POWERFUL new mini excavators from Kubota are proving that bigger is not always better in the construction industry where the mini excavator’s smaller size and manageability are proving to be a game-changer.
According to Smith Power Equipment, contractors are finding that the power-packed Kubota excavators can do anything their larger competitors can do on-site and a 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 match the productivity of the Kubota excavators in applications like trenching, demolition and digging where the excavators not only out-perform them, but also cost approximately 70% less to operate depending on the machines used, the company says.
According to Dennis van der Merwe of Smith Power Equipment, the sole distributor 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.
“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 indicate similar growth of an additional 30-35%. This expansion reflects our strength in the mini and midi excavator segments, where we command ap-proximately 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.
Van der Merwe says, “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.”
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.