CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT Nothing 'Mini' About Them

Jorge Huerta says it’s not uncommon to see mangled sidewalks or torn-up turf left in the wake of large excavators and heavy backhoes on a jobsite. “It’s an unintended consequence of moving heavy equipment,” explains the field superintendent for Fairco Developer Landscape Services, with offices in Scottsdale, Ariz. and San Diego, Calif.

But a smaller machine has been winning over fans with its versatility and light feet – the mini-excavator. Since its inception, contractors have been using it to drill holes, dig trenches, grasp large stones and perform a host of other tasks. Its ability to squeeze into tight areas can make it ideal for congested suburban neighborhoods. And because many mini-excavators move on rubber tracks instead of inflatable tires, operators can work without worrying about tearing up turf or suffering flat tires, Huerta says.

EXPANDED USES. Mini-excavators were first used in Japan, where they were developed for their ability to squeeze into work areas where their larger counterparts could not. “They had to have a way they could dig on one end, rotate around and be able to dump with the other,” says Mike Lumbers, senior product manager for compact utility products for Ditch Witch, Perry, Okla. “Since they were in between buildings, they didn’t want to have to be limited by the obstruction of the building. A mini-excavator can rotate in the footprint of its tracks. It just gives you more flexibility.”
  
Flexibility is what contractors are searching for, but flexibility comes with a price. Generally, the mini-excavators landscape contractors use weigh between .7 and 6 metric tons. That puts the engine at roughly between 12 and 50 horsepower. Prices for machines in that range are $12,000 to $60,000. Depending on the model, digging depth can be between 4 and 13 feet.
 
One of the reasons, besides size, that a mini-excavator can work in confined spaces has to do with “zero-tail spin.” In traditional excavators, the tail hangs over the tracks as the cabin spins to perform a task. Unless the machine has a counterweight installed, most mini-excavators leave little hanging over the tracks as the cabin rotates. “You’re not going to bang the tail end of the machine into an obstacle, like a wall or a tree,” says Matt Mumford, the North American mini-excavator industry manager for Caterpillar, Peoria, Ill. “Equally important, you’re not going to damage the siding on someone’s house. These machines can work right next to a building without the fear of having an impact.”
 
Not only can a mini-excavator operator move the boom by rotating the cabin, but many machines also feature a swing boom that can move independently from the cabin. “When you swing the boom all the way to one side, and then when you turn the house of the machine, it enables you to dig right up next to a foundation or a wall,” Mumford says.
 
Mini-excavators also feature hydraulics instead of cables that can stretch during use. “The nice thing about this is that the controls will feel the same over time as they did when they were new,” Mumford says.
 
“You have the constant pressure of the hydraulics, so as you move them, everything is already pre-loaded,” Lumbers adds. “That allows full force or pressure to be applied even at low RPMs. That gives you some options so you don’t have to have the machine at full flow to be able to get a good, smooth action and get full pressure for a side load or pick-up.”
 
Because of the weight distribution and rubber tracks, mini-excavators are also gentle on turf. “Many of them have less than 4 pounds per square inch of ground pressure,” Lumbers says. “Because you have a lot of track on the ground, you have good flotation and traction.”

Also, because the tracks help spread out the weight, “you can drive over a trench and you don’t have to worry about cave-ins nearly as much,” explains Jon Kuyers, compact solutions manager for Vermeer, Pella, Iowa, adding that rubber tracks are also good on sandier soil in Southeast locations like Florida.
 
The reasons for using mini-excavators are as varied as the number of attachments made for them.
 
They’re ideal for lifting and placing materials and clearing debris through the use of grappling devices such as hydraulic thumbs, Lumbers says. Trenching tools also can be attached to the end of the boom.
 
A trimmer also can be attached, “where you can actually trim trees when you’re sitting in your excavator,” Lumbers says, adding that augers, breakers and buckets are considered must-have attachments.
 
Mini-excavators are ideal during hardscaping, when digging the footings or foundation for a retaining wall, Kuyers points out.
 
Time saved is a high priority when deciding whether to use a mini-excavator. “It could probably reduce your labor in half, if not by three-fourths, compared to conventional digging,” Kuyers says.
 
While getting a job done quickly saves money, using a mini-excavator could also reduce worker’s compensation claims. “Digging trenches is back-breaking work,” Kuyers says. “When you’re doing it with a machine, you don’t have to worry.”

BUYERS’ GUIDE. There are a number of factors a contractor should consider when thinking about purchasing a mini-excavator. Two of the most important are digging depth and reach of the boom, Kuyers says.
 
Whether or not the mini-excavator will be used to load a truck is an important consideration, Kuyers explains. “If a truck is too high and the boom can’t reach it, it defeats the purpose,” he says. 
 
The attachments must also match the mini-excavator in terms of hydraulic flow, which is measured in gallons per minute. An ill-matched attachment and machine won’t work. “A lot of times a customer will rent an attachment and it’s not properly sized hydraulically, so the performance is poor,” Kuyers says.
 
Contractors should also look for cabins that offer a comfortable workspace, Lumbers says. “The whole layout of the operator’s cabin – how roomy is it and the visual obstructions – are all very important,” he says. “Many excavators used to have four cab posts that framed the windows. The trend now is two posts. That opens up your whole viewing area to where you’re operating the excavator.”
 
How the hydraulics perform under the stress of operation is also an essential factor to consider. “Can you get full power or full push at a very low idle so you can control the hydraulics very smoothly?” Lumbers asks, adding that smoothness in hydraulic performance is also important.
 
If a contractor is not really sure if a mini-excavator is a piece of equipment they need or aren’t sure they can afford it financially, rental is another avenue, Kuyers says. “If you notice you’re renting it more than two to three times a week, then you might want to consider buying it,” he says.
 
For contractors worried about return on investment, Kuyers advises them to think long-term. “With a machine, you’re actually replacing labor, so ask yourself, ‘How many workers and their salaries will it replace?’”
 
Herb Babman, owner of Matrix Concrete & Landscaping in Cedar Hill, Mo., says he rented mini-excavators a number of times over the years before he finally bought one. Babman, who has three employees, recommends them to contractors. “I can have three guys digging on one trench for a week and that mini-excavator can do it in about three hours,” he says. “Those are the kind of man-hours you can save.”