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The rise and rise of mini excavators

The rise and rise of mini excavators

Powerful new mini excavators from Kubota are proving that bigger is not always better in the construction industry where its smaller size and manageab

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Powerful new mini excavators from Kubota are proving that bigger is not always better in the construction industry where its smaller size and manageability is proving to be a game changer.

Contractors are finding that the power-packed Kubota excavators can do anything their larger competitors can do on site and a whole lot more, such as working in confined spaces, traversing paved areas without damaging infrastructure and being able to be transported on a small drop side truck or even a bakkie in the case of the smallest models.

The ever-versatile TLB cannot nearly match the productivity of the Kubota excavators in applications like trenching, demolition and digging where the excavators not only out-perform them by a wide margin, but also cost approximately 70% less to operate depending on the machines used.

According to Dennis van der Merwe of Smith Power Equipment, the sole distributors of Kubota equipment in southern Africa, Kubota excavators are rapidly growing in popularity as a robust and versatile choice for South Africa’s construction industry. The Japanese equipment giant’s product lineup currently extends from 1.7 ton up to 8-ton models with a wide range of integrating aftermarket attachments like jackhammers and augers to adapt the excavators for specific tasks.

Achievements

“Kubota’s excavator market has grown substantially in South Africa and we have more than doubled our sales from 2023 to 2024. The latest projections for 2025 indicated similar growth of an additional 30-35% growth. This expansion reflects our strength in the mini and midi excavator segments, where we command approximately a quarter of the market share in an annual market of around 360-400 units in South Africa.

“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-to-8-ton 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.

“Bearing in mind that a Kubota excavator can achieve nearly twice the productivity rate of a comparable TLB and by comparison cost a fraction of the price of a full-size excavator, this translates to a faster ROI due to shorter work cycles and increased task efficiency,” says Dennis.

He adds that the Kubota excavators are also popular in the rental industry where companies like Talisman includes Kubota excavators as part of their rental fleets. The company’s branches across South Africa have steadily incorporated Kubota’s small excavators into their lineup, attracted by the machines’ durability and low cost of ownership.

For users the advantage of choosing a Kubota excavator is the vast Smith Power Equipment dealer network that covers every corner of the country wherever construction, farming or general industry is present. With servicing, spares and parts available in or near most towns in the country users are assured of the highest levels of aftermarket support for the machines. Added to this is the legendary reliability of Kubota machines which is unsurpassed in the construction industry.

Dennis concludes that Kubota’s presence in the South African market is set to grow as infrastructure development projects get underway and expresses his optimism that pending government and private-sector projects will drive further demand for compact and versatile machinery. Kubota’s excavators are well-positioned to support this growth, providing efficient solutions for large and small projects alike.