Head to head
Kubota U20 vs Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel)
The Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) has 5kW more power.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Engine power: the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) has 5kW more power.
Specifications side by side
| Kubota U20 | Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine power | 13.5kW / 19hp | 18.1 kW / 24.3 bhp at 2,000 rpm |
| Machine weight | 2,380kg (cab) / 2,180kg (canopy) | - |
| Max dig depth | 2,540mm | - |
| Max width | 1,500mm | - |
| Travel speed | 2.2 / 4.2km/h | - |
| Payload | - | 3,000 kg |
| Unladen weight | - | 2,250 kg |
Sources: Kubota U20, 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 U20 if...
A compact zero-tailswing excavator sized to fit through a domestic gateway, used for groundworks, drainage and garden landscaping jobs where space is tight.
Listed by
- West Sussex Plant Hire - Hassocks, Keymer
Buy or hire the MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) if...
- you want one that has 5kW 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 Kubota U20 and the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel)?
The Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) has 5kW more power. The Kubota U20 is a 2-tonne class mini excavator; the Thwaites MACH2080 (3 Tonne Power Swivel) is a a 3 tonne payload swivel-skip site dumper.
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