Providing a universal equipment solution

Contractors can dig, break or perform a number of functions from a single position with a crawler skid excavator. Photo: Mecalac
With any demolition project, crews need reliable, powerful and efficient equipment to tear down structures and clean up and organize debris.
It’s not uncommon to find compact equipment such as mini excavators and skid-steers playing a supporting role on these jobsites due to their compact size, lighter weight and maneuverability.
Another compact equipment option was developed in recent years to bring a skillset well suited for both large and small demolition jobsites. It harnesses the speed and agility of a CTL (compact track loader) and the maneuverability and digging capabilities of a mini excavator.
True versatility
Imagine a machine that combines the benefits of a variety of equipment while performing every function equally well.
For a smaller-scale demolition job, for example, a crawler skid excavator is able to fit into a tight area with low clearance and break or perform other functions in any direction without repositioning. At the same time, it offers higher flow to the attachment than a mini-excavator for greater power and higher reach than a skid-steer.
Put the same equipment on a large jobsite for cleanup and you have a machine that can travel up to 6.2 mph – twice that of a mini excavator and similar to most CTLs on the market – with a bucket full of material and remain stable. Meanwhile, a crawler skid excavator is also capable of digging and loading from a single position, if needed, making it a powerful solution for contractors focused on maximizing ROI.
Wide range of motion

Crawler skid excavators are designed to have the compactness of a mini-excavator and the speed of a compact track loader to bring more versatility, range of motion and efficiency to a variety of applications. Photo: Mecalac
The ability to be as compact and far reaching as possible is a win on demolition jobsites. The crawler skid excavator’s boom design takes this concept to the next level.
Consider that the majority of mini excavators on the market today use a mono boom design, which has a limited overall range of motion. The main arm of a mono boom only allows it to move up and down, with the design relying on the dipper stick portion of the boom to reach, pull and dig. This restricts the ability to work close to the machine and requires more room to operate.
In the close quarters of demolition jobsites, a side-mounted, two-piece boom on a crawler skid excavator offers a decided advantage due to greater compactness and 360-degree range of motion. The articulated design features an arm that is made up of five total joints – one between the second and third sections – that allows for limited side-to-side motion.
Bending or straightening each joint in order allows the boom to extend almost straight in any direction. It can then fold back in on itself for maximum compactness, mobility and a zero-turn radius.
This means that, from a single position, the equipment maintains excellent space management, increasing productivity by letting contractors dig, break or perform a number of other functions within a compact 9-ft. radius.
Jobsite MVP
A crawler skid excavator can be the ideal solution for demolition contractors looking to streamline their operations and maximize ROI. A machine that combines the best aspects of similar equipment with optimal performance for multiple functions is game-changing and sure to be the jobsite MVP.
Peter Bigwood is general manager at Mecalac North America.