Case revisits a recognized technology in compact

Case Construction Equipment has just started production in their plant in San Mauro, their new range of mini excavators. Based on a design by the Korean Hyundai, this new offer - which will eventually count 10 models from 1 to 6 t - has been finalized through a mode of sharing know-how. For the time being, the existing 5.5 t tire excavator model at Hyundai is not included in the Case offer.

Andy Blanford, EMEA vice president of Case Construction, insists on setting up this partnership based on joint investment, technology sharing and ultimately on the development of new models. An agreement is based on what has already been done with Sumitomo two years ago with the integration in San Mauro of a large part of the production of large hydraulic excavators and which now exceeds 50 % of sales in these segments in Europe.

For the time being, the San Mauro plant has begun production of 6 models of mini diggers from 1 to 5 t, the other two crawler models of 5.7 and 6 t will be manufactured in Korea. Quickly, Case aims to vertically integrate all the production of mini excavators with complete control of structural elements welded mechanically, such as chassis and front equipment, arms arrow, on the same criteria of control and quality of its biggest D series excavators. The other key components, engines and hydraulic pumps, are of Japanese origin: Mitsubishi engines for small models, Kubota for the 2.6 t mini excavator and Yamnar for the rest of the range.

For Patrick Degen, managing director of Case France, this new offer is a strong argument for positioning itself on the French rental market, but always in a collaborative marketing vision with the support of its distribution network, to ensure quality. "Our performance in the heavy duty range of excavators and wheel loaders in 2016 gives us the confidence and motivation to double our market share in the mini-excavator segment in the next two years ."