Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/426956
EquipmentWorld.com | December 2014 25 T hree- to 4-ton compact excavators seem to be just the right size. "Positioned in the middle of the compact range, these machines go where bigger machines cannot and dig and lift what smaller units are unable to do," says Jake Jeffords of JCB. Because of their versatility and the inclusion of popular features as stan- dard equipment, "off-the-shelf machines are adequate for most customers," says Zack Radermacher of Yanmar. He says that transportability, maneuverability, and fuel effi ciency are among the rea- sons these machines work so well for so many. But Radermacher encourages customers to do their homework and not simply assume that a 3- to 4-ton machine is right for them, despite their popularity. "Machine size should be related to the job the customer needs to accomplish. The customer must balance the time it takes to complete a job with the cost of the machine, savings in fuel cost, effi ciency and productivity." 3- TO 4-TON COMPACT EXCAVATORS ARE SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT INTO TIGHT SPACES, YET STILL HEFTY ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE THE RIGHT SIZE Mustang The zero-tail-swing Mustang's 350Z NXT2 23.9-horsepower Yanmar engine consumes 20 percent less fuel than previous models and features an electronic throttle for precise control. Other features include a proportional auxil- iary hydraulic rocker switch, integrated digital display, and an enlarged operator compartment with a walk-through canopy. Hyundai Hyundai's R35Z-9 has an operating weight of 8,050 pounds and a 26.5-horsepower Tier 4 certifi ed Yanmar 3TNV88 engine. The machine features an integrated boom holding system, a fully customizable operator's station, lubricated bushings with extended lube intervals and polymer shims and extended-life hydraulic fi lters.