Tuesday, July 26th, 2022
XCMG Compact Excavators Meet and Beat Popular North American Brands
Compact excavators are versatile, small machines capable of a multitude of tasks in confined spaces.
Compact excavator sales are expected to grow exponentially in the near future. “The global Compact Construction Equipment market size is estimated to be worth USD 17.9 billion in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 31.3 billion by 2028,” states MarketWatch.
Each year, International Construction publishes Yellow Table – an annual ranking of the world’s top 50 construction equipment manufacturers by sales. According to the latest Yellow Table (which shows sales figures for 2021), Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG) is the third largest manufacturer (by sales) in the world with sales for the year 2021 of US$18.1 billion.
Although sales of XCMG is strong in much of the world, in North America, bias against non-North American manufacturers has hindered adoption of some brands even when their product is equal to or better than North American brands.
Side view of the XCMG XE27U mini excavator
For example, on the XCMG compact excavators, the crucial components, such as the engine, key cab components, and tracks, are supplied by highly reputable international manufacturers. They are also able to meet the same specifications as their North American counterparts and offer the same features as them.
Let’s compare XCMG to some common North American models (Caterpillar, John Deere, Kubota, and Yanmar).
XE18U Competitive Specs Comparison
| FEATURE | XCMG XE18U | KUBOTA U17 | Deere 17G | Cat 301.7D CR | Yanmar ViO17-A | ||
| Engine Model | Kubota D902 | Kubota D902 | Yanmar 3TNV74F | Yanmar 3TNV76 | Yanmar 3TNV74F0 | ||
| Engine | Horsepower (*SAE J 1995 Gross) | HP / rpm | 15.82 / 2300 | 15.2 / 2300* | 14.5 / 2400 | 17.7 / 2600 | 14.5 / 2400 |
| Displacement | cu. in. | 54.8 | 54.8 | 61 | 40 | 61 | |
| Emissions Tier Level (EPA) | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | ||
| Dimension | Overall length | in. | 140.1 | 139.6 | 141.3 | 140 | 136 |
| Overall height | in. | 92.5 | 92.1 | 94 | 92 | 91 | |
| Overall width | in. | 39 / 49 | 39 / 49 | 39 / 50 | 39 / 51 | 37 / 49 | |
| Tail swing type | Zero | Zero | Minimal | Minimal | Zero | ||
| Tail swing overhang | in. | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | — | 0 | |
| Min. ground clearance | in. | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6 | — | 7 | |
| Working range | Max. digging height | in. | 137 | 139.4 | 139 | 136 | 145 |
| Max. dumping height | in. | 95 | 96.1 | 99 | 96 | 104 | |
| Max. digging radius @ ground | in. | 153.5 | 151.2 | — | 146 | 146 | |
| Max. digging depth | in. | 90.2 | 90.9 | 86 | 90 | 91 | |
| Max. vertical digging depth | in. | 69 | 75.2 | — | 62 | 72.8 | |
| Hydraulic System | Pump capacity | GPM | 17 | 11.9 | 13.1 | 10.5 | 15.3 |
| Auxiliary hydraulic flow rate | GPM psi | 5.3 2,176 | 7.3 3,129 | 7.9 — | 9.0 3,481 | 8.1 2,625 | |
| Auxiliary relief | |||||||
| Maximum arm crowd force | lbf | 2,248 | 1,918 | 2,046 | 1,890 | 1,918 | |
| Max. bucket digging force | lbf | 3,597 | 3,417 | 3,597 | 3,190 | 3,417 | |
| Drive system | Traveling speed | mph | 1.5 / 2.1 | 1.4 / 2.6 | 1.5 / 2.6 | 1.7 / 3.5 | 1.3 / 2.7 |
| Max. traction force Track shoe width | lbf in. | 3,507 | 4865 | — | — | 4183 | |
| 9 | 9.1 | 9 | 9.1 | 9.1 | |||
| Ground contact pressure | psi | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.1 | — | 4.1 | |
| Swing system | Unit swing speed | rpm | 9 | 9.1 | 9.4 | — | 9.5 |
| Boom swing angle ( L / R ) | degree | 60 / 50 | 65 / 58 | 70 / 50 | 65 / 57 | 42 / 65 | |
| Blade | Blade width x height | in. | 39 / 49 x 10.2 | 39 / 49 x 10.3 | 39 / 50 x 10.2 | 39 / 51 x 9 | 39 / 51 x 9 |
| Max. lift above ground | in. | 10 | 11 | 11.2 | 11 | 10 | |
| Max. drop below ground | in. | 7 | 7.5 | 9.1 | 12 | — | |
| Capacities | Fuel reservoir | gal. | 4.5 | 5 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Hydraulic reservoir / system | gal. | 4.8 / 2.64 | 3.4 / 6.1 | 3.7 / — | 5.3 / — | 4.4 / — | |
| Operating weight | Rubber tracks, canopy | lbs. | 3,957 | 3,814 | 3,790 | 3,726 | 3,836 |
Power
At the heart of every machine is an engine. The 2.0-ton XCMG XE18U comes equipped with a Tier 4 Final Kubota D902 engine—the same engine that’s in the Kubota U17. All engines meet Tier 4 Final standards.
The Kubota D902 is a 15.8 net hp engine, which is a 20 per cent increase over the last generation, is larger than the 14.5 net hp Yanmar 3TNV74F0 engine that’s in the Yanmar ViO17-A and John Deere 17G compact excavators.
The 2.95-ton XCMG XE27U comes equipped with a 20.7-hp Kubota D1105 engine. This engine provides more power than competitive models from John Deere (26G), Yanmar (ViO26-6A), and Kubota (U25).
