Three new mini excavators from Kubota

Japanese manufacturer Kubota has launched three new 5 tonne excavators, including one aimed specifically at the rental market.

The KX060- 5, U56-5 and U50-5 have been developed in response to customer feedback, with the focus put on safety and operator comfort.

Glen Hampson, Business Development Manager for Construction at Kubota UK, said, “We’re proud to be welcoming three new models into our 5-tonne range.

“The new range builds on the success of its predecessors when it comes to how the machines operate and overall functionality. The new machines, however, offer improved comfort and safety to the user.”

Designed with the operator in mind, each machine has a larger cabin with better insulation and improved visibility.

The exterior of the machines has also been redesigned to give them a modern aesthetic.

With the launch of the three new models, Kubota’s customers have the choice of either a conventional excavator or a reduced tail swing version.

The KX060-5 offers a conventional tail swing option, which can be used in different applications to the U-series. For instance, it is the machine most suitable for heavier attachments due to the offset of the counterweight.

Meanwhile, the U56-5 was said to have a powerful engine and, as the largest reduced tail swing machine in Kubota’s range, it is designed to offer good lifting capacity.

The U50-5, which will be available from July (so no images are available yet), has been designed as an entry-level machine and built for the rental market in particular. The size of the machine means it is well suited to working in smaller spaces and offers good site access.

All three excavators feature a full-colour, high-resolutions 7 inch LCD screen and jog-dial navigation as standard, to give operators better access to machine information.

They also all have a high-visibility orange seatbelt and alert functions to encourage the operator to wear the seatbelt.

Noise levels inside the cab have been reduced by 5dB to 74dB.

The three excavators are fitted with a Kubota Original Direct Injection Engine with common rial system (CSR) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) muffler, making them Stage V compliant.

Also, the new DPF was said to help reduce maintenance requirements by increasing the service intervals for both the regeneration filter and the ash cleaner. When maintenance is required though, better access is offered by the wide opening bonnets.