Eight years ago, Dan Vavrina, Mead, CO, was a heavy equipment operator for a company that rented a compact excavator one day to install sewer lines in a limited access area.

“I was immediately impressed with the power of the small machine,” Vavrina said. “I saw what you could accomplish with it, and I began to rent one for my own use in the evening and weekends. I’d do a job and immediately get calls for more work.”

Before long, Vavrina started his own company — Colorado Mini Excavating. He does trenching, fine grading, demolition, digs basements and builds rock walls, water features and drainage systems.

Today, Vavrina uses a Bobcat 337 excavator, along with a Bobcat 873 loader.

“The power of the 337 continues to amaze me,” Vavrina said. “I often have to move 1,000-lbs. boulders into a precise location. The 337 handles this type of work extremely well.”

Vavrina, who at times works around million dollar-plus homes in the Boulder, CO, area, relies on his 337 to deliver the type of performance that draws rave reviews from contractors and homeowners alike.

“Contractors keep calling because we consistently produce on-grade results, not a couple of inches off grade,” Vavrina explained. “The 337 is a smooth-operating alternative to the tractor-loader-backhoe. And homeowners are impressed with the minimum damage the 337 does to their property.”