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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

Excavator Tracks: Live Long and Prosper
CE Contributing Authors
August 25, 2011
Read Article
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Mini Ex Engine Maintenance
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Historical Construction Equipment Association Announces 2011 Convention and Old Equipment Expo
May 2, 2011
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Northern Exposure

It’s often said that Americans are benevolently ignorant about Canada, while Canadians are malevolently well informed about the United Sta...

April 15, 2011
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Takeuchi Introduces World’s First Fully Electric Hydraulic Excavator (Video)

Once again Takeuchi Mfg. introduces another world’s first. On two previous occasions, both at separate CONEXPO-CON/AGG shows, Takeuchi...

April 7, 2011
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Caterpillar Chairman Says Free Trade Agreements Would Increase Exports, Support Jobs in the United States

Caterpillar Inc. chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman urged Congress to take action immediately to enact pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) be...

April 4, 2011
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CONEXPO Cometh: Navman Integrated On- and Off-Road Fleet Tracking

Telematics has been a buzz word in the construction industry for the last few years. Tracking construction fleets, geofencing security and s...

March 31, 2011
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Buying a Mini Ex Online

The worldwide equipment marketplace is expansive, and the internet is an important tool when looking to purchase equipment....

March 2, 2011
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Cat Upgrades Small Loaders and Mini Excavators at GIE+EXPO

As the sun was rising, the cool Louisville air began to warm up at the outdoor Caterpillar booth at GIE+EXPO (the largest landscape trade sh...

November 3, 2010
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Wacker Neuson and Caterpillar Sign Strategic Alliance for Mini Excavators

Continents are colliding, partnerships are forming and next generation machines are being designed using the expertise of two bigwigs of glo...

August 1, 2010
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