Cat® 319 compact radius excavator

Talk to a dealer
319
319

Proven performance where space is tight

Talk to a dealer
Talk to a dealer


By Caterpillar  | Posted: March 30, 2026

When Andreas Habermann, head of the construction company that bears his name and is based in Waakirchen in the Bavarian district of Miesbach, takes the controls of the new 319 compact radius excavator, expectations are high.

The contractor normally operates a Cat® 323, but he is equally familiar with all the other machines in the family‑owned company’s fleet. These include additional crawler excavators such as the Cat® 325, 325D, and 323E; mini excavators like the Cat® 301.8, 306, and 309; wheel loaders including two Cat® 950s, a Cat® 930, and a 926; as well as dozers such as the Cat® D6 and D5.

Because the operator originally scheduled for the job was unavailable, Andreas Habermann stepped into the cab himself.

“The best excavator we’ve ever had was a Cat® 320ELRR. It was the predecessor of our current machine and impressed across the board thanks to its dimensions. The excavator was powerful, had plenty of force, and was extremely easy to handle.”

That set the benchmark.

His first conclusion about the new 319 compact radius excavator was clear.

“This excavator is exactly what we need. It’s very easy to operate.”

To understand why, we took a closer look at how the machine performs in everyday work.

Operating Weight

Right in the sweet spot for real jobsites

“The weight of 21.6 tonnes is a perfect fit. The excavator delivers the power we need on jobsites, for example when excavating for single‑family homes. It can easily compete with a 25‑tonne excavator. However, machines in that class are often too large for our purposes, while a Cat 315 pushes us to our limits. That’s why the Cat 319 CR sits right in the sweet spot.”

Andreas Habermann

Performance

Strong, quiet, and efficient throughout the day

“The excavator delivers strong performance. The 98.9 kW (135 hp) engine runs quietly. After the first 40 operating hours under heavy-duty conditions, the fuel tank is still half full.”

Andreas Habermann

Reach and Digging Depth

Built for everyday construction work

“The reach is just right. Even when excavating construction pits, we manage very well with the 2.60‑meter adjustable boom. Standard construction pits are around 3.3 meters deep. The excavator achieves a digging depth of 5.46 meters, which is more than sufficient. If we need to go deeper, we have to excavate from below anyway.”

Andreas Habermann

319
of

Transport

Compact dimensions that simplify logistics

“If we need to transport the excavator to job sites using a low-loader, the transport width is not an obstacle. At 2.90 meters, we have no issues with clearance restrictions. The compact design not only offers advantages during transport but also when working in confined spaces. However, there are civil engineering job sites that we cannot access directly with a low-loader. In those cases, the excavator has to travel a short distance on the road under its own power. For that reason, we would equip the machine with rubber pads if we were to take it over.”

Andreas Habermann

compact radius design

Confidence when working close to obstacles

“The machine has 700‑millimeter‑wide track shoes. Despite the compact radius design, it stands very stable thanks to blade support. Nothing wobbles, even when I lift heavy material with the bucket.

Especially for our forestry road construction work, it’s important that the upper structure does not extend beyond the undercarriage. When building skid roads, there must be no risk of hitting tree trunks when slewing.

This is becoming increasingly important on construction sites as well. When backfilling properties, we need to work very close to buildings, which is always possible with the 319 compact radius excavator thanks to its rear swing radius of 1,750 millimeters.”

Andreas Habermann

Comfort and Visibility

Designed around the operator

“The cab offers plenty of space. The joystick controls for the tiltrotator are easy to operate. There are no limitations to visibility. The cameras provide a clear image, with no light glare or distortion.”

Andreas Habermann

Assistance Systems

Technology that supports precise work

“When we excavate construction pits, we use GPS. We load the terrain data onto a USB stick, so we know exactly where and how much we need to dig.”

Andreas Habermann

a compact radius excavator that earns its place

The new 319 compact radius excavator fully met Andreas Habermann’s expectations. For him, the conclusion is clear: the machine has earned a permanent place in his fleet.

part 1
of
Part 2
of

Test Conditions

One excavator, many applications

The first task for the 319 compact radius excavator was backfilling work. The next stop was deep in the forest. The machine had to handle a longer uphill stretch typical of the Upper Bavarian region before repairing and stabilizing a forestry road section. This involved spreading and compacting silty material mixed with coarse stones over a grid mat.

“The excavator is well suited for a wide range of attachments,” explains Theresia Brändle.

The construction company worked with a bucket equipped with a tiltrotator as well as a mounted compactor.

“That has proven very effective, especially when we need to compact material along buildings. We don’t need an additional vibrating plate or a second worker. We can do everything with the excavator.” - Andreas Habermann

A quick coupler supported fast tool changes.

“This turns the machine into a carrier unit that can work multifunctionally.” - Dominik Wiesböck, senior sales representative, Zeppelin Munich

bauma
of

built for modern construction requirements

The 319 compact radius excavator is available with mono or variable boom configurations and different stick lengths. It is part of Caterpillar’s latest machine generation and can be equipped with integrated assistance systems such as 2D grade control, grading assist, payload system, lift and swing limitation, and heavy lift. Factory‑integrated Cat® Grade 3D is also available.

These technologies are designed to support precise work results and help operators stay efficient on busy jobsites.

Interested in personalized recommendation?

Talk to your Cat® dealer

Follow our social media feed