Melroe Ingersoll-Rand recently introduced a new compact excavator offering increased functionality in a variety of space-restricted applications including backyard digging, and pipeline and irrigation system installation. The Bobcat 322 excavator features an expandable undercarriage that retracts to allow access to small excavation sites and expands to improve lifting and digging capabilities from the side of the machine. When retracted, the 322 excavator measures just 99.1 centimeters (39 in.) wide, allowing passage through narrow gates, doorways and trenches. Once the 322 excavator reaches the excavation site, the hydraulically controlled undercarriage expands to 134.6 centimeters (53 in.), providing better side digging and lifting performance. The Bobcat 322 features the highest bucket breakout force in its class and offers a 3.8- meter (12 ft. 5 in.) maximum reach from ground level. With a maximum digging depth of 2.2 meters (7 ft. 2 in.), the 322 excavator is powerful enough for excavation applications ranging from landscaping to utility installations. The Bobcat 322 is the smallest model in Melroe’s growing line of compact excavators which ranges upwards to the 5,075- kilogram (11,190 lb.) model 341, featuring a 4.1-meter (13 ft. 4 in.) maximum digging depth. For more information, visit www.bobcat.com. This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.