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Build & QuoteCompact Excavator Features and Options
Compact (Mini) Excavator Buyer’s Guide: Part 4 of 6
From cab amenities to deluxe instrumentation, you’ll find plenty of specially engineered features and optional upgrades in compact excavators.
Table of Contents:
- Comfort Features
- Visibility
- Cab Amenities
- Controls
- Display Options
- Deluxe Instrumentation
- Retractable Undercarriage
- Additional Features
- Telematics (Bobcat Machine IQ)
Compact Excavator Features & Options
As the demand for compact excavators grows, manufacturers continue to incorporate advanced features that enhance productivity, efficiency, and operator comfort. The following are some of the features and options you can choose from when purchasing a compact excavator.
Comfort Features
The comfortable operation of a compact excavator is essential to an operator’s productivity. Comfort features minimize operator fatigue and enhance the overall operator experience. Compact excavators that are more pleasant to operate can also help you reduce employee turnover in a tight labor market.
Visibility
Good visibility from the cab is crucial for safe and efficient operation. Ensure the compact excavator has adequate design features to provide optimal visibility for the operator.
Learn More: Clear Visibility & Lighting
Cab Amenities
Comfort features are more than just a collection of nice-to-have options. The more comfortable you are, the more productive you are. So don’t overlook the details in your compact excavator cab.
Learn More: Premium Cab
Ample Floor Space
It's important to have enough floor space for legs and feet – especially when working with a piece of equipment for long hours. Make sure your compact excavator has enough room for you to work without feeling cramped.
Fold-Away Foot Pedals
Fold-away foot pedals can enhance operator comfort by maximizing floor space, offering even more room for movement within the cab. Greater freedom of movement helps to reduce fatigue during long work hours.
Heat and Air Conditioning
Heat and air conditioning systems offer relief from extreme temperatures. Bobcat compact excavators, equipped with optional enclosed cabs, have heat and air conditioning that automatically adjusts the cabin temperature to suit operator preferences. This ensures a comfortable working environment regardless of external conditions, enhancing productivity and focus.
Adjustable Seat
Multiple seat adjustment points enable operators to find the perfect ergonomic position, reducing strain and fatigue during long work sessions. When you can easily customize the seat position, you can achieve optimal comfort and support for enhanced productivity.
Heated Seat
During cold weather conditions, a heated seat provides essential warmth and comfort that more quickly conquers frigid temperatures, offering added convenience and relief during winter work.
Operator-Friendly Controls
Simple, easy-to-use controls will make operation easier and minimize fatigue. Precise, ergonomically designed controls enhance operator comfort and productivity, allowing for seamless attachment control and maneuvering, which enhances overall productivity.
Radio
A radio can make the tough jobs more enjoyable (and boost employee morale) during long workdays. Touch displays with integrated radio and Bluetooth™ connectivity allow for a wide range of listening entertainment and convenient communications, including hands-free phone calls.
Cup Holders and Storage
Conveniently located cup holders and ample storage space ensure operators have easy access to beverages and essential items for comfortable operations on long workdays.
Removable Floor Mats
Removable floor mats make it easier to maintain a clean cab environment. Plus, the simpler a task is, the more likely your operators are to take a moment to do it.
Easy-to-Reach Control Pattern Selector
Many excavators have pattern selectors to allow operators the choice of their preferred control scheme – ISO or standard controls. A control pattern selector should be easy to reach, so you don't have to stretch out or leave your seat to reach a faraway switch or lever.
Controls
Operator controls should be ergonomically designed and easy to use for maximum productivity.
Ergonomically designed controls should be designed for simplicity, flexibility and maximum productivity. Whether you’re digging, backfilling or operating an attachment that requires secondary hydraulics, the joysticks, travel control pedals and attachment controls must be simple and comfortable to work with – so you can stay productive all day long. Bobcat's predictable control system ensures the excavator's movements are consistent and precise, making it easier for operators to complete tasks accurately and efficiently.
Learn More: Controls and Predictable Controls
Display Options
Touch Displays
Compact excavators are increasingly equipped with touch displays in the cab, enabling quick operator access and control with a simple touch. The Bobcat touch display provides detailed machine information and an unprecedented level of device connectivity, making this optional feature a must-have for many operators. The Bobcat touch display allows operators to easily view and toggle through machine performance information on the wide, easy-to-use touchscreen, which supports seven languages. It features an 800 x 480-pixel display resolution. Plus, it’s waterproof and hardened to reduce scratching.
