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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

Doosan DX42 Mini Ex Insights: We Discuss the Dynamic Small Digger Sector with Doosan’s Aaron Kleingartner
CE Staff
March 11, 2021
Read Article
Mini Excavators Volvo mini excavator
Volvo CE Adds Two New Short-Swing Compact Excavators in North America
March 10, 2021
Mini Excavators John Deere 35G
Mini Ex Insights: John Deere’s Justin Steger Talks About the Evolving Compact Excavator Market
March 8, 2021
Mini Excavators Case mini excavator digging dirt
Mini Ex Insights: Case CE Expert Brad Mace Discusses the Evolving Compact Excavator Market
March 2, 2021
Mini Excavators
LiuGong North America Launches 1.8-Metric-Ton Mini Excavator
February 24, 2021
Mini Excavators
The Ultimate Mini Ex Overview: A Comprehensive Analysis of the 2021 Compact Excavator Market

Editor’s Note: The 2024 version of this story is right here, but this version is nearly as useful. Enjoy either way! Excavators are co...

February 22, 2021
Mini Excavators
Here Are Four Electric Mini Excavators for Your Perusal

Off-highway equipment brands continue to invest in machines that plug in to power up. Electric-powered mini excavators are still in their in...

February 15, 2021
Mini Excavators
Why Rent? Bobcat’s Jason Boerger Explains a Few Benefits of Rental

Thinking about renting a mini excavator? Jason Boerger, Bobcat’s marketing manager — excavators, shares five benefits of equipme...

February 11, 2021
Mini Excavators Takeuchi excavator
Dig Tips: Must-Know Trench and Load Techniques for Compact Excavator Operators

Mini excavators are a popular addition to any construction or landscaping equipment fleet, thanks to their small size, versatility and ease ...

February 9, 2021
Mini Excavators
Mecalac Offers New Boom Optimized for Excavation and Loading Applications

Mecalac, a leading global designer, manufacturer and distributor of compact construction equipment for urban environments, offers a new conf...

January 29, 2021
Mini Excavators
Kubota Introduces Technology-Forward Next Gen Compact Excavators

Kubota Tractor Corporation recently announced two new compact excavators and a new hydraulic quick coupler available at dealerships this qua...

January 27, 2021
Mini Excavators
KOBELCO USA Introduces Next Generation ED160BR-7 Blade Runner

While we mainly cover smaller equipment, sometimes the big machines are just too cool not to share. For example, the recently-introduced enh...

January 19, 2021
« Previous 1 … 19 20 21 22 23 … 58 Next »
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