Small excavators are one of the fastest-growing types of equipment, and their popularity seems to continue to increase. According to data from Off-Highway Research, global sales of small excavators reached the highest point last year, exceeding 300,000 units.
Traditionally, the main markets for micro-excavators have been developed countries, such as Japan and Western Europe, but their popularity in many emerging economies has increased in the past decade. The most famous of these is China, which is currently the world’s largest mini excavator market.
Considering that mini-excavators can basically replace manual labor, there is certainly no shortage of workers in the most populous countries in the world. This may be a surprising change. Although the situation may not be like the Chinese market, please check the “China and small excavators” column for more details.
One of the reasons why mini excavators are popular is that it is easier to power smaller and more compact machines with electricity than traditional diesel power. In this case, especially in urban centers of advanced economies, there are usually strict regulations on noise and emissions.
There is no shortage of OEM manufacturers that are developing or releasing electric mini excavators-as early as January 2019, Volvo Construction Equipment Corporation (Volvo CE) announced that by mid-2020, it will begin to launch a series of electric compact excavators (EC15 to EC27). ) And wheel loaders (L20 to L28), and stopped the new development of these models based on diesel engines.
Another OEM that is looking for power in this equipment field is JCB, which is equipped with the company’s 19C-1E miniature electric excavator. JCB 19C-1E is powered by four lithium-ion batteries, which can provide 20kWh of energy storage. For most small excavator customers, all work shifts can be completed with a single charge. The 19C-1E itself is a powerful compact model with zero exhaust emissions during use and is much quieter than standard machines.
JCB recently sold two models to the J Coffey plant in London. Tim Rayner, Operations Manager of the Coffey Plant Department, commented: “The main benefit is that there is no emissions during use. When using 19C-1E, our workers will not be affected by diesel emissions. Since emission control equipment (such as extraction devices and pipes) are no longer needed, confined areas are now clearer and safer to work. The JCB electric mini car brings value to the enterprise and the entire industry.”
Another OEM focusing on electricity is Kubota. “In recent years, the popularity of small excavators powered by alternative fuels (such as electric) has increased rapidly,” said Glen Hampson, business development manager at Kubota UK.
“The main driving force behind this is the electrical equipment that enables operators to work in the prescribed low-emission areas. The motor can also enable work to be carried out in underground confined spaces without generating harmful emissions. The reduced noise output also makes it very It is suitable for construction in cities or densely populated environments.”
At the beginning of the year, Kubota launched a compact miniature electric excavator prototype in Kyoto, Japan. Hampson added: “At Kubota, our priority will always be to develop machines that meet customer needs-electrical development machines will enable us Make it happen.”
Bobcat recently announced that it will launch a new 2-4 ton R series of small excavators, including a new series of five compact excavators: E26, E27z, E27, E34 and E35z. The company claims that one of the outstanding features of this series is the design concept of the inner cylinder wall (CIB).
Miroslav Konas, Product Manager of Bobcat Excavators in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “The CIB system is designed to overcome the weakest link in mini-excavators-the boom cylinders can easily damage this type of excavator. For example, when loading waste and building materials with trucks It is caused by a side collision with other vehicles.
“This is achieved by enclosing the hydraulic cylinder in the extended boom structure, thereby avoiding collisions with the top of the blade and the side of the vehicle. In fact, the boom structure can protect the hydraulic boom cylinder at any position.”
Due to the lack of skilled operators in the industry, it has never been more important to make those who persevere happy. Volvo CE claims that the new generation of 6-ton ECR58 F compact excavator has the most spacious cab in the industry.
The simplified workstation and user-friendly experience support the health, confidence and safety of the operator. The position of the seat to the joystick has been modified and improved while still being suspended together-Volvo Construction Equipment said the technology has been introduced into the industry.
The cab is designed to provide the highest level of operator convenience, with sound insulation, numerous storage areas, and 12V and USB ports. Fully open front windows and sliding side windows facilitate all-round vision, and the operator has a car-style flywheel, five-inch color display and easy-to-navigate menus.
Operator comfort is really important, but another reason for the widespread popularity of the mini excavator segment is the continuous expansion of the range of accessories provided. For example, Volvo Construction Equipment’s ECR58 has a variety of easy-to-replace accessories, including buckets, breakers, thumbs, and new inclined quick couplings.
When talking about the popularity of small excavators, Off-Highways Research managing director Chris Sleight emphasized the attachments. He said: “On the lighter end, the range of available accessories is wide, which means that [small excavators] often Pneumatic tools are more popular than manual workers. This is partly because it helps reduce the impact of noise and vibration on workers, and because it can move workers away from the tools.”
JCB is one of many OEMs who want to provide customers with electric options for mini excavators
Slater also added: “In Europe and even North America, small excavators are replacing other types of equipment. At the highest end of the scale, its smaller footprint and 360-degree slewing capacity mean that it is now generally better than backhoe loading. The machine is more popular.”
Bobcat’s Konas agreed with the importance of attachments. He said: “The various types of buckets we provide are still the main “tools” in the 25 different attachment series we provide for mini excavators, but with more advanced shovel With the development of buckets, this trend is developing. Hydraulic accessories are becoming more and more popular. This is why we developed the A-SAC system, which is used with up to five independent auxiliary circuits on the machine. We believe that the Bobcat will Become the most advanced brand in the market to operate such complex accessories.
“Combining arm-mounted hydraulic auxiliary lines with optional A-SAC technology can provide a wide range of machine customization options to meet any accessory requirements, thereby further enhancing the role of these excavators as excellent tool holders.”
Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has released a white paper on the future of the European compact equipment sector. They pointed out that 70% of the mini excavators sold in Europe weigh less than 3 tons. This is due to the fact that obtaining a permit can easily tow one of the models on a trailer with a regular driving license.
The white paper predicts that remote monitoring will play an increasingly important role in the compact construction equipment market, and mini excavators are an important part of it. The report said: “Tracking the location of compact equipment is particularly important because it is often moved from one job site to another.
Therefore, location and working hours data can help owners, especially leasing companies, plan, improve efficiency and schedule maintenance work. From a security point of view, accurate location information is also crucial-it is much easier to steal smaller machines than to store larger ones, so the theft of compact devices is more common. ”
Different manufacturers use their small excavators to provide various telematics kits. There is no industry standard. Hitachi mini excavators have been connected to its remote monitoring system Global e-Service, and data can also be accessed via smartphones.
Although location and working hours are key to information, the report speculates that next-generation equipment owners will want to view more detailed data. The owner hopes to obtain more data from the manufacturer. One of the reasons is the influx of younger, more tech-savvy customers who can better understand and analyze data to improve productivity and efficiency. ”
Takeuchi recently launched the TB257FR compact hydraulic excavator, which is the successor to the TB153FR. The new excavator has
The left-right offset boom combined with tight tail swing allows it to fully rotate with little overhang.
The operating weight of the TB257FR is 5840 kg (5.84 tons), the digging depth is 3.89m, the maximum extension distance is 6.2m, and the bucket digging force is 36.6kN.
The left and right boom function allows the TB257FR to excavate the offset in the left and right directions without having to reposition the machine. In addition, this feature keeps more counterweights aligned with the center of the machine, thereby improving stability.
It is said that another advantage of this system is the ability of the boom to be stowed above the center, which makes it almost possible to perform a complete rotation within the width of the track. This makes it ideal for working in a variety of confined construction sites, including road and bridge projects, city streets and between buildings.
“Takeuchi is happy to provide TB257FR to our customers,” said Toshiya Takeuchi, President of Takeuchi. “Takeuchi’s commitment to our tradition of innovation and advanced technology is reflected in this machine. The left and right offset boom allows greater work versatility, and the low center of gravity and optimized counterweight placement create an extremely stable platform. Heavy capacity is similar to traditional machines.
Shi Jang of Off-Highway Research issued a cautious warning on the Chinese market and small excavators, warning that the market may be becoming saturated. This is because some Chinese OEMs who want to quickly increase their market share have reduced the price of their small excavators by about 20%. Therefore, as sales grow, profit margins are squeezed, and there are now more machines on the market than ever before.
The sales price of small excavators has dropped by at least 20% compared to last year, and the market share of international manufacturers has declined because they cannot significantly reduce prices due to their high-spec mechanical designs. They plan to introduce some cheaper machines in the future, but now the market is full of low-cost machines. “Shi Zhang pointed out.
Low prices have attracted many new customers to buy machines, but if there are too many machines on the market and the workload is insufficient, the market will decline. Despite good sales, the profits of leading manufacturers have been squeezed due to low prices. ”
Jang added that lower prices make it difficult for dealers to make profits, and lowering prices to promote sales may have a negative impact on future sales.
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