The mini and midi excavator sector continues to squeeze more out of less, with some innovative engineering solutions being applied to zero- and short-tailswing models - Geoff Ashcroft investigates. It is a vicious circle - customers seek smaller, tighter, ever more compact excavators, leaving manufacturers with the challenges of squeezing greater levels of technology into what is all too often an even smaller machine.
In Italy, Casaioli SNC, which specialises in earthmoving, road construction and groundworks, has found that its Hitachi ZAXIS 60USB-3 compact excavator is small enough to work in the narrow streets of Assisi and also powerful enough to do the job. The company is replacing gas and water pipes in the historic city and helping to reconstruct the road network, which was damaged in the 1997 earthquake. Owner Giorgio Casaioli says: "The machine is also quiet, which is very important when working in a city such as
JCB is expanding its range of mini excavators with the launch of the 8026 CTS. The 8026 CTS joins the range alongside the zero tailswing 8025 ZTS in the line-up. The new 2.7tonne machine offers a conventional layout with a trailer-towable transport weight and increased lifting capacity. The 8026 CTS uses a dedicated boom and dipper arm for greater digging and lifting performance. Increased efficiency allows the 8026 CTS to use the same engine family as the 8025 ZTS, with a similar torque output, but with a
