Mini Excavators Stretch Comfort and Maintainability

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Created: December 20, 2010

Operator comfort, ease of service and long-term value top the list of priorities on today's compact excavator designs

Today there is a place for both zero tail swing and conventional compact excavators.
Today there is a place for both zero tail swing and conventional compact excavators.
There are some buyers who are still looking for the most basic, lowest-cost machine available, but many are opting to rent, lease or purchase a machine with a higher level of features to allow more...
There are some buyers who are still looking for the most basic, lowest-cost machine available, but many are opting to rent, lease or purchase a machine with a higher level of features to allow more productive operation and greater versatility when operating attachments.
For rental companies, machine uptime is tantamount to success, so equipment that is simple to service is top on the list of concerns.
For rental companies, machine uptime is tantamount to success, so equipment that is simple to service is top on the list of concerns.
"[Wacker Neuson] pins and bearings are purposely designed to be oversized. On high-stressed bearings, they are supported by replaceable hardened-steel bushings with special machined grease grooves...
"[Wacker Neuson] pins and bearings are purposely designed to be oversized. On high-stressed bearings, they are supported by replaceable hardened-steel bushings with special machined grease grooves. These bearings, pins and bushings mean the machines can withstand heavy use and many types of applications," says Jay Badhuin, compact equipment product manager at Wacker Neuson.
Today's compact excavators, like this Wacker Neuson model, are built for durability in order to provide a higher return on investment.
Today's compact excavators, like this Wacker Neuson model, are built for durability in order to provide a higher return on investment.
With a zero tail swing compact excavator, the operator can get closer to walls and other obstacles and still rotate fully without damaging the machine or the structure.
With a zero tail swing compact excavator, the operator can get closer to walls and other obstacles and still rotate fully without damaging the machine or the structure.
Features that improve the operator's experience are more important than ever as equipment owners look toward increasing long-term value.
Features that improve the operator's experience are more important than ever as equipment owners look toward increasing long-term value.
Conventional tail swing models have a smaller footprint, so they can fit in tighter spots - a benefit highly valued by many end-users.
Conventional tail swing models have a smaller footprint, so they can fit in tighter spots - a benefit highly valued by many end-users.
"What we're seeing now is an effort to continually build on quality and reliability and durability. Owners are striving for the optimal value," says Tom Connor, excavator product specialist at...
"What we're seeing now is an effort to continually build on quality and reliability and durability. Owners are striving for the optimal value," says Tom Connor, excavator product specialist at Bobcat.

Compact excavators have become an indispensable tool on today's jobsites and that promises to continue. While no drastic changes are expected in terms of performance, the goal of increasing value holds many benefits for equipment owners. “We’re not seeing huge increases in bucket force, for example,” notes Connor at Bobcat. “What we’re seeing now is an effort to continually build on quality and reliability and durability. Owners are striving for the optimal value.”

And that value is based in part on what used to be considered luxuries, but are now becoming must-have features. “As the economic situation has played out, owners are putting more thought in the process of buying a machine. They’re looking at the cost of ownership, and when they go to trade it out or sell it, a loaded-up machine will more than pay for those options,” Connor says.

He notes this logic applies especially to machines in a rental inventory. When customers begin to expect a certain level of quality and comfort from the machines they use, they seek that same type of machine when they need to rent. At that point, the small savings that results from going with a stripped-down model does not translate into long-term gains. As Connor states, “Even though your machine might be cheaper, if it doesn’t rent, it’s more expensive.”