Mini or compact excavators are fast becoming the excavator of choice for many contractors across Australia. Given that each mini excavator model offers different perks and each is designed to perform different kinds of jobs, you should make sure you choose the right machine for your particular job.
To help you choose the right compact excavator for your application, here is a useful guide on some important considerations you should make.
Demands of the job
Mini excavators are extremely versatile, as they can be used for varying purposes including digging holes, removing tree stumps, levelling landscaping, laying sewer lines, creating trenches, and so forth. The requirements of your particular job will determine what attachments you will need. There is an extensive range of mini excavator attachments you can use including buckets, augers, couplers, rippers, grapples, thumbs, compaction wheels, and many more. Mini excavators are quite powerful despite their smaller size, but they can still manage many of the jobs that the big machines do well.
Nature of the terrain
Some mini excavators move on wheels, while others are tracked. Wheeled versions are favoured for applications where the excavator will be moving on a hard, smooth surface, such as the concrete flooring of a warehouse or other building or flat terrains, like roads.
Tracks, on the other hand, are suitable when the excavator will need to operate on an uneven, rough terrain. Tracks can be made of rubber or steel. Rubber tracked mini excavators are used when working on smooth grounds or sites that are susceptible to damage, while steel is preferred when the excavator needs to manage over especially rocky terrains and/or rough materials. Therefore, ground conditions at the job site will have a big say in your decision to opt for either a wheeled or tracked mini excavator.
Operating weight
Though compact excavators are generally lighter in weight compared to their large-scale counterparts, they do come in specific operating weights recommended for each model. Therefore, you should establish your exact operating weight requirements before selecting a mini excavator for your specific job. Be sure to operate within your chosen excavator's specified operating load capacity to avoid damaging the machine due to overloading.
If you need to make any clarifications regarding how you can select the right type of mini excavator for your specific job, feel free to talk to your mini excavator provider. They will address just about any concerns you may have regarding mini excavator selection.
