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  1. Compact Equipment Magazine
  2. Mini Excavators

Mini Excavators

These Popular Mini Diggers Are Also Awesome Tool Carriers

The mini or compact excavator segment stands as one of the hottest machine markets in U.S. construction equipment. Its popularity stems from its versatility and size. Operators can easily transport mini excavators, and these machines handle a variety of onsite applications. These include digging basements, burying downspouts, compacting soil, trenching service lines or grappling obscenely big, decorative rocks. Manufacturers define these units as excavators under 8 metric tons. Designers equip them with an undercarriage and tracks, a long digging arm, and a cab or ROPS enclosure. With dig depths ranging between 5 and 15 ft+ and operating weights between 2,000 and 20,000 lbs, compact excavators maneuver into cramped worksites while delivering impressive digging power.

The 3.5- to 4-metric-ton class continues to drive growth in the compact hydraulic excavator market, especially in rental, while the 5- to 6-metric-ton size class gains momentum. Conventional-style compact excavators share the spotlight with minimum and zero tail swing designs. Zero tail swing (ZTS), which ensures the cab stays within the width of the tracks, remains a popular choice. Beyond their many features — such as enclosed cabs, backfill blades, extendable sticks and retractable undercarriages — mini excavators can equip a wide range of attachments to tackle tasks beyond digging, including hydraulic thumbs, breakers, specialty buckets, augers, grapples and mowers. Recent trends in the category include commercially available electric and hybrid variants as well as machine control systems for grading and digging. Examples of mini excavators include:

Takeuchi’s TB Mini Excavators | Caterpillar’s Next Gen Mini Excavators | Kubota’s K, KX and U Compact Excavators

What’s a Crawler Skid Excavator? A Mini Excavator, Track Loader and Telehandler in One
Peter Bigwood
February 10, 2022
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Mini Excavators Cat 305 excavator
The Ex Factors: Here Are the Major Trends Pushing Compact Excavator Purchases in 2022
February 8, 2022
Mini Excavators
Takeuchi Introduces New TB20e Electric Compact Excavator; Ships First 100 Units to United Rentals
February 2, 2022
Mini Excavators Doosan DX50 excavator
Just Right: Find the Perfect Mini Excavator for You with These Buying Tips
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Mini Excavators
Five Ways Owning an Electric Machine Is Different from Owning a Diesel Machine
January 31, 2022
Mini Excavators
KOBELCO USA Introduces Next Generation SK55SRX-7

KOBELCO Construction Machinery USA is pleased to introduce the new SK55SRX-7 mini excavator model for North America. KOBELCO understands the...

January 27, 2022
Mini Excavators
Kubota Announces Two New ‘Small but Mighty’ Compact Excavators

Kubota Tractor Corporation just announced two new additions to its robust excavator lineup – the K008-5 conventional tail swing excava...

January 20, 2022
Mini Excavators
JCB North America Launches New 50Z-1 Excavator

JCB North America has introduced the 50Z-1, zero tail-swing compact excavator, its latest addition to the extensive range of compact excavat...

January 13, 2022
Mini Excavators Hitachi excavator
The 15 Best Compact Excavator Stories from 2021

Defined as excavators under 6 metric tons of operating weight (some brands go as high as 10 tons), compact excavators look just like their b...

December 20, 2021
Mini Excavators
Let’s Talk Mini Excavators: Three Manufacturers Offer Advice and Share Favorite Models

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of mini excavators at Compact Equipment. I mean, just click here and see how much we talk ab...

December 16, 2021
Mini Excavators
Editor at Large: Doosan Relaunches Mini Excavator Line at Tucson Media Event, Highlights Hyundai Acquisition

Arizona soil can be unyielding earth. The sunbaked clay and caliche of the Sonoran Desert is certainly not kind to bucket teeth, yet Doosan&...

December 7, 2021
Mini Excavators
Yanmar CE Introduces Electric Mini Excavator Prototype

Yanmar Compact Equipment has a long and well-deserved reputation for delivering fuel efficient and sustainable engine technology. Now, the c...

November 23, 2021
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