Popular Excavators Produce Results

Todd Burns

Good equipment gets used and makes money. At Sub-Surface of Indiana a pair of Bobcat® excavators are very popular—and productive.

“They’re out every day,” says Todd Burns, owner of the company headquartered in Morgantown, Ind. “For many jobs our 442 and 334 excavators are preferred by our operators.”

Burns started his company in 1987 doing trenching work for electric utilities. In the mid 1990s he diversified his business by adding directional boring equipment. Today Sub-Surface of Indiana does installation work for other utilities such as telephone, cable TV and water and sewer installation for contractors.

The company used to do much of its work with backhoes, but as jobsites become less accessible, the maneuverability of the 442 made it the machine of choice. “It doesn’t tear up property like the backhoes did,” says Burns.

The zero tail swing 442 also means less chance of damage to the machine and nearby structures. Spoil placement is easier as well.

Burns points out that the digging ability of the 442 is comparable to his backhoes. “Power and breakout force are similar so we can do as much work as we did with our backhoes,” he says. “However, the 442 is small enough to get into limited access areas we couldn’t reach previously. Yet it has enough power to set our larger transformers and pick up 3,000-lb. reels of cable.”

The 334 excavator is used for repair jobs, as well as assisting the directional boring crews for various size conduit installations. “That machine provides the longer reach (almost 17 ft.) we need for working in yards where we don’t want to disturb the surface,” says Burns. “It also allows us to stretch a little further when loading.”

The 442 and 334 excavators have been a very good investment, says Burns. “They provide equipment options that enable us to complete jobs more efficiently and profitably.”