Head to head
Bobcat E17z vs Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel)
The Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) has 8kW more power.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Engine power: the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) has 8kW more power.
Specifications side by side
| Bobcat E17z | Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine power | 10.1kW | 18.1 kW / 24.3 bhp at 2,000 rpm |
| Operating weight | 1712kg | - |
| Dig depth | 2230mm | - |
| Breakout force | 11.92kN | - |
| Payload | - | 3,000 kg |
| Unladen weight | - | 2,250 kg |
Sources: Bobcat E17z, Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel). Figures vary by model year and options, so check with the supplier before you commit.
Buy or hire the E17z if...
The 1.5 tonne class is the busiest size in UK hire fleets. At 1,712kg it goes on a braked plant trailer behind a large 4x4 or pickup, and digs to 2230mm for footings, drainage runs and fence posts. Zero tail swing means the back of the machine stays inside the tracks when it slews, so it can work tight against a wall or in one lane of a road.
Listed by
- Compact Plant Sales - Farnham
Buy or hire the MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) if...
- you want one that has 8kW more power
The Thwaites 3 Tonne Power Swivel, badged MACH2080, is the step-up size from the 1 tonne class and a standard fixture on larger UK groundworks and civils sites needing higher payload per cycle. Its power swivel skip rotates independently of the direction of travel, letting the operator tip to the side without turning the whole machine around. It is hired alongside excavators of a similar class to keep material moving off the dig face.
Full MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) specifications →Common questions
What is the difference between the Bobcat E17z and the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel)?
The Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) has 8kW more power. The Bobcat E17z is a 1.5 tonne class mini excavator, zero tail swing; the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) is a a 3 tonne payload swivel-skip site dumper.
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