Takeuchi 2.5-tonne compact excavator arrives in Oz

Takeuchi’s new 2.5-tonner with tracks that retract to a narrow 1100mm is giving Stefan Miller from Kanga Excavation Services (KangEx) the accessibility and productivity he needs to carry out his work at tight job sites.

The company specialises in narrow excavation work associated with basement extensions and complex residential and commercial renovations. These jobs are often located in densely populated areas that have narrow streets, steep slopes and present a real challenge to access.

“When working to a client’s budget, it’s important to ensure no time is wasted,” Miller said.

“We need to work quickly, to minimise the cost of trucks and skips, as well as avoiding disruption to traffic flow on busy roads.”

KangEx has several Takeuchi models in its fleet including an 1180kg TB210R that was added to the fleet last year. Miller said the company’s decision to purchase another Takeuchi was based on the productivity, durability and reliability it experienced with its current machines.

“We needed another excavator, and when looking at the specifications of the TB225, it didn’t take much to convince us this new model would be the ideal solution,” he said.

“Rather than add a 1.7-tonne machine to the fleet, the TB225 promised to give productivity that represented a great return on investment.

“The Takeuchi TB225 is the world’s first 2.5 tonne-class excavator with tracks that retract to a narrow 1100mm, meaning we can get this powerful machine into places which previously only a 1.7- tonne class machine could access.

“A huge bonus is its astonishing lift capacity of 327kg with the tracks extended out to 1500mm. Even with the tracks at 1100 mm, its lift capacity of 219kg is still amazing.”

The TB225 is a full specification machine with all the features that KangEx require including adjustable hydraulic flow, auto deceleration, auto idle and pilot proportional controls.

“The TB225 is also extremely powerful. - It’s a magnificently built piece of equipment and it is obvious that Takeuchi has listened to customer feedback, as everything you could want in a compact excavator appears on this model,” Miller said.

“An example of this is seen on the TB225 where the manufacturer has incorporated robust tie-down lugs cast into the chassis and a super-handy lockable tool box that sits conveniently behind the operator’s seat.”

Miller added the controls are as advanced as those found in full-size excavators.

“Takeuchi has clearly designed this machine to take the mini excavator to a whole new level and it’s helped our business productivity even more than we anticipated,” he said.