Learn More: Touch Displays
Standard Display
Included as a standard feature of Bobcat compact (mini) excavators, the easy-to-read cab display provides full-featured machine interaction and monitoring capabilities from right in the cab.
Diagnostics and detailed operation information can be accessed through the display, including monitoring, troubleshooting and error conditions. If there’s a problem with the system voltage, engine oil pressure, engine coolant temperature or other major functions, you’ll know. You can also use it to activate or deactivate auto idle.
Get a quick handle on maintenance needs with engine hour tracking that is visible from any screen on the Bobcat display. Run your excavator more efficiently and solve more problems in the field with the standard display, which supports multiple languages.
Learn More: Standard Display
Deluxe Instrumentation
When you’re working, fast access to machine information is crucial. Deluxe instrumentation puts key functions at your fingertips. It brings upgraded communication, monitoring, productivity and control to your compact (mini) excavator. More importantly, the panel boosts your productivity and peace of mind all year long. Critical information is clearly visible on an ultra-sharp LCD panel and simple interface.
Learn More: Deluxe Instrumentation
Get a Free Quote From Your Local Dealer
Find A DealerRetractable Undercarriage
A retractable undercarriage allows for extra flexibility in work environments of all sizes. When equipped with a retractable undercarriage, the compact excavator's tracks can provide greater maneuverability in tight spaces when retracted, then can be extended to their normal position for optimum stability.
Learn More: 6 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Undercarriage
Additional Features
Two-Speed Travel
Two-speed travel enables operators to switch between a slower speed for precise control during tasks and a faster speed for moving around the job site more quickly.
Auto Idle
Auto idle systems automatically reduce engine speed when the compact excavator is not in use, conserving fuel and reducing noise and emissions.
Depth Check System
The depth check system in Bobcat compact excavators ensures operators dig to the correct depth, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of over- or under-digging.
Learn More: Depth Check System
Auxiliary Hydraulics
Auxiliary hydraulics allow compact excavators to power various attachments, such as hydraulic breakers or augers, increasing their versatility and capabilities.
Learn More: Advanced Hydraulics
Angle Blade
An angle blade provides greater functionality with simultaneous up/down and angle adjustment, and the ability to direct soil to the left or right as you backfill. A replaceable cutting edge also extends the life of your angle blade, which can lower operating costs, especially when it’s easy to replace.
In-Track Swing Frame
The in-track swing frame, an exclusive feature of Bobcat compact excavators, is engineered to help you operate in the smallest of workspaces. The in-track swing frame allows you to get closer to your work, as the swing castings and cylinders stay within the tracks when you dig in an offset position. This not only helps to prevent impact with nearby obstacles, but it also gives you more degrees of swing for maneuvering your bucket or placing spoil.
Compact Excavator Telematics (Bobcat Machine IQ)
Telematics
Bobcat Machine IQ is a wireless telematics system that can remotely track a compact excavator's location and monitor its performance, enabling better fleet management and theft prevention with mobile device management capability. You can use it to:
- Analyze the efficiency and productivity of your fleet.
- Track your machine’s location history, operating hours and fuel usage.
- Receive maintenance and operation notifications.
- Create a tailored maintenance schedule based on how you use your machine.
- Access machine information anytime via your Bobcat Owner Portal account at my.Bobcat.com
Subscribe For Free
Machine IQ is a subscription-based service. Many Bobcat machine owners get access to the Machine IQ Basics package at no cost for the first three years (from the date of original purchase). For machines connected with an aftermarket kit, the Machine IQ Basics subscription begins once the telematics device is connected.
Get 24/7 Access to Vital Information
Machine IQ Basics enhances operational efficiency, optimizes your performance and helps you make better decisions with 24/7 access to machine information through the Bobcat Owner Portal or Machine IQ mobile app.
Protect Your Investment
Machine IQ Health & Security provides advanced machine analytics and reporting, plus customizable notifications to be more proactive in managing your machine's health and status. With the advanced Health & Security package, you get more robust machine data, plus the convenience of proactive email notifications. It includes all Basics package features, fault code notifications with troubleshooting steps that take the guesswork out of diagnosing machine issues, utilization reports presented in easy-to-understand charts, advanced fleet-level reporting to optimize job-site efficiency, plus motion detection, geofence operation boundaries and curfew alerts to give you peace of mind that your connected machines are protected.
Learn More: Machine IQ
Making an Informed Buying Decision
In the rapidly evolving landscape of compact excavators, manufacturers are continually introducing new features and options to meet evolving operator expectations.
From comfort features to advanced instrumentation, these enhancements are designed to increase operator productivity, efficiency and satisfaction.
