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Renaud Bouvet of Mecalac demonstrates the 6MCR crawler/skid excavator (foreground).
Powerco Equipment Inc. hosted a Mecalac Road Show event April 12, 2024, in Clinton, N.J.
Potential customers from across the area were given the opportunity to see Mecalac equipment put through its paces and have questions answered by Powerco and Mecalac representatives.
Powerco showcased several models of Mecalac machines and demonstrated many of these during the event. On display were:
- 6MCR crawler/skid excavator
- 8MCR crawler/skid excavator
- 10MCR crawler/skid excavator
- 7MWR compact wheeled excavator
- 15MWR compact wheeled excavator
- 12MTX wheeled excavator
- AX1000 articulated loader
- AS850 swing loader
Both Powerco and Mecalac had product experts on hand to answer questions for guests who were considering adding Mecalac to their fleets. Performing the demonstrations was Mecalac's Renaud Bouvet, who is billed as the "best Mecalac operator on the planet."
Applications for both the MCR and MWR series include construction, hardscape, infrastructure, landscape, municipal maintenance, septic work, supply yards and utility work.
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Depending on how the boom is deployed and the attachment used, the MCR series can function as a skid steer loader or an excavator.
With a center of gravity 25 percent lower than other models, the MWR's high ground clearance doesn't sacrifice stability and four-wheel steering features a turn radius 2.5 times more compact than traditional wheel excavators. A 75-hp (55.4-kW) engine is standard on each model. All of the MWR series are capable of an impressive lifting capacity ratio, with the smallest model able to lift 3 metric tons at 10 ft. through 360 degrees.
Damian Pezzolla, owner of Cranberry Construction LLC, Andover, N.J., attended the event. His company specializes in rock splitting and general excavation.
Pezzolla does not currently own any Mecalac equipment but was considering purchasing the Mecalac 8MCR.
"I'm impressed with the power and versatility of Mecalac equipment," he said. "I like the quick connect set-ups on these. It has an extremely tight turn radius, so when I do a lot of closed border rock splitting jobs and I am in very tight places, this would allow me to run my big rock drill in very tight areas. I can basically be able to have the lift capacity of a big machine, but in a very tight radius and get in all these places I need to get into.
"Running the drill is tough because they are heavy; they weigh around 3,000 pounds, so you need something that can handle it," he added. "But if you can handle the drill, the turn radius becomes massive, and it is very easy. And it's already got a nice quick connect system and the hydraulics are running correctly. They have decent size hydraulics. Basically, I like that you can change attachments quickly. You are going to get the correct hydraulic flow through the hoses, so you are not going to be heating up oil, and you have the strength to pick up these heavy attachments in a tight radius and keep everything tight."
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Fabricio Santamaria is the operating officer of Santamaria Construction, Berkeley Heights, N.J. His company, Santamaria Construction performs brick pavers, concrete work, grading, drainage, excavation and demolition.
"I have been watching these Mecalac machines for quite some time and I am very interested in everything that they do," he said. "I am fascinated by them and what they are able to do. It's an excavator/skid steer right there, and that alone is enough, because there is nobody in the business that offers that. Aside from that is the lift capacity and the power of the boom. They have a small machine, but it is powerful.
"Right now, I am interested in getting the 8MCR or the 10MCR," he added. "The 8MCR or the 10MCR would help me load equipment, load trucks, back retaining walls, grade and do seepage tanks and drainage tanks. The Mecalac equipment has the power to do this. And, you don't have to take two machines to a job — you can just bring one machine. Plus, it is a lot less money in trucking and a lot less in having to pay two operators. So, it makes a lot of sense." CEG
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