HPE Africa is the proud supplier of Hyundai Backhoe Loaders across Southern Africa.
When your operation requires both excavation and loading capability in a single machine, a backhoe loader eliminates the need for multiple pieces of equipment on site. HPE Africa supplies Hyundai’s backhoe loader range, including the HB640 and H940S models, giving you excavation depth, loader capacity, and the mobility to move between tasks efficiently.
These machines handle the varied work you encounter daily. Backhoe loaders excel in utility trenching where you're digging water lines, sewer pipes, or electrical conduits and need precise depth control in confined urban spaces. The backhoe attachment provides dig depths to 4.7m on the HB640, while the front loader moves material and backfills trenches without repositioning the machine.
For foundation work on construction sites, you'll use the loader bucket to strip topsoil and stockpile materials, then switch to backhoe operation for excavating footings and service trenches. This dual capability matters most on smaller sites where space restrictions prevent operating separate excavators and wheel loaders simultaneously. Municipal maintenance operations benefit from the same versatility when repairing infrastructure, clearing drainage channels, or handling material at depot yards.
The HB640 series delivers loader bucket capacity up to 1.26m³ with breakout forces of 8,793 kgf, handling material loading for trucks up to 10 tons. When you switch to backhoe work, you get a bucket force of 6,320 kgf, which handles compacted soils and clay conditions common in African excavation work. The H940S provides similar capabilities with a Perkins engine option delivering 100 HP for operations requiring additional power.
Four-wheel drive systems improve traction on unimproved sites and wet conditions. You'll notice this capability when working on slopes, muddy construction sites, or unpaved roads where two-wheel drive machines lose traction.
Hydraulic systems use global components—Casappa pumps, Walvoil valves, and Carraro transmissions—proven in construction equipment worldwide. This component selection affects your operation because parts availability and service knowledge exist across dealer networks, reducing downtime when maintenance or repairs become necessary.
Your typical work pattern determines which model and options fit best. Operations focused on utility installation and light foundation work generally operate efficiently with standard configurations—mechanical controls, standard buckets, and basic attachments. When you're handling materials that require specialized buckets or working in applications needing hydraulic attachments like breakers, you'll specify third-function hydraulic kits and quick-coupler systems.
Cab configurations affect operator comfort during extended shifts. ROPS/FOPS certified cabs provide weather protection and climate control, which matters for operations in extreme heat or dust conditions. Air-suspension seats and ergonomic control placement reduce operator fatigue when running 8-10 hour shifts.
Standard backhoe buckets range from 0.22m³ general-purpose to 0.1m³ trenching widths. Adding mechanical quick-hitches lets operators change between digging, trenching, and grading buckets without leaving the cab. Breaker attachments convert the backhoe into a pavement or rock-breaking tool, eliminating the need for separate compressor equipment on demolition or rock excavation sites.
Loader attachments include fork carriages for material handling, multi-purpose buckets for grappling and loading, and various bucket widths matching your typical material types. These options let you adapt one machine to handle excavation, loading, material placement, and light lifting across a single project.
We maintain parts inventory for hydraulic components, wear items, and common service parts. These machines require regular maintenance—hydraulic oil changes, filter service, and drivetrain inspections—and we provide technical support across our service network. Establishing preventive maintenance schedules based on your operating hours prevents unexpected failures during critical project phases.
When you're evaluating whether a backhoe loader fits your fleet requirements, consider your typical job site size, material volumes, and equipment mobilization costs. Contact our equipment specialists for honest assessments based on your actual operational parameters rather than generic recommendations.
