IN Brief:
- The TB3150 offset-boom excavator is now available in the UK following its earlier presentation at Hillhead 2026.
- Its 85kW Yanmar engine is combined with a hydraulic system that Takeuchi says provides more than 14% additional hydraulic horsepower over the TB2150.
- Takeuchi expects the first machines to work on HS2, although no completed deployment or named customer has been confirmed.
Takeuchi UK has confirmed that its TB3150 offset-boom excavator is now available in Britain, expanding the manufacturer’s offering in the 15-tonne machine class. Powered by an 85kW Yanmar engine, the excavator incorporates a boom swing system that allows operators to excavate to one side of the undercarriage without repositioning the tracks. Takeuchi says the first machines are expected to begin working on HS2, although it has not identified the customer, site or date of deployment.
The October announcement establishes UK availability rather than the original introduction of the model. Takeuchi had already presented the TB3150 and its fixed-boom counterpart, the TB3150R, ahead of Hillhead in June 2026. The TB3150R reached the British market earlier in the summer, while the offset-boom version is now being offered as a separate configuration.
Both machines occupy the same general excavator class but address different requirements. The TB3150 uses a conventional tail-swing configuration with an offset boom, while the TB3150R combines a reduced rear overhang with a fixed boom. The two arrangements affect how the excavator can be positioned and operated within a working area, particularly where there are restrictions around the machine.
The TB3150’s boom swing system allows the working equipment to move away from the centreline of the undercarriage. This permits excavation alongside the tracks when the digging position cannot be reached efficiently with the boom aligned straight ahead. The arrangement can be useful for utility trenches and work near boundaries, where repeated movement of a tracked excavator may interrupt an operation or create difficulties around nearby obstacles.
Offset operation does not eliminate the need to assess the machine’s working envelope. A conventional tail-swing excavator still requires sufficient clearance for the rear of the upper structure as it rotates, while the position of the boom and attachment affects the space occupied by the working equipment. The offset mechanism increases the range of digging positions available without moving the tracks, but does not make the TB3150 equivalent to a zero-tail-swing machine.
Takeuchi says reduced repositioning can improve efficiency on constrained worksites. Moving a tracked excavator between successive digging positions can require changes to the surrounding exclusion zone and the position of support vehicles or other equipment. An offset boom can provide a different approach where the excavation remains within the machine’s permitted operating range. The manufacturer has not published a measured UK comparison of excavation time, fuel consumption or output against a conventional excavator undertaking the same task.
The new machine is powered by a 3.8-litre Stage V Yanmar diesel engine rated at 85kW, equivalent to approximately 114hp. Takeuchi also reports more than 14% additional hydraulic horsepower compared with the previous TB2150 model. That figure describes the manufacturer’s comparison of hydraulic power and must not be presented as a measured increase in overall productivity, engine power or digging speed.
Hydraulic power supports the operation of the excavator’s boom, arm, bucket and other functions. During work that involves simultaneous movements, the available hydraulic output and control characteristics influence how the machine responds to operator commands. Takeuchi identifies the revised hydraulic capability as supporting demanding applications, although the October announcement does not provide independent performance testing or a quantified increase in completed work.
The TB3150 has an operating weight of approximately 15.8 tonnes, according to the manufacturer’s product information. Its published specification includes a maximum bucket digging force of 96.3kN. Digging force describes a component of the machine’s working capability, but actual excavation performance also depends on the attachment, ground conditions, machine position and other operating constraints.
Takeuchi has equipped the model with auxiliary hydraulic connections for compatible attachments. The manufacturer’s product information describes up to four auxiliary circuits, including arrangements for hydraulic breakers, rotating attachments and quick couplers. Operators can adjust auxiliary hydraulic flow and pressure from the cab, allowing the machine to be configured for different equipment within the specified limits.
Attachment compatibility depends on matching the requirements of the equipment with the excavator’s available hydraulic flow, pressure and control functions. The presence of several auxiliary circuits does not establish that every attachment can be operated without modification. Takeuchi also identifies an automatic pressure release function intended to assist attachment changes, although the supplier has not reported comparative changeover times.
The operator environment incorporates a colour information display and a combination of pilot-operated and electro-hydraulic controls. Takeuchi identifies an eight-inch screen, joystick controls and provision for adjusting auxiliary functions from the operator’s seat. The equipment is intended to support machine control and access to operating information, with the specific control settings determined by the task and attachment in use.
Visibility is addressed through panoramic glazing and a camera system described by Takeuchi as providing a 270-degree view around the machine. The offset boom arrangement is also positioned to improve the operator’s view to the right-hand side. These features can contribute to awareness of the working environment, but their presence does not remove the need for appropriate site controls, segregation and safe operating procedures.
The manufacturer’s product information also describes an all-steel body, protective counterweight and service access arrangements intended for demanding construction environments. Telematics are available through Takeuchi Fleet Management, which can provide information on machine location, utilisation, performance and maintenance. The availability of those functions does not establish that they will be enabled or used in every customer deployment.
The TB3150R provides an alternative where reducing the machine’s rear overhang is a priority. Its fixed-boom design differs from the offset capability of the TB3150, giving customers two configurations with different operating characteristics. Selection between them will depend on the intended work, available space and required attachments rather than weight class alone.
Takeuchi identifies HS2 as an early application for the newly available TB3150 in Britain. The company says the first machines are about to begin work on the project, but has not published an order quantity, identified the receiving contractor or confirmed that the excavators have already entered service. The announcement therefore supports a prospective deployment rather than a report of completed equipment delivery or measured performance on HS2.
The UK availability milestone follows the earlier presentation of the TB3150 range and the summer arrival of the TB3150R. Takeuchi has not disclosed prices, delivery lead times or initial UK sales volumes for the offset-boom model. The next substantive development will be confirmation of machines entering operation, including the anticipated HS2 application, where their performance can be assessed under actual site conditions.
