Capital Equipment News September 2021

Smith Power launches U17-3 mini- excavator

The Kubota U17-3 particularly excels in tight working spaces.

Smith Power Equipment has introduced the new Kubota U17-3, a 1,7-tonne compact excavator that punches above its weight with greater power and smooth performance in space- restricted working environments. Since the initial introduction of Kubota mini-excavators in South Africa in 2015, the range has proven why the Japanese OEM is the global leader in compact excavators. Replacing the predecessor U15 model, the new Kubota U17-3 further entrench- es Kubota as the ‘pick of the bunch’ and an unquestionable first choice for tackling jobs in the tightest of spaces. While the machine is similar to the U15, Michele Cicognani, national product & sales specialist at Smith Power, says the U17-3 “packs a bigger punch” with more power under the hood to handle a variety of tasks as well as better ground breaking force, excellent digging depth and reach. “One of the key selling points is the Kubota 16 hp engine, delivering superior horsepower and performance, as well as low noise, vibration levels and exceptional fuel efficiency,” says Cicognani. “With a working performance of 15,2 KN, 2 310 mm digging depth and 3 900 mm digging radius, the U17-3 has the power you need, when you need it most.” The HMS hydraulic system also ensures greater operational performance. Kubota adopts a 3-pump system, which uses three independent pumps for boom, arm and swivel to make the coop- eration of bucket, boom and swivel as smooth and efficient as possible. It allows the high capacity control valve and hydraulic variable pumps to realise superb excavating and loading perfor- mance. The Kubota U17-3 particularly excels in tight working spaces. The zero-tail swing means that the operator can rotate the cab of this 1,7-tonne excavator in any direction without any part of it going over the tracks. This makes it a perfect choice for working in tight, enclosed areas where bigger excavators can’t get to. “The zero-tail turn, combined with the 2 310 mm maximum dig- ging depth, means the Kubota U17-3 is a versatile excavator that can be deployed across applications in farming, plumbing, fibre trenching and construction contracting,” says Cicognani. With the U17-3, Kubota also paid particular attention to operator comfort, which is critical to overall productivity on site. The work station is more spacious than the predecessor model and features a selection of enhancements to make long days more comfortable. The deluxe high-back seat provides optimal comfort for any size operator and the wide foot area is spacious and reduces operator fatigue. b

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