension.”
Advanced Dump Box Design: The rounded shape of the Hardox steel deep-section box promotes smooth material flow and reduces carryback, especially with sticky soils and aggregates. Prinoth moved the dump box closer to the undercarriage centerline compared with traditional designs, optimizing its center of gravity and balancing loads across the suspension and central bearing, which helps reduce stress, weight and complexity in the frame.
The Panther T23r also features Prinoth’s new cabin with a near center-mounted operator position that provides enhanced visibility to the right side where ground personnel typically work. Standard equipment includes an air-ride seat, 7-inch touchscreen display, ergonomic joystick controls, for dump and rotate, intuitive steering wheel and foot throttle drive system, sun visor and cruise control for reduced operator fatigue during long shifts. An optional buddy seat is also available.
“Customers are pushing farther into remote, sensitive and high-consequence environments,” said Gangi. “With the Panther T23r, we set out to give them a machine that feels completely in control on those sites, with a payload and undercarriage that lets them haul more in fewer passes while protecting the jobsite and the machine.”
Following the ceremony, the Panther T23r will be on full display in the Prinoth booth the rest of this week in booth # W43845
The Prinoth Panther T23r is now available through Prinoth’s global network of dealers and distributors available here prinoth-crawlercarriers.com/en/find-a-dealer.
