In today’s crowded equipment market, busy contractors almost need a fortuneteller to find their next machine. Break out the Ouija board — papa needs a new compact excavator.
It’s probably closer to the truth than we want to admit. Machine categories like mini excavators have more than 15 different manufacturers that provide products in the North American marketplace. Those individual brands might have over 10 compact excavator models to choose from. Who has the time to research every make and model on the market without supernatural powers of prediction?

Well, to answer our own question, the crew at Compact Equipment does. Realizing that our readership spends most of its time out on the jobsite and not on the dealer lot, we’ve decided to bring all of the machines directly to you in a nice 8 ½- by 11-in. format. We’ve contacted 13 manufacturers of mini excavators to uncover the models, features, specifications and even pricing of nearly every unit in the industry.

When we polled those makers of machinery, they were having a good year in sales, expecting about 26,000 to 32,000 compact excavators to be sold in North America in 2007, which is about 4 to 5 percent higher than 2006 (24,000 to 26,000). Defined as an excavator under 6 metric tons, compact excavators typically offer tracked undercarriages with a small footprint and a dig depth between 5 and 20 ft. From retractable undercarriages to zero tail swing designs, a compact excavator can easily fit into the smallest jobsites, working around residential backyards, crowded city streets and even inside buildings.

Bigwig manufacturers from Takeuchi and Terex to Kubota and Yanmar are pushing each other to make the most productive, comfortable, safe and small-sized machines possible, which is great news for our readers. Just don’t get overwhelmed with the multitude of makes and models on the market. Put away the Magic 8-Ball and tea leaves (for now) and pore over the next 14 pages first. You will find specifications, prices, product summaries and advice to buyers for 13 different manufacturers in the compact excavator industry, and no doubt you’ll find the ideal digger for your company and crews.

Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment.
Pam Stask is assistant editor of Compact Equipment.