Performance
XCMG easily competes with these four manufacturers on numerous key metrics.
When it comes to dig depth, the XCMG XE18U is at the higher end of the range—90.2 inches—versus the lowest (John Deere) at 86 inches and the highest (Yanmar) at 91 inches.
The XCMG XE18U has the highest digging radius at ground level (153.5 inches).
The XE18U also has the highest rated pump capacity at 17 gallons per minute (gpm) and the highest maximum bucket digging force (tied with John Deere) at 3,597 pounds.
And its travel speed (2.4 km/h) is second only to the Caterpillar 301.7D CR (2.7 km/h).
The XCMG XE27U also boasts a class-leading maximum dig depth of 110.2 inches and a class-leading 187 inches maximum digging radius at ground level.
This machine is on the upper end when it comes to dump height (122.8 inches) on a range that goes from 109 inches (Yanmar) to 126.4 inches (Kubota).
XE27U Competitive Specs Comparison
| FEATURE | XCMG XE27U | KUBOTA U25 | Deere 26G | Cat 302.7D CR | Yanmar ViO25-6A | ||
| Engine Model | Kubota D1105 | Kubota D1105 | Yanmar 3TNV80F | Yanmar 3TNV76 | Yanmar 3TNV80F | ||
| Engine | Horsepower (*SAE J 1995 Gross) | HP / rpm | 20.7 / 2400 | 19.8 / 2400 | 20 / 2500 | 20.7 / 2500 | 20.4 / 2500 |
| Displacement | cu. in. | 68.5 | 68.5 | 77 | 68 | 77 | |
| Emissions Tier Level (EPA) | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | Tier 4 Final | ||
| Dimension | Overall length | in. | 164.9 | 163.3 | 165.0 | 168.0 | 161.0 |
| Overall height | in. | 101.6 | 95.3 | 96.0 | 95.0 | 98.0 | |
| Overall width | in. | 59 | 59.1 | 55.0 | 62 | 59.0 | |
| Tail swing type | Minimal | Zero | Zero | Zero | Zero | ||
| Tail swing overhang | in. | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | -1 | 0 | |
| Min. ground clearance | in. | 11.4 | 11.2 | 12.6 | — | — | |
| Working range | Max. digging height | in. | 172.8 | 178.3 | 175 | 169.0 | 176.0 |
| Max. dumping height | in. | 122.8 | 126.4 | 126 | 116.0 | 109.0 | |
| Max. digging radius @ ground | in. | 187 | 183.9 | — | 185.0 | — | |
| Max. digging depth | in. | 110.2 | 106.7 | 102 | 108.0 | 108.0 | |
| Max. vertical digging depth | in. | 90.9 | 101.6 | — | 85.0 | — | |
| Hydraulic System | Pump capacity | GPM | 21.9 | 20.3 | 20 | 23.6 | 24.4 |
| Auxiliary hydraulic flow rate | GPM psi | 7.6 2,610 | 12.7 3,484 | 12.2 — | 13.8 3,263 | 13.6 2,987 | |
| Auxiliary relief | |||||||
| Maximum arm crowd force | lbf | 3,147 | 2,745 | 3,410 | 3,057 | — | |
| Max. bucket digging force | lbf | 5,170 | 5,765 | 4,994 | 5,058 | 4,079 | |
| Drive system | Traveling speed | mph | 1.2 /1.9 | 1.6 / 2.9 | 1.8 / 2.8 | 1.3 / 2.3 | 1.7 / 2.8 |
| Max. traction force Track shoe width | lbf in. | 6,677 | 6745 | — | — | — | |
| 11.8 | 11.8 | 12 | 11.8 | 10 | |||
| Ground contact pressure | psi | 3.7 | 3.32 | 3.6 | 4.7 | — | |
| Swing system | Unit swing speed | rpm | 10 | 9.8 | 9.1 | — | 10 |
| Boom swing angle ( L / R ) | degree | 75 / 55 | 75 / 55 | 70 / 60 | 75 / 50 | 47 / 74 | |
| Blade | Blade width x height | in. | 39 / 49 x 10.2 | 59 x 11.8 | 61 x 14.2 | 61.9 x 11.4 | 59 x 13 |
| Max. lift above ground | in. | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | |
| Max. drop below ground | in. | 13 | 13 | 12 | 16.5 | 13 | |
| Capacities | Fuel reservoir | gal. | 8.7 | 7.4 | 9 | 9.3 | 8.1 |
| Hydraulic reservoir / system | gal. | 5.8 /10.6 | 5.8 / 9.8 | 6.3 / — | 7 / — | 14.3 / — | |
| Operating weight | Rubber tracks, canopy | lbs. | 5,908 | 5,625 | 5,780 | 5,681 | 5,919 |
Features
The final element that proves XCMG compact excavators can compete with “North American” models are the features on XCMG compact excavators.
Both the XE18U zero-tail swing model features a retractable undercarriage for greater mobility, productivity, and safety in confined spaces. Both the 18U and 27U have two, large rearview mirrors which provide optimal visibility. The spacious and ergonomic cab features a new short stroke joystick with a roller switch to operate the attachment which has been demonstrated to reduce operator fatigue. A large LCD display shows machine information for better operation and reduced downtime. Key hydraulic parts are equipped with the latest technologies for faster response, more precise control, greater efficiency and less energy consumption. All serviceable components are easy to access, which will reduce the amount of time spent performing “in-the-field” service.
As you can see, once you compare the specifications and features of XCMG compact excavators to compact excavators in North America sold by other manufacturers, you see the XCMG line can easily compete with these manufacturers.
Contact CanLift Equipment today if you’d like to buy or learn more about XCMG mini excavators.
