Mini excavators: to rent or buy – a dilemma for small businesses

Cat’s new minis and micros have no trouble hoisting hydraulic breakers for tough rock work

The decision to buy may be made on the grounds of a healthy order book, the need to be more in control, a belief that, over time, a significant return on investment could be made.

Whatever the reason for considering a purchase, potential buyers should be armed with the latest information, in terms of both machine options and financial deals.

Rob Godsell, a product expert with the manufacturing giant Caterpillar, has spent time dealing directly with customers, and more recently working on the development of the company’s latest mini excavators. He is therefore well placed to offer some crucial advice for potential equipment buyers.

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Keeping options open

Godsell is an advocate of owning your own machine, but he also recognises it’s not the right choice for everyone. However, in many circumstances, he believes it can be the best option – and not only in the long term.

The latest Cat mini and micro excavators have low-level access to components for easy maintenance and servicing

“It’s a big decision, no matter what the size of business,” he says, “so we try and give potential buyers as many options as possible.

“Many of our dealers will offer everything from straightforward rental, through to rental with an option to buy, to competitive financing deals. We recognise, especially under the current economic conditions, that our customers’ situations vary greatly and we have to provide an option for every circumstance.

“It has to be that way when you’re offering a premium product with the highest level of operator control customisation, comfort and ease of use technology. These features, combined with minimal downtime and extended maintenance intervals offer a lot of benefits for operators and owners – putting us in a really good total cost of ownership position.”

Read this article in full for Rob Godsell’s views on how to get the best return on investment when purchasing a new excavator, on giving operators the right tools for the job and on making good use of the built-in technology available with the latest machines