Compact Equipment - News Release
EBERHARD – it’s the difference that counts
February 5, 2026
Yanmar Compact Equipment
How Patrick Eberhard is leading the Swiss market leader for construction into the future.
At Eberhard, tradition meets the future. For more than 70 years, the Swiss family business has shaped construction and environmental technology with innovation, responsibility and a clear vision for the future. Today, Managing Director Patrick Eberhard is advancing that legacy – balancing modern technologies with a deep respect for the company’s history, and the generations who will carry it forward.
For many years, Eberhard has deliberately relied on on Yanmar Compact Equipment (Yanmar CE): reliable, flexible, high-quality and innovative – characteristics that perfectly match its own standards. Together, the two companies are driving forward technologies that make construction sites safer, more efficient and future ready.
EBIANUM - History you can touch
TA look at their shared history shows how consistently Eberhard puts innovation into practice. The company‘s first YANMAR machine used in operation arrived in 1981 – a YB25L excavator deployed during the demolition of an old shoe factory. Where other heavy equipment failed, the YB25L – equipped with a demolition hammer – mastered the higher lift demolition with flying colors. From then on, the YANMAR family grew steadily. Today, Eberhard Bau AG has a total of 19 YANMAR excavators ranging from 1.5 to 10 tons in use – each perfectly tailored to its area of application.While the YB25L marked the beginning of Eberhard’s operational partnership with Yanmar, the company’s oldest YANMAR model is a YTB 1200 from 1979 – a machine they later acquired as a collector’s piece. After being extensively restored over the course of a year, it now stands as a restored gem in the company's own EBIANUM excavator museum; and has been a crowd puller ever since.
EBIANUM – a name combining “Eberhard” and “Museum” – ‘bridges the gap between the past and the future: visitors experience the development of construction machinery technology up close and immerse themselves in the world of excavators, trucks and construction sites. "Our first YANMAR machine immediately showed how quality and commitment can achieve great things together. What's more, the restored YTB 1200 model at EBIANUM is a highlight for many young visitors – history inspires, especially when it is tangible.” Explains Patrick.
Encouraging and inspiring young talent
Alongside this heritage, Patrick has helped to launch ebi.YOUNG: an interactive platform and experience for children and young people, where they can discover the construction industry in a playful way. Via the Eberhard website and on site at the museum (e.g. in the construction trailer, during experiments or short excavator rides), young people aged 4 to 16 can learn all about technology, careers and the interrelationships on a construction site.“Our investments always have two dimensions: today's operations and the generation that comes after us. If we want to get young people excited about our industry, they need to be able to work with modern, intuitive and safe machines.” Patrick shares.
What makes the collaboration between ebi.YOUNG and Yanmar so special? It is authentic. Young people work directly on the machines and take on responsibility at an early stage, supported by compact equipment that makes learning intuitive. This aligns closely with Yanmar’s Hanasaka philosophy, which centers on nurturing the next generation – giving young people the tools and confidence to bloom. In Patrick’s words, "For the talented young people at ebi.YOUNG, Yanmar excavators are often the first machines they operate. When getting started is fun, passion for the profession grows.”
More than 66,000 visitors in 2024 alone showed interest in the combination of technology and interactive experiences. "Our goal is to get young people excited about construction – and show them how exciting our industry is,” says Patrick.
Children, teenagers and young adults are introduced to construction professions at an early age – from construction machine mechanics to site managers. This commitment strengthens the company's image and secures the skilled workers of tomorrow in the long term. The museum perfectly complements the history of the vehicle fleet: from the first Yanmar machine to the state-of-the-art SV100, it spans the arc into the future – and opens the doors for new generations.
The making of a Difference Maker
On what defines a Difference Maker, Patrick’s response is clear: “Somebody who actively shapes change – with courage, vision and conviction. At Eberhard, this means consistently investing in modern technologies while promoting the next generation. My job is to create the right conditions: machines that inspire. A culture that supports. And a focus that enables the future. When young people proudly say, ‘I want to be part of this industry’ – then we have made a real difference”When asked what “Full steam ahead into the future” means to him personally, he explains: "Investing courageously, living quality and placing trust – whether in experienced machine operators or young talents. If we all work together, the future is not only predictable, but strong.”
Shaping the future together
With the continuous modernization of its machinery and its commitment to young talent and education, Eberhard is sending a clear message: innovation, efficiency and quality remain the driving forces behind the company. YANMAR machines impress not only with their performance and comfort, but also with their reliability in daily use – embodying the company's commitment to advancing the industry forward with purpose and confidence.About Yanmar Compact Equipment
Yanmar Compact Equipment (Yanmar CE) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and support of compact equipment for a range of segments, principally construction and other earthmoving applications. Its products include extensive ranges of mini and midi excavators, wheel loaders, wheeled excavators, compact track loaders and tracked carriers. These are supported by a wide range of services designed to ensure customer success. A global company with proud Japanese heritage, Yanmar CE has manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe and North America – and an extensive international dealer network. Renowned for its innovative approach – it was the first to market with the now-benchmark mini-excavator, and is credited with popularizing the zero-tail swing concept – Yanmar CE remains a trusted brand known for its reliability, performance and commitment to customer satisfaction. These traits are demonstrated through the company’s tagline – ‘Building with you’. For more details, please visit the official website. https://www.yanmar.com/global/construction
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Inquiries
Valeria Iervolino
Global Marketing & Communications
Yanmar Compact Equipment
valeria_iervolino@yanmar.com
+39 380 58 20 485
- Note: Information contained in the news release is valid at the time of publication and may differ from the most recently available information.
