Kobelco Construction Machinery America July 6 announced the winner of the “Your Competitive Edge” sweepstakes. Doug Nilsen, owner of Nilsen Topsoil, Millstone Township, N.J., will receive a one-year lease on a new Kobelco 55SRx compact excavator valued at $26,000, two tickets to the U2 360 Degree Tour concert in Chicago on July 5, 2011, and $2,000 spending cash.

The “Your Competitive Edge” sweepstakes promotion celebrates the launch of 13 new Kobelco excavator models in 2011. Nilsen was selected from 2,642 sweepstakes entrants. The sweepstakes promotion is sponsored by Better Roads magazine, a trade publication that reports on the highway, road and bridge construction industry.

“I’m thrilled to have been named the winner,” Nilsen said. “I can’t wait to try out the Kobelco 55SRx excavator. The one-year lease will help out my business a lot.”

A family-owned and operated business, Nilsen Topsoil has specialized in topsoil screening and residential excavation work for 20 years. Nilsen, who has operated excavators for 30 years, said he stumbled across a promotion for the “Your Competitive Edge” sweepstakes while reading Total Landscape Care, a sister publication of Better Roads.

“I talked to my wife, Kathi, about the sweepstakes and we decided to enter,” Nilsen said. “I didn’t think we would win. This is totally unbelievable.”

Nilsen and his wife, Kathi, are big fans of U2. This will be their first time seeing the band perform in concert.

Harter Equipment Inc., a Kobelco dealership in Millstone Township, N.J., will provide the leased 55SRx compact excavator to Nilsen.

“We’ll be using the Kobelco 55SRx on smaller jobs. Getting into those niched jobs where compact excavators are used will help our business tremendously,” Nilsen said.

A true short-radius excavator, the new Kobelco 55SRx delivers the productivity of a larger machine while working in a footprint close to zero tail swing models. The compact excavator includes some of the same features found on larger Kobelco machines. High performance hydraulics, combined with an efficient powertrain, deliver speed, force and fuel efficiency, according to the manufacturer.

Featuring a large boom and arm for a wider operating range, the Kobelco 55SRx delivers 11,240 lbf (50.0 kN) of bucket digging force. Rated at 39 hp (29.3 kW), with an operating weight of 12,295 lbs. (5,577 kg) and a dig depth of 12 ft. 10 in. (3.9 m), the machine is engineered for commercial and residential construction, underground, landscaping and demolition projects. With its compact size and a cab height of 8 ft. 4 in. (2.55 m), the 55SRx is easy to transport between job sites.

In addition to the 55SRx, the Kobelco compact excavator product line includes the 17SR, 27SR, 35SR and 50SR. Kobelco also offers a full range of short-radius, mid-size, Bladerunner and full-size excavators.

For more information, visit www.kobelcoamerica.com.

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