Mecalac recently introduced the 12MTX wheeled excavator loader to the North American market. The 12MTX combines the capabilities of a compact excavator, loader and telehandler into a single machine that can perform various tasks such as digging, loading and material handling. It can also be used as a tool carrier that can handle attachments, such as asphalt planers and flail mowers, that require high-flow hydraulics.
“Anyone who subscribes to the philosophy of ‘do more with less’ or is simply forced to do more with less will appreciate the 12MTX,” said Peter Bigwood, general manager for Mecalac North America. “It’s a compact machine that can work in a tight envelope and do virtually anything you’d expect from the typical job site mainstays — and do it all well.”
A three-piece, variable angle, side-mounted boom provides the 12MTX with great compactness and range of motion. According to the company, it can extend nearly straight in almost any direction or fold back on itself for maximum compactness and higher lifting capability. This compactness helps the machine operate strongly when working near an existing structure or roadway where a mono-boom excavator’s required footprint is too large, such as when laying pipe, putting in sidewalks, mowing along the road or other utility maintenance applications.
The 12MTX’s 20-mph top speed, paired with the machine’s low center of gravity, makes for powerful, stable and precise handling. Operators can take advantage of using the 12MTX for static loading thanks to the low position of the dipper stick cylinder, which provides strong lifting and thrust strength. The machine can lift up to four tons and the engine is positioned in the rear, offering a removed counterweight for greater freedom of handling and movement with larger roads. The 12MTX features an articulated undercarriage, four-wheel drive and five different tire options to keep the machine sufficiently grounded to ensure precision and control.
The machine features high-flow hydraulics with a 37 gpm maximum flow rate and operators can also use a range of attachments, such as a loader bucket, snow removal equipment, mowers, compactors and planers. An automatic unfolding step allows the operator to safely enter and exit the cab. Additionally, the unit features a spacious, ergonomic layout with great visibility due to the boom’s position to the left of the cab so that even when dumping from its maximum height of 16 feet, 5 inches, the operator maintains visibility without the boom obstructing their view.
