Bobcat goes micro

A visit to most of today’s demolition sites where large multi-storey buildings are involved and you are almost guaranteed to see ultra small and compact skid steer loaders and micro and mini excavators working on the demolition.

Bobcat have just added two new micro excavators to its range that offer the demolition contractor machines that have been designed with this demanding role very much in mind – the E08 and E10.

Weighing it at 1,138 kg (2,503lb) and 1,176 kg (2,587 lb) respectively when fitted with a TOPS canopy), the two new machines have been designed to offer compact dimensions, stability, operator comfort and high levels of performance and durability, says the company, making them ideal for the plant hire role.

And for the demolition industry, when fitted with an optional hydraulic oil cooler package, they fit the demolition role to perfection – they can navigate around the most confined of worksites (in and outdoors) and operate hydraulically powered attachments such as breakers for extended periods. Indeed the company is so confident of this cooling package that it told D&Ri that is would be perfectly possible to operate an hydraulic breaker almost continually for a full eight hour work shift irrespective of temperature conditions.

The two new machines are the smallest in the Bobcat range and have several features that ensure they provide the ultimate in compact performance. On both machines, a retractable undercarriage brings the width of each machine down to just 710 mm, allowing them to easily fit through standard door widths and other similar confined spaces. Once at the work site, this expands to 1 m (3.3 ft) in the case of the E08 and 1.1 m (3.6 ft in the case of the E10). The dozer blade fitted to each machine is also manually extendable – this is achieved through the use of sliding blade extension sections rather than through the use of removable sections.

The E10 is a true zero tail swing machine, while the body shape of the E08 has been designed to make sure that it stays almost entirely within the width of the tracks when in fully extended mode.

Access is still possible when restricted height is a concern – both machines feature a foldable TOPS canopy that incidentally has an added benefit when they are in transport mode.

Where performance is concerned, both have a maximum dig depth of 1.82 m (6 ft), with power for both coming from a Kubota 9.9 hp (7.2 kW) three cylinder diesel. The E08 features state-of-the-art mechanical controls, while the E10, currently unique in this class of machine, is operated via electro-hydraulic joysticks.

Durability and reliability are key where both demolition and plant hire are concerned and the E08 and E10 have been designed with this firmly in mind. Both feature an ‘over the boom’ hydraulic cylinder placement design that protects the cylinder when working in confined spaces or with attachments. Other features that are designed to ensure durability are the use of steel covers, blade cylinder protection, counterweight placement to provide rear protection and a three-roller track system that optimises rubber track service life. The track itself has an asymmetric design, which reduces vibration. Another element of Bobcat’s effort to ensure optimum is the fact that the auxiliary hydraulic lines and workgroup hoses are fitted inside the boom and arm to provide optimal protection.

All in all, the E08 and E10 look set to offer plant hirers with a productive and reliable element in their fleets, and when fitted with the additional cooling package, provide a nimble, reliable and hard-working tool for both indoor and outdoor use.