Sany developing 1.6/3.5t mini excavators

12 August 2013

Sany's Dacheng Zhu stands next to a prototype Sany SY16E excavator at the company's Shanghai manufacturing facility.

Sany is developing 1.6 t and 3.5 t mini excavators as part of its strategy to become a full line excavator manufacturer.

The Chinese manufacturer hopes to have the two small models ready for launch at next year’s Conexpo-Con/Agg show in Las Vegas. The company’s current excavator line-up comprises models starting at 5.5 t, although just four – the 7.5 t, 13.5 t, 21.5 t and 23.5 t units – are certified for European and North American markets.

Dacheng Zhu, general manager of the overseas business of Sany Heavy Machinery – the division that makes excavators and piling equipment – told International Rental News (IRN) that Sany had research and development teams in China, North America and Europe helping to develop the new products.

Currently around 90% of Sany’s excavators are sold in China, but the company wants the share of exports to increase to more than 30%. Its main export markets are Asia Pacific, Africa, India, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Mr Zhu said having a full–line of excavators was important to breaking into the North American and European markets. He said Sany understood that selling to rental companies in these markets would not happen overnight, with the company having to establish sales channels as well as machines designed for these markets, including zero- and short-tail models and a range of attachments.

Sany manufactures most of its excavators at two plants in China, one at Kunshan, which makes small and large units, and a more recent facility near Shanghai that produces models in the 20 to 38 t range. It also has a plant in India that makes excavators and in addition assembles excavators in Brazil, with a plan to produce a ‘localised’ 20 t unit next year.

Sany, which owns Putzmeister and has a joint venture with Palfinger, is one of the largest Chinese manufacturers of construction equipment. It started producing excavators in 2000 and these products are now its second most important in terms of revenue, although still far behind concrete machinery.