Step 1: Match the weight class to your application
Excavator weight class — sub-6 tonne mini, 13-20 tonne small, 20-30 tonne medium, 30-50 tonne heavy, 50+ tonne mining — is the single biggest decision. Get this right first; everything else follows.
- Mini (2-6t) — Caribbean landscaping, urban utility work, pool excavation
- Small (8-15t) — utility trenching, small foundation work
- Medium (20-30t) — general construction, road work, quarry preparation
- Heavy (30-50t) — quarry primary loading, mining-feeder operations
- Mining (50+t) — open-pit primary loading, bauxite, gold mining
See: What size excavator do I need?
Step 2: Pick a brand
Brand choice drives parts availability, dealer support, financing options, and 5-year resale value. Across our 24-country service area we supply 24 brands — premium tier (CAT, Komatsu, Hitachi, Volvo, Liebherr), upper-mid tier (JCB, Hyundai, Develon, Kobelco), and value tier (SANY, XCMG, Zoomlion, LiuGong, Sunward, Hidromek). Each tier has its strongest applications.
See: Japanese brands compared · Chinese brands compared
Step 3: Specify configuration
Once weight class and brand are chosen, configuration matters more than buyers realise — undercarriage track-shoe pattern, bucket pattern, hydraulic-circuit options, cab certification. Two identical-model machines can perform very differently depending on configuration. Specify everything at order time — retrofitting later costs 30-50% more.
Step 4: Select attachments
Standard machines ship with one GP bucket. Most operations need at least: rock bucket, hydraulic breaker, hydraulic thumb, quick coupler, ripper tooth. Order at point of sale — adds ~15% to machine cost vs ~40% retrofit cost.
See: Excavator attachments guide
Step 5: New, refurbished, or rental
New excavators win on long-term TCO (5+ year horizon). Refurbished wins on cash-flow-constrained buyers with 2-4 year horizons. Rental wins on sub-6-month projects or specialist machines used once per year.
See: New vs used analysis · Rental vs purchase
Step 6: Arrange financing
Most excavator purchases over $100k are financed. Routes include manufacturer-backed credit (SANY Capital, Hyundai Capital, XCMG Finance, JCB Finance, Develon Capital), regional commercial banks, and lease-to-own structures. Match repayment to project cash flow.
Step 7: Plan logistics and customs
Caribbean delivery: 2-5 weeks via container shipping. African delivery: 5-10 weeks depending on port, customs efficiency, and inland transport. Mining-sector buyers can typically apply for duty exemption under the destination country's Mining Act — process takes 4-6 weeks; plan early.
See: Lead times by port · How to import to Africa
Step 8: Operator training
Trained operators deliver 20-40% higher productivity than untrained. Every major-class machine sale from us includes operator training — manufacturer-certified where available, on-site otherwise.
Step 9: Set up after-sales
Parts availability, scheduled service, and field-service response time determine actual cost of ownership more than upfront price. We hold fast-moving parts inventory for every brand in our regional warehouse network and provide 72-hour breakdown response across both regions.
Step 10: Request a quote
Contact our team with your country, application, weight class preference, brand preference, and configuration needs. We respond within one business day with a tailored quote, lead time, and financing terms.