The smaller size and manageability of mini excavators allows for work in confined spaces and traversing paved areas without damaging infrastructure. The units are also easy to transport and are particularly suited to applications such as trenching, demolition and digging.

According to Dennis van der Merwe of Smith Power Equipment, the sole distributors of Kubota equipment in southern Africa, mini excavators are rapidly growing in popularity for South Africa's construction industry. The Japanese equipment company’s product lineup extends from 1.7 t up to 8 t models with a range of integrating aftermarket attachments such as jackhammers and augers to adapt the excavators for specific tasks.

“We have found that small to medium-sized civil engineering firms are using our Kubota excavators on work such as road rehabilitation and foundational work on large sites. They are also finding an important niche in urban areas where manoeuvrability and compactness are essential. In these instances, our excavators in the 3 t to 8 t class are chosen for their ability to access tight spaces and avoid the need for heavy transport vehicles. The front blade is also a useful tool in these applications to establish a grade and for site clearing,” notes van der Merwe.

“Bearing in mind that a Kubota excavator can achieve nearly twice the productivity rate of a comparable tractor loader backhoe (TLB) and by comparison cost a fraction of the price of a full-size excavator, this translates to a faster return on investment due to shorter work cycles and increased task efficiency,” he adds.

Kubota mini excavator models include:

• U15-3: 1.7 t excavator with a 9.9 KW low noise, low vibration engine that offers fuel efficiency.  There is a choice of rubber track, and it can reduce width from 1240 mm to 990 mm in tight spaces.
• U30-6: 3 t excavator with 20.5 KW engine offers a compact size and zero-tail swing which keeps the tail of the mini excavator within track-width when swivelling, enabling operation in tight and confined spaces.
• U50-5 / U50-5 cab: offers four simultaneous operations – the bucket, boom, arm and swing can be operated simultaneously on this 5 t excavator with 28.5 KW allowing for faster operation in all conditions
• Extreme KX80-3: offers high power in a compact package with 49.7 KW engine especially suited for trenching through compacted soil. The 3 880 kg arm forces offer high productivity. 

Compared to traditional TLBs, mini excavators are said to offer operational benefits such as faster task completion and improved fuel-efficiency. Kubota’s dual-pump hydraulic system allocates separate flows for steering and digging power, improving fuel efficiency and enabling smooth, uninterrupted operation. The excavators can perform at lower idle speeds without compromising power, adding to fuel savings and reducing operational noise.

The main areas of operation are in agriculture and construction but there is a noted rising demand in landscaping and nurseries, and industrial applications. The smaller EU50 are particularly suited for tasks like compost mixing and soil management. The machines have also found applications in settings such as cleaning chemical storage facility walls, grave digging and bush clearing.