Kubota Tractor is one of the world's construction equipment leaders, and its new L48 loader/backhoe hopes to fill what the company sees as a void in the market.

"When Kubota targets a niche market there's typically no one else in it," said Tom Sieper, product manager for the company's backhoe loader line.

He said contractors traditionally have been forced to choose between a smaller backhoe loader, such as Kubota's L35, and cost-prohibitive larger machines for smaller jobs, begging Kubota's question: "Is there a half-step between those machines?"

"It won't replace the 14-foot backhoes on larger jobs, but it will supplement them," Sieper said. "The L48 also has a lower cost for rental centers because it often has the same rental rate as larger machines."

The unit has a backhoe digging depth of 11 feet, 1 inch and a loader lift capacity of 2,540 pounds. It weighs 7,760 pounds and can be transported to and from job sites on a 10k/GVWR trailer.

The L48 offers a maximum lift height of 9 feet, 7 inches and uses a four-bar linkage system to aid the unit's 45-degree bucket rollback and dump angle. Kubota's new E-TVCS high-output, 148.5-cubic-inch, four-cylinder diesel engine powers the backhoe, supplying 48 horsepower with reduced emissions.

The L48 is also four-wheel-drive, making it ideal for front-loader applications, according to the company.