As fleet managers expand their excavator fleets to meet growing demand, new models from top manufacturers like Caterpillar and Hitachi Construction Machinery feature enhanced performance and efficiency, driving down ownership costs.
Driven by infrastructure projects and urban development, the construction boom in 2024 has seen a significant uptick in excavator sales this year, says Samer Ismail, Product Manager – Earthmoving and Excavation at Caterpillar distributor Al-Bahar. “Additionally, the increasing focus on efficiency and fuel efficiency has led to a higher demand for advanced excavator models,” says Ismail.
In terms of utilization trends, customers increasingly seek versatile machines capable of handling a broader range of tasks, from excavation and material handling to demolition and site preparation, notes Ismail.
Thanks to their power and versatility, excavators are essential across a wide spectrum of projects, from residential construction to large-scale infrastructure development.
“Our diverse range of excavators, from compact models to powerful production machines, ensures we can meet the specific needs of our customers, regardless of project size or complexity,” says Ismail.
As labor costs rise and demand for skilled operators grows, comfort and fatigue-reducing features have become more critical than ever.
Ismail notes that the range of Cat excavators have spacious, ergonomically designed cabs with intuitive controls and excellent visibility. “Features like automatic climate control, advanced seat technology, and low-noise levels contribute to a more comfortable and productive work environment.”
A major launch this year for Caterpillar was an overhauled 336, a key model in the range with its 37.5 tonne operating weight. Ismail points to significant advancements in productivity, fuel efficiency, and overall operating costs in the new machine.

Described as having “the right balance of power and payload,”the machine is built with a Cat C7.1 TTA engine, with net power of 225kW (ISO 14396).
It has three different power modes, allowing operators to get the performance they need for a specific task while conserving fuel. That encompasses Power mode, with maximum power, Smart mode that which automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions to lower fuel consumption, and Eco mode, which minimises fuel consumption by dropping engine speed to a constant 1,500 RPM.
Impressive maintenance intervals also deliver savings, with engine oil and fuel filters synchronized for service at 500 hours, increasing uptime and reducing parts and labor costs.
Fuel tank capacity sits at 600 liters, while the hydraulic system has a 373-liter capacity (including the 161-liter hydraulic tank).
With the machine designed for global markets including the Middle East, with high-ambient temperature capability of 52˚C, the air intake filter with pre-cleaner features high dust capacity, while a high-efficiency hydraulic fan offers optional automatic reverse to keep cores free from debris.
“Cat’s reputation for reliability is well-deserved,” says Ismail. “Coupled with features like VisionLink, our customers can benefit from increased uptime and reduced maintenance costs. This ultimately contributes to higher residual values for their machines.”
A new generation
This year Hitachi Construction Machinery launched its new generation ZX350H Zaxis-7G hydraulic excavator, a key machine and part of its revamped range that includes the larger ZX490LC-7G, ZX690LC-7G, ZX890LC-7G machines.
The ZX350H-7G weighs in at around 34 tonnes, with an Isuzu 6HK1 engine that develops 200 kW of power at 1,900 rpm (ISO 14396), with over 1,000NM of torque.
With the machine having been demonstrated at a number of customer events across the region, so far the response has been very positive, with customers impressed by the machine performance and productivity, says Ahmed Karar, Product & Technical Support Manager at Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East.
“The improved swing- speed as well as the improved fuel consumption, which is reduced by around 20% compared to the previous model, makes it a game changer in the market,” says Karar. “Customers who own this machine or have had a chance to try it in a demo at one of our events, are simply loving the total performance of the machine.”
Ergonomic features include a newly-designed spacious cab, 8-inch display, high performance AC, and easily adjustable controls. “This makes it enjoyable and easy to operate, especially in long shifts,” he says.

Karar notes that the product development processes for the machines drew extensively on customer feedback, coupled with Hitachi’s innovation and in-house engineering know-how.
“HCM has been a technology powerhouse and knowledge centre for more than half a century. Customers want reliable and cost-effective solutions, and we have the knowledge and capability to follow up on these requests and produce state of the art machines.”
Target markets include construction, infrastructure, quarrying and mining. Given omni-present cost pressures, Karar says the new machine should give customers a healthy increase in production, faster cycle times, and reduced fuel consumption, resulting in an excellent ROI for users.
Efficiency-focused features include an eco-gauge, which displays the current fuel consumption during an operation, helping the operator achieve lower fuel consumption; automatic engine shutdown after a specific time of idling; and eco guidance, which prompts operators to achieve better fuel economy.
The machine is also optimised for using a diverse range of attachments, with the ability to change flow, pressure and controllability settings using the multifunctional monitor in the cab, and create up to 16 named and customised presets.
HMEC attachments include crusher, breaker, grapple, drum cutter, vibro-hammer along with a large range of bucket sizes, allowing users to achieve optimum performance across a large range of special applications.
The new range of machines are specifically designed to operate in the harsh conditions of the Middle East and Africa.
Thickened steel plates, damage prevention plates and square bars have been added to sections of the XZ350H-7G boom and arm that face most wear, for additional durability. A new pin design on the boom is designed to reduce jerking and noise, and lubricated with HN Bushing the greasing interval is extended up to 500 hours.
All the new ZX-7G models are equipped with an updated higher efficiency filtration system. “This substantially increases the service intervals. Along with the new robust components design that makes it the perfect candidate for the Middle East and Africa regions,” concludes Karar.
Hazard detection system
The bird’s-eye view feature, originally found in passenger vehicles, uses external cameras to create a top-down perspective, giving operators a clear view of potential hazards around the machine.
This technology is now being applied to heavy-duty machinery, available as an option on Hitachi’s new Zaxis-7G. Along with an optional rear vision camera, the bird’s-eye view shows a top-down view around 270 degrees of the machine.
Operator awareness of the surrounding area is a key safety factor in reducing operational hazards, notes Ahmed Karar, Product & Technical Support Manager at Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East.
“The aerial system provides an accurate view of any surrounding hazards and notifies the operators of any human or object approaching the working space, using multi sound and visual grade notifications depending on how close the approaching object is to the working parameter.”