HT-10BZ Mini Excavator Helps Belgian Dealer Expand Compact Equipment Market

Equipment: HIGHTOP HT-10BZ 1-Ton Mini Excavator

Project Overview

An equipment dealer in Belgium has noticed a clear shift in the market over the past few years: more and more landscaping contractors, residential builders, and rental shops are looking for a compact excavator that can "get into small yards and get the job done." As the dealer's manager put it: "Customers don't care how big your machine is. They only care whether it can fit through the back gate and dig next to a wall."

After comparing several models, the dealer chose the HIGHTOP HT-10BZ 1-ton mini excavator. What caught his attention were a few "just right" design features: the side-swing boom, the 900mm track width, and the choice of diesel or gasoline engines. When the first batch arrived, the blue HT-10BZ units were lined up in the dealer's yard, ready for delivery to customers across the region.

Customer Challenges

The dealer needed a machine that could:

Fit through standard Belgian garden gates (900mm track width).

Dig next to foundations and fences without constantly repositioning.

Offer both diesel and gasoline engine options for different customer preferences.

Support multiple attachments for rental and contractor use.

Provide simple maintenance and reliable spare parts supply.

Meet CE certification requirements for the Belgian market.

HIGHTOP Solution

What impressed the dealer most about the HT-10BZ was its side-swing boom. Most 1-ton excavators require the tracks to turn before dumping soil or digging around obstacles. The HT-10BZ's boom swings to the side, so the operator can dig a trench parallel to a wall and swing the arm to load a cart — without moving the tracks.

"On a tight residential site, this saves dozens of repositioning moves per day," the dealer said. "The operator finishes the job less tired."

The 900mm track width fits through most standard garden gates. The rubber tracks spread weight evenly, so the machine doesn't leave deep ruts on soft lawns or manicured gardens. For power, the HT-10BZ offers two options: the standard Koop diesel (7 kW) for fuel efficiency and easy servicing with commonly available parts, or the Briggs & Stratton gasoline (10.1 kW) for easier cold-weather starts and quieter operation.

The HT-10BZ digs to a maximum depth of 1.75 meters — deep enough for utility lines, drainage, and residential footings. The dozer blade up front handles backfilling and grading. When the job changes, swap buckets for an auger, breaker, or grading blade. The hydraulic system uses standard components — no proprietary parts that lock the dealer into a single supplier.

Customer Feedback

"We ordered a batch of HT-10BZ units for our stock program. The side-swing boom is what customers mention most — digging next to a wall without repositioning is a big deal on residential sites. The two engine options give us flexibility: rental customers prefer the gasoline version for quieter operation and easier starting, while contractors choose diesel for fuel efficiency and durability. Parts supply has been reliable, so we don't worry about after-sales issues."

— Equipment dealer, Belgium

Project Results

After the first batch arrived, the HT-10BZ units were quickly picked up by local landscaping companies and rental shops. The dealer said customer feedback focused on two things: "It gets in" — the 900mm width fits through most garden gates; and "It stays put" — the side-swing boom makes digging next to walls easy. The dealer now keeps HT-10BZ units in stock year-round, along with buckets, augers, and breaker attachments, so customers can get everything in one visit.

For the European market, demand for compact excavators continues to grow. The dealer believes the HT-10BZ sits in a "sweet spot": more powerful than a micro excavator, more flexible than larger equipment, and with manageable price and maintenance costs.

"For a dealer like us," he said, "this is a machine that sells."