Kubota Excavators Won Major Industry Design Awards
The company's new wheeled excavator models have secured iF Design and Red Dot: Best of the Best honors.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Kubota's newly launched KW095 and KW115 wheeled excavators have received prestigious iF Design and Red Dot: Best of the Best awards. The launch marks the entry of Kubota into the wheeled excavator market, with customer deliveries now underway.
Why it matters
The awards recognize the integration of power technology into a compact design, highlighting the success of the partnership between Kubota and Liebherr. This collaboration utilizes Kubota's engine expertise alongside Liebherr's established design experience to enter competitive weight classes.
The KW095 model weighs 9 tonnes while the KW115 features an 11-tonne operating weight. These machines are two of four models currently produced at the shared manufacturing facility in Kirchdorf an der Iller.
The players
Kubota
A Japanese multinational corporation primarily known for manufacturing tractors, heavy equipment, and engines.
Liebherr
A German-Swiss equipment manufacturer that specializes in heavy machinery, including cranes and construction equipment.
The details
The excavators represent Kubota's first foray into the wheeled category, manufactured at a Liebherr facility that also builds the A909 Compact and 911 Compact excavators. Dealers in the United Kingdom have already completed product training to prepare for the rollout of these units.
Timeline
October 2026: Customer deliveries of the KW095 and KW115 models are beginning.
Market Landscape
The collaboration leverages the design architecture of the Liebherr A909 Compact and 911 Compact excavators to establish Kubota in the 9-tonne and 11-tonne market classes. This move deepens the competitive environment for compact heavy equipment, pitting these shared-production units against established sector rivals.
Customers in markets like the United Kingdom now have access to these new 9-tonne and 11-tonne models as delivery schedules roll out. Operators and fleet managers can expect to see these machines at local dealerships as technical support and training have already been established.
The takeaway
The recognition of these models underscores the growing importance of design efficiency in the construction equipment sector. Buyers should prioritize evaluating how these compact-space designs might improve their own site operations compared to traditional, bulkier machinery.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, see our coverage of Manufacturing.
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