Mecalac has introduced its line of crawler skid-excavators — the newly updated MCR Series.
Comprised of three models, the 6MCR, 8MCR and 10MCR, Mecalac’s line of compact skid excavators are said to offer superior speed, productivity and compact operation over traditional mini-excavators. The machines provide the swiftness of a skid steer with the 360-degree rotation of an excavator for versatility and travel speeds two times faster than any small excavator. A compact footprint brings Mecalac’s signature end-user-focused design to new applications and industries for increased safety, sustainability and efficiency.
“One of the main goals of every Mecalac design is reducing congestion on the jobsite by providing one machine that can take the place of several,” said Peter Bigwood, general manager for Mecalac North America. “The MCR Series is truly multifunctional, acting as a skid steer, excavator or rough terrain forklift, depending on the attachment. We designed the new MCR series to go faster than anything else its size because we know time is of the essence on every jobsite. But speed is only part of the equation when it comes to efficiency, so we added an unparalleled range of motion with the patented three-part Mecalac boom system, allowing operators to do more from a single position. Together these capabilities produce truly game-changing versatility.”
The new MCR Series features a hydrostatic transmission and drive motors strong enough to take on any job. A dedicated pump drives the motor, allowing for twice the speed of any traditional mini excavator on the market. Each of the three machines is capable of travel speeds up to 6.2 mph (10 km/h). This significantly reduces time spent traveling across jobsites, resulting in faster cycle times and less unnecessary downtime.
On the jobsite, the MCRs’ groundbreaking versatility increases productivity and reduces congestion. This is due in part to the company’s patented quick coupler, CONNECT. The advanced system allows operators to quickly transition between attachments — such as pallet forks or digging buckets — without leaving the cab, decreasing downtime between tasks and increasing overall productivity. Additionally, once the pins are engaged, CONNECT guarantees zero risk of dropping a bucket.
Using a range of attachments, contractors can easily do the job of several machines with a single unit, freeing up resources and space without sacrificing efficiency. With a skid bucket attachment, contractors can move up to .98 cubic yards (.75 cubic meters) of material at top speed or rest the bucket against the blade for applications such as grading and ground leveling. This innovative feature stabilizes the bucket, distributing the forces to the frame of the machine and reducing stress on the boom, prolonging component life.
MCR units combine Mecalac’s innovative three-part arm and a rotating ability to deliver superior performance as part of the company’s signature 360-degree compactness. The extended range of movement increases flexibility and reach while minimizing unnecessary movement, allowing operators to do more from a single position or within confined spaces. The three-part arm can also be tucked in, even with a full bucket, allowing for extra compactness and mobility without overbalancing the unit in the front — resulting in a true zero-turn radius. In addition, the boom system gives the MCR unprecedented lifting capacities – pound for pound, exceeding anything else on the market.
