Caterpillar Excavator vs Komatsu Excavator

 

Several construction equipment rental companies offer to their clients between a Caterpillar Vs Komatsu machine. While both of those machines have familiar names, which one is best for your job? We compared both excavators to search out the solution.

For decades, Caterpillar had a stellar reputation among the development community for producing a prime quality machine. In recent years, however, a variety of competitors have greatly improved the standard of their products, while Caterpillar has struggled with some issues at their foreign factories. Many construction managers are reporting difficulties with Caterpillar excavators.

While there aren't any official surveys done of maintenance and repairs made to construction equipment, there's lots of anecdotal evidence to sort through. Before the 1990s, the corporate had a superb reputation for construction equipment. While repairs were rarely needed, replacement parts were easy to search out, since all excavators were manufactured in America. Over the past 20 years, however, outsourcing of production has coincided with many construction managers noticing that their machines need more repairs. 

Komatsu saw the opening and has moved to greatly increase the standard of their construction equipment. Today, many construction managers swear by their Komatsu excavators. Because they're manufactured outside the, however, many have reported that finding replacement parts is problematic. This might make them, but ideal in areas where obtaining replacement parts is difficult.

When comparing both the purchase prices, Caterpillar machines have long been significantly dearer than Komatsu. In recent years, however, Komatsu has instituted a series of price increases to coincide with its greater target quality and performance. Furthermore, the imported parts required for Komatsu repairs have meant that rental companies must pay more for repair work. Together, these two factors have meant that a lot of rental companies are charging nearly the identical amount for excavators from Komatsu and Caterpillar.

Komatsu and Caterpillar both make over a dozen different models of excavators. These tend to come back in four weight categories. Komatsu Mini-excavators typically weigh in around 7,000 lbs and have a horsepower of 25.7 to 38. The corporate also produces some specialty equipment with HP of 68 or higher. Dig depth tends to below, however, usually averaging about 60 inches on the mini models. Caterpillar’s mini-excavators are closely half this size, with a weight closer to 3,700 lbs, and horsepower that range from 13 to 44. These machines’ dig depth can range from 126 to 186 inches.

Komatsu’s mini-excavators are closer to Caterpillar’s small machines. Komatsu’s “small” machines have a mean horsepower of around 190, and operating weights of 25,000 to 50,000. Komatsu and Caterpillar machines have fairly comparable specs within the medium category. The machines weigh in between 50,000 and 75,000, with a horsepower of around 160 to 210. Large excavators weigh up to 250,000 lbs in both categories and have horsepower between 1000 and a pair of 2,100. For dig depth, Caterpillar's larger equipment can go up to 248 inches, whereas Komatsu machines rarely go above 196 inches.