Mecalac offers new excavator-loader to North America

The Norfolk, Massachusetts, office of French compact equipment maker Mecalac is now offering its 12MTX wheeled excavator-loader to the North American market.

The 12MTX combines the capabilities of a compact excavator, loader and telehandler into a single machine that excels at digging, loading and material handling, Mecalac says.

“Anyone who subscribes to the philosophy of ‘do more with less’ or is simply forced to do more with less will appreciate the 12MTX,” says Peter Bigwood, general manager for Mecalac North America. “It’s a compact machine that can work in a tight envelope and do virtually anything you’d expect from the typical jobsite mainstays—and do it all well.”

Mecalac describes the 12MTX as a "powerful" tool carrier that can handle attachments, such as asphalt planers and flail mowers, that require high-flow hydraulics.

The “exceptional functionality” of the machine, the company adds, eliminates the need for multiple pieces of equipment on the jobsite in industries such as construction, demolition, on-site recycling, roadbuilding, landscaping, utility, tunneling and forestry/tree care.

“The multipurpose machine ultimately maximizes profitability by reducing maintenance, labor and equipment transportation costs,” Mecalac says.

A three-piece, variable angle, side-mounted boom provides the 12MTX with compactness and range of motion, allowing it to work in areas some mono-boom excavators can’t, according to the company.

“This compactness shines when working near an existing structure or roadway where a mono-boom excavator’s required footprint is too large,” Mecalac says. “Operators can enjoy an increased working envelope while limiting the need to reposition the machine.”

The 12MTX’s 20-mph top speed allows the machine to quickly navigate jobsites and gives operators the option to drive to a site or gas station without loading it onto a trailer, says Mecalac.

The machine can lift up to four tons and the engine is positioned in the rear, offering a removed counterweight for greater freedom of handling and movement. An articulated undercarriage, four-wheel drive and five different tire options keep the machine sufficiently grounded to ensure precision and control, adds the company.

The machine’s hydraulics are configured so operators can go "far beyond" what a mini excavator typically offers by easily equipping it with a range of attachments, says Mecalac, using a quick coupler system.

On the safety and comfort fronts, Mecalac says users will enjoy a spacious, ergonomic layout with great visibility and minimal blind spots. The 12MTX provides superior visibility due to the boom’s position to the left of the cab so that even when dumping from its maximum height of 16 feet, 5 inches, operators maintain superior visibility without the boom obstructing their view. An optional heated pneumatic seat, heat and air conditioning offers improved comfort in cold climates.

“At a time when costs are high and labor is hard to come by, the 12MTX eliminates the need for a big crew, and the need to buy, maintain and haul numerous pieces of equipment," Bigwood says.