Excavation Equipment: Everything You Need To Know

When it comes to excavation equipment, there’s a lot to cover. If you’re looking for the right machine for your job, or need tips on maintenance—you’re in the right place.

First, let’s take a look at the top excavation equipment manufacturers.

Top Excavation Equipment Manufacturers

As with any industry, there are leading brands that stand out from the rest. When it comes to excavation equipment, you need reliable, powerful and precise machinery. Here are just a few of the big players in construction equipment.

Caterpillar

There’s a reason Caterpillar are at the top of almost every construction leaderboard. With a product line of more than 300 machines, Cat excavation equipment just gets better and better. Whatever machine you need, whether heavy or light, it’s likely Cat has got it.

Wacker Neuson

Founded in 1848, Wacker Neuson SE has decades of experience over other manufacturers. They specialise in design, development, production, and sale of compact construction equipment.

Komatsu

Established in 1921, Komatsu prides themselves for being the world’s second largest manufacturer of construction equipment. In fact, they are renowned for making the largest bulldozer in the world. When it comes to heavy construction equipment, Komatsu have you covered.

Kubota

