Compact excavators excel in a variety of applications including residential construction, utility installation, landscaping, and interior demolition. Their accuracy makes them ideal for excavating foundation footings, digging trenches for plumbing/electrical lines, planting trees, and delicate grading work. As they work with little footprint on the urban space and with urban finishes, usually contractors that work in a developed landscape simply can not live without them.
Small excavators fitted with quick-coupler systems can use a wide variety of attachments, multiplying their capabilities. Common attachments beyond standard buckets are hydraulic breakers for light demolition, augers for post hole digging, grapples used for material handling, and specialized buckets for trenching or grading. This versatility means that one machine can take the place of several pieces of equipment on busy job sites.
This combination of small footprint and moderate weight make these excavators very easy to transport — many models are light enough to be hauled behind a heavy-duty pick-up truck using a light equipment trailer. Setup is minimal; most machines can get to work within minutes of arrival at the job site. Rubber tracks improve mobility and also protect the finished surface during both operation and transportation.