Versatility is the spice of mini excavator life

摘要

In 2019 the mini excavator market in Europe saw sales of just over 70,000 units. According to market analyst Off-Highway Research, before the pandemic over 30,000 mini excavators in the 0.8 to 2.0 tonne weight class were sold in the region, along with just over 25,000 machines in the 4.1 to 6.0 tonne range. Chris Sleight, the company's CEO, told CE, "Our research suggests that between 55-60% of mini excavator sales in Europe are to rental companies. That's up from just over 50% ten years ago. Contractors are the next biggest group, accounting for about 25% of sales at the moment." While OHR's provisional research indicates sales of mini excavators across Europe have dropped by around 20% in 2020, sales are forecast to rise again in 2021. However, with both Covid-19 and environmental regulations impacting the construction industry, the ability of small and medium-sized contractors to diversify their scope of work is likely to be viewed by many as essential in navigating today's rapidly changing industry. Regardless of whether companies decide to increase or decrease the types of projects they take on, machine versatility - in addition to the cost - is a vital factor when choosing a mini excavator to purchase or rental.