A Guide to the Different Types of Heavy Equipment

Backhoe construction scoop stop work with rubble stone in the site
  • Author: Mohsin Khan
  • Posted On: December 24, 2022
  • Updated On: December 24, 2022

Construction plays a vital role in the American economy, contributing to $1.4 trillion worth of buildings every year, and employing 7.6 million people.

It also has a major impact on many other aspects of the economy like raw materials, design, manufacturing, renewable energy, and more.

This industry relies heavily on various types of heavy equipment for success. Keep reading for a general overview of common construction equipment.

Equipment Options for Digging

Digging is one of the primary activities associated with construction. It’s essential for leveling land, as well as laying foundations, cables, and pipes. There are two main types of equipment you might use for these tasks:

Excavators

Excavators are hydraulic machines with a boom, a bucket arm, and a bucket dipper. These attachments revolve around a pivoting cab, usually set on tracks.

They’re essential for demolition, digging, and lifting heavy things.

Trenchers

Trenchers have a conveyor system that leaves the excavated material next to the trench. This makes it easy to fill in these channels once you’ve laid the required pipes.

Loaders

Loaders are tractors with a small bucket at the rear and a front shovel. They’re good for digging trenches, placing small pipes, and digging trenches.

Common types of loaders include:

  • Front-end loaders
  • Pay loaders
  • Skid steers

Types of Equipment for Moving Earth

Dozers, graders, and scrapers are most often used for earth-moving operations. Dozers have a large metal plate operated by two hydraulic pistons, while graders have a long adjustable blade between three axles.

Scrapers have a hopper with a sharp horizontal front edge that moves vertically as required.

All three of these machines are excellent for leveling areas as well as moving displaced soil from one place to another.

Heavy Equipment for Transporting Materials

Dump trucks move aggregate from one location to another on an open, hinged box bed. Cranes are the tallest of heavy equipment, used to lift and lower materials or move them horizontally.

Mixers are multi-axle trucks used to mix dry materials and water to form concrete and transport it where needed.

Other Types of Heavy Equipment

You might also need some specialized equipment for your project. These could include:

Compactors

There are three main types of compactors, used to compress crushed rock using a vibrating baseplate. These are:

  • Plates
  • Jumping jacks
  • Road rollers

Piling Rigs

Piling rigs are vital for deep foundation work. They consist of augers or pile drives that drill a vertical hole into the ground, which contractors fill with concrete to create important supports for the building.

According to Mtcequipment.net, you can also rent these types of equipment. So, construction companies don’t need to go to the expense of buying items they don’t use often.

For the Long Haul

These simple, practical types of heavy equipment have been at the forefront of construction for decades, and they haven’t changed much in that time.

Basic equipment for lifting, loading, and leveling will always remain at the center of the construction industry, despite technological advancements.

Browse our blog for more interesting information about a broad range of topics.

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Author: Mohsin Khan

Mohsin has worked as one of the experienced editors with ConstructionHow since 2020 with a total span of 5 years of experience in business PR, boasting a remarkable professional trajectory, he has collaborated with entrepreneurs and startups, and certain publications over the last few years. His unwavering interest lies in the construction industry and related materials. He believes in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing buildings, and homes that fall under the right budget. With a wide range of experience in construction, he also tapped into DIY and home improvement projects based on his extensive set of knowledge in the industry.

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