In recent years, the mini equipment market (diggers / loaders) has exploded as a result of the versatility, ease of use and transportation of the equipment, and is one of the fastest growing market segments for the hire and rental industry.

According to Steve Ashendon, National Sales Manager for Dingo Mini Diggers, the mini digger/loader market is now estimated to be worth $20 million per year.

“The mini digger/loader market is a huge and growing market in terms of sales and has been steadily growing for Dingo at a rate of 50% pa for the past five years,” Mr Ashendon said.

“The hire industry represents about 35% of all Dingo mini digger sales, which is a large segment of our sales,” he said.

Another factor in the increased and growing popularity of mini equipment is in its labour saving capabilities.

“In the past 10 years, workplace practices have changed. Whereas previously building sites may have utilised manual labour, nowadays our machines are replacing manual labour. Now, instead of using a labourer, wheelbarrow and shovel, our mini digger can go in and complete the digging task in a fraction of the time, not to mention cost.

“Changes to WorkCover and Work Care and recent amendments to OH&S stipulations make utilisation of mini equipment a much more attractive option,” Mr Ashendon said.

While mini equipment has been in production since the early 1980s, mini equipment of today is much more powerful and efficient than ever before, and more cost-effective.

“Building sites tend to be a lot smaller these days and feature many tight spaces. Access can also be an issue for larger digging equipment, which is where mini diggers come into their own,” Mr Ashendon said.

“From a hiring perspective, return on investment is quick as a result of the low maintenance requirements which in turn creates a quicker turn around time for equipment hire. Beginners can take a Dingo home on a trailer themselves without need for delivery and pick up, and with minimal instruction and be able to operate the equipment (although licenses are required for use on building sites in NSW).”

According to Mr Ashendon, Dingo mini diggers are in such high market demand because of their robust quality and simplistic design which requires little maintenance.

“Our machines are virtually maintenance free and definitely stand up to the rigours of hire,” Mr Ashendon said.

It is also the Dingo after sales service and support from branches and distributors in every state which make Dingo an attractive mini equipment option.

“We can offer same day parts delivery and support direct from the manufacturer. And to top it off, our machines are the only ones with a twin pump hydraulic system providing two speeds of operation, making it the safest machine on the market,” he said.

As a point of interest, Mr Ashendon pointed out how the industry is commonly called the “mini loader” industry, while Dingo commonly refers to it as the “mini digger” industry.

“This is because Dingo machines are particularly good at digging tasks – excelling at trenching and posthole digging via the best hydraulic power in its class.”

The backhoe is the most ingenious piece of modern construction equipment on the market today. It’s versatile and flexible and comes with a broad range of attachments that aid with digging and excavation.When looking to buy used backhoes for sale, one of the first things to consider after you’re done a test drive, is the proper inspection of the used backhoe. This insures, as much as possible, that it is free of any mechanical, hydraulic or electrical problems.

For instance, new paint jobs can look good, but are sometimes used to cover up more serious problems. Look for signs of fluid leaks and concealed rust spots to find potential problems. Check underneath the vehicle for evidence of leaks. Inspect hoses and valves before and after the test drive, so you can easily spot fresh leaks.

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Before buying a used backhoe for sale from a private individual, ask a dealer or manufacturer for a checklist of what you should know and/or be looking for, to insure good decision making.Making calculations when purchasing a good used backhoe, is paramount in your decision making. The number of hours used should be one of the main criteria when estimating the price, because you do not want to end up spending more money in the long run. In other words, the more the hours the less the price.

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