Buy new and used SANY mini excavators, crawler excavators and wheeled excavators – a wide selection direct from specialist dealers. We mainly stock SANY mini excavators ranging from the SY16C to the SY80U, as well as crawler excavators and wheeled excavators – available both new and used, with details of the year of manufacture, operating hours, operating weight, engine and specifications included in the listing. Supplied by GSK Baumaschinen in Hanhofen and Kraus Baumaschinen in Frankenthal; stock is constantly changing.
SANY at a glance
SANY was founded in China in 1989 by Liang Wengen and three co-founders; the publicly listed company SANY Heavy Industry was established in 1994 and has been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2003. Its headquarters are in Changsha. SANY is one of the world’s largest construction machinery manufacturers and produces excavators, cranes, concrete pumps, drilling rigs and port machinery; in 2021, around 90,000 people worldwide worked for the group. The excavators are primarily manufactured at SANY Heavy Machinery in Kunshan.
In Europe, SANY has been represented since 2011 by SANY Europe in Bedburg, near Cologne, which distributes excavators, earth-moving machinery, cranes and port machinery through a European dealer network. Separately, in January 2012, SANY acquired around 90 per cent of the German concrete pump manufacturer Putzmeister. For the European market, SANY relies on engines from established manufacturers for its excavators: Yanmar in mini-excavators, Isuzu in compact excavators, Deutz in mobile excavators and Cummins in large crawler excavators.
SANY’s portfolio – new and used
The overview shows the equipment categories with the current models for Europe and the types most frequently traded second-hand. You can see which machines are currently on offer in the listings on this page.
| Machine type | Current models (new) | Frequently traded second-hand | We have |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini excavators up to 2 t | SY10U, SY16C, SY18C, SY18U, SY19E, SY20C | SY16, SY18C | Mini excavators |
| Mini excavators 2.5–6.5 t | SY26C, SY26U, SY35C, SY35U, SY35E, SY50U, SY60C, SY60U | SY35U, SY26, SY55, SY60C | Mini excavators |
| Compact excavators 7–16 t | SY75C, SY80U, SY135C, SY155U | SY75C, SY80U, SY135 | Mini excavators, crawler excavators |
| Crawler excavators | SY215C, SY215E, SY265C, SY305C, SY365H, SY390H, SY500H, SY750H, SY980H; demolition excavator SY500HRD | SY215, SY365, SY235, SY500 | Crawler excavators |
| Wheeled excavators | SY155W, SY175W | – | Mobile excavators |
| Wheel loaders, skid-steer loaders, telescopic handlers | Wheel loaders, skid-steer loaders and telehandlers in the SANY Europe range | – | Wheel loaders, compact loaders, telescopic handlers |
| Compactors | Rollers for earthworks and road construction | – | Rollers |
| Cranes and drilling rigs | Mobile cranes (STC), crawler cranes (SCC), drilling rigs (SR) | STC mobile cranes, SCC crawler cranes, SR drilling rigs | Cranes, drilling rigs |
| Port and handling equipment | Reach stackers, empty container handlers, heavy-duty forklifts, material-handling machines | – | Reach stackers, container handlers, heavy-duty forklifts |
| Concrete pumps | Truck-mounted concrete pumps | HBT concrete pumps | Specialised machinery |
U, C, W: what the SANY model designation reveals
All SANY excavators begin with SY. The number that follows roughly indicates the weight class in 100 kg: An SY16C weighs around 1.8 t, an SY35U around 3.7 t, an SY80U around 8.8 t, an SY215C around 23.5 t and an SY500H around 52 t. The letter at the end describes the model type. According to SANY, ‘U’ stands for Zero Tail Swing – the rear of the machine remains within the track width when turning, making it ideal for confined construction sites. For the smaller models, there are also C variants (such as the SY26C and SY26U or the SY35C and SY35U); the manufacturer does not explain exactly what the ‘C’ stands for – the tail swing dimension is specified in the technical data sheet. ‘W’ denotes wheeled excavators; the large tracked excavators usually feature an ‘H’, whilst demolition excavators have the suffix ‘HRD’. On the second-hand market, older models or variants not built for the European market, such as the SY55, SY95 or SY235, also appear.
| Model | Specifications | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| SY16C / SY18C | 1.8–1.9 t, Yanmar 14.6 kW, SY18C with adjustable undercarriage | Domestic connections, gardening and landscaping, trailer transport |
| SY26U | 2.7 t, Yanmar 14.8 kW, digging depth 2.8 m, zero tail swing | Utility line installation, driveways, narrow courtyards |
| SY35U | 3.7 t, Yanmar 18.2 kW, zero tail swing | All-rounder for civil engineering and sewer construction |
| SY50U / SY60C | 5.3–6.0 t, Yanmar 29–42 kW | Excavation pits, sewer construction, earthworks |
| SY75C / SY80U | 7.3–8.8 t, Yanmar 42–54 kW | Earthworks, heavy attachments, road construction |
| SY135C / SY155U | 14.9–16 t, Isuzu 78.5 kW | Sewer and pipeline construction in road environments |
| SY155W | 15 t, Deutz 115 kW, mobile excavator | Urban construction sites, repositioning on the road |
| SY215C / SY265C | 23.6–27 t, Cummins 129–145 kW | Earthworks, civil engineering, quarrying |
| SY365H / SY500H | 39–52.5 t, Cummins 231–298 kW | Mass excavation, quarrying, large-scale construction sites |
What we look for in a second-hand SANY
Origin and documentation: SANY excavators are traded worldwide, including many machines not originally built for the European market. For use within the EU, the following are required: CE marking, declaration of conformity, appropriate emissions standard and a German-language operator’s manual. Ask for the EU-spec model and the serial number.
Engine and hydraulics: The engines are supplied by Yanmar, Isuzu, Deutz or Cummins – maintenance and parts are also available through their respective service networks. Check for cold starts, smoke emissions, oil leaks and smooth hydraulic movements under load; cross-check the operating hours against the maintenance record.
Undercarriage, pins, slewing ring: Tracks, track rollers, idler wheel and sprocket are the most expensive wear parts. Check for play in the bucket, stick and boom pins and on the slewing ring; on U-models with zero tail swing, inspect the hoses in the confined rear area for signs of chafing.
Equipment: Quick-couplers, auxiliary hydraulic circuits, bucket packages, tiltrotators and, on crawler excavators, machine control systems significantly increase the value. For newer machines, it is worth checking whether the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid.
SANY with us: Dealers and stock
GSK Baumaschinen in Hanhofen stocks the majority of our SANY inventory, whilst Kraus Baumaschinen in Frankenthal supplements this with further machines. The focus is on mini-excavators, supplemented by a few crawler excavators and wheeled excavators, many of which are relatively new or brand new. You can find comparable machines under Develon, Kubota and Yanmar.
Frequently asked questions about SANY excavators
Where does SANY come from?
SANY was founded in China in 1989 and is based in Changsha. SANY Europe, based in Bedburg near Cologne, has been responsible for the European market since 2011. The German concrete pump manufacturer Putzmeister has also been part of the group since 2012.
What does the ‘U’ in SANY mini-excavators stand for?
According to the manufacturer, ‘U’ models such as the SY26U, SY35U or SY50U are zero-tail-swing excavators: when turning, the rear of the machine remains within the width of the tracks. This is ideal for working alongside house walls, in courtyards and next to traffic.
What does the number on SANY excavators mean?
It roughly indicates the weight class in 100 kg increments: SY16C ≈ 1.8 t, SY35U ≈ 3.7 t, SY80U ≈ 8.8 t, SY215C ≈ 23.5 t. The exact operating weight is stated in the advert.
What engines are fitted in SANY excavators?
In the European models, Yanmar engines are used in mini-excavators up to 8.8 t, Isuzu in the SY135C and SY155U, Deutz in the wheeled excavators and Cummins in the large crawler excavators. This makes maintenance and the supply of spare parts easier.
Which SANY excavators are the most commonly traded second-hand models?
Worldwide, the SY215, SY365 and SY135 crawler excavators are among the most common second-hand SANY models. For mini-excavators, the most common models are the SY16, SY18C, SY35U, SY60C and SY75C.
Which SANY mini-excavator fits on a car trailer?
Models weighing up to around 2 t, such as the SY10U, SY16C and SY18C, can be transported behind many towing vehicles using a suitable trailer. The key factors are the permissible towing capacity and the total weight, including the trailer and buckets.
Does SANY also manufacture mobile excavators?
Yes. For Europe, SANY offers the SY155W mobile excavator (weighing around 15 t) and the SY175W (weighing around 18 t), both fitted with Deutz engines. The ‘W’ in the model designation stands for the wheeled version.
Can I lease a SANY excavator or finance it through hire purchase?
For many listings – both new and used – you can submit a non-binding leasing or hire-purchase enquiry directly. You can discuss the terms with the dealer or their finance partner; the purchase and payment are handled directly between you and the seller.
An overview of all models: Construction machinery · Related products: Attachments, construction machinery trailers, dumpers