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  1. Compact Equipment Magazine
  2. Articles by: Richard Ries

Author Archives for Richard Ries

Richard Ries has been writing for the construction industry since 1995, following a career in sales. He uses his full skill set to translate technical topics into features and benefits that can be understood and evaluated by an audience of contractors, equipment operators, property managers, homeowners and others. Much of his writing covers hydraulics, electronics, engines and other systems, but he also explains such diverse topics as succession planning, workforce development and workplace mental health issues. He began his writing career in 1985 writing about motorcycles, followed by writing for the bicycle industry.

Articles by Richard Ries

Attachments Yanmar CTL and auger
Explaining Attachment Interface Pitfalls and Opportunities

Compact equipment is revered for its versatility; the variations of attachments and carriers seem almost endless. The tricky thing is gettin...

May 27, 2026
Attachments New Holland skid steer
Sourcing the Right Attachment to Get the Most Out of Your Compact Machine

One of the main appeals of compact equipment is its amazing versatility. There’s a wide range of buckets, augers, grapples, thumbs and oth...

May 26, 2026
Mini Excavators Volvo ECR40
Detailing Boom Options for Mini Excavators

Mini excavators are remarkably versatile machines, and most are well suited with the standard boom. However, other options do exist — furt...

March 30, 2026
Mini Excavators Yanmar mini excavator
How Mini Excavator Tech Brings New Hires Up to Speed Quickly

Mini excavators are prized for their efficiency and versatility, but getting the most performance and value from them requires skilled opera...

March 23, 2026
Attachments future excavator
AI for Attachments Will Open a New World of Performance

Let’s start by understanding the concept of AI for attachments. The power of AI is found in its ability to synthesize output from a wide a...

February 16, 2026
Compressors Vanair compressor
How to Navigate Tow-Behind, Truck-Mount and Other Air Compressor Options Without Overthinking It

Air compressors have perhaps more choices than any other tool … and that’s a problem. When we’re presented with too many choices, it c...

February 12, 2026
Wheel Loaders Wacker_Neuson_WL28_Snow_Blower
The Ultimate Guide to Using Small Articulated Loaders in Snow Removal

Photo provided by Wacker Neuson. Small articulated loaders are nimble, capable machines well suited for snow removal if they are properly co...

September 22, 2025
Compressors bobcat compressors with worker
Tips for Renting Portable, Trailered Compressors

Photo provided by Bobcat. When you need a compressor, nothing else will do. We spoke with two industry professionals to give you the informa...

September 15, 2025
Business and Software technology overlaid excavator tech future big excavator
Why Some Technology Just Isn’t Meant for Compact Equipment

Photo credit: Igor Borisenko | Dreamstime.com Tech That Probably Won’t Trickle Down Anytime Soon to Small Earthmoving Equipment We cov...

July 31, 2025
Engines JCB hydrogen powered backhoe working with a hydrogen excavator
Hydrogen Combustion vs. Fuel Cells: Where Small Construction Machines Fit into the H2 Movement

Photo provided by JCB. Will Hydrogen Ever Power Compact Equipment? There are two primary ways of using hydrogen (H2) to power compact equipm...

July 29, 2025
OEM Systems Mini excavator model digital specs on the street computer future technology
Lesser Specs: Understanding the Numbers that Define Your Machine’s Power, Performance and Limitations

Horsepower. Lift capacity. Price. Maybe hydraulic flow and pressure. These are often the only specs that potential buyers ask their equipmen...

June 19, 2025
Attachments EZG Mobile Mixer on a compact track loader with a worker
Skid Steer Concrete Mixers Have Great ROI and Are Less Niche Than You May Think

Skid steer/track loader concrete mixers bring great value to their customers. We spoke with two key manufacturers about these attachments to...

June 17, 2025
Attachments bobcat-drop-hammer attachment on a compact track loader
The Advantages of Drop Hammer Attachments for Efficient Demolition

“The drop hammer is, in my opinion, very much underappreciated.” So says Travis Kidder, product manager, Bobcat attachments. It&...

May 20, 2025
OEM Systems JCB-electric-mini-excavator
Trick-Down Tech: The Impressive Automation, Analytics and Operational Systems Migrating to Smaller Machines

It takes money to develop technology, and those R&D costs are better applied to large equipment that costs more. Eventually the R&D ...

April 23, 2025
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