We are used to seeing countless jobs carried out by mini excavators, but a novel application involving a new Develon DX20Z-7 model demonstrates just how flexible the machines are and how imaginative operatives can be. And needless to say, for those of you thinking of building a home in Spain, it’s food for thought.
Ismael Cabrera, manager of Ciment i Estructures Costa Brava, explains: “On the latest job where we used the Develon DX20Z-7 mini excavator on a house renovation project, there have been so many advantages thanks to the machine’s versatility. The excavator was able to move freely inside the house, even going down the narrow stairs of this family home. This has translated into operator comfort, savings in time and costs, and provided a solution where other larger machines were unsuitable.”
In the home in question, a number of jobs were carried out with the mini excavator, but the most unusual one without a doubt was the installation of 26 panes of glass on the facades and interiors of various sizes, weighing between 320 and 400kg.
To do this, a special suction cup attachment had to be used for installing the panes, allowing the excavator to access certain windows directly from inside the home, instead of using a truck-mounted crane externally. This made the installation easier, quicker and safer.
Ismael Cabrera added: “We find projects are increasingly more difficult and refurbishments are even more so. In our area, specialist jobs are very costly and we have to try to do the work with our own workers and our machines, so that it is profitable. Previously we carried out this type of work with rented machinery. Now we can save on hire costs, paperwork and by doing it ourselves we bring it together better and in a more agile way.”
He continued: “In the company, there are four of us who operate the machines and we all agree that the Develon DX20Z-7 is very easy to handle, in addition to being very comfortable for the operator, providing unbeatable visibility, high safety and robustness. In terms of fuel consumption, we have found it is very low. Our overall rating of the DX20Z-7 would definitely be 10.”
