ForConstructionPros.com

Dan Rafferty, compact product manager, JCB, recalls a saying his grandfather impressed upon him: "Use the right tool for the job." While it was made in reference to hand tools, Rafferty believes the same philosophy applies to selecting construction equipment. "It seems simplistic," he admits. "And it is cliché. But it's also the right advice."

Case in point: If you have to dig a 5-ft.-deep hole, you don't need an 18,000-lb. excavator to do it. "If what you're trying to do can be done with a smaller machine, then use it," he says.

With this concept in mind, mid-size (midi) compact excavators, weighing roughly 10,000 to 17,000 lbs., are making sense in a growing number of applications. These small, yet powerful machines are especially suited for contractors who may be growing their business and are seeking an excavator that can handle heavier tasks than the smaller models they currently own.

"Productivity is higher with these machines when compared to smaller models," says Keith Rohrbacker, product manager, Kubota Tractor Corp. "They offer more power through tough soil, and need to be repositioned less often. Plus, compared to larger models, they have a lower initial investment with lower operating costs. And they require smaller tow vehicles, so they are easier to transport between jobsites."

Mid-size models also tend to tread more lightly on finished surfaces. "The bigger and heavier the machine, the more it will disturb any existing turf and soil," notes Bill Gearhart, product manager, Yanmar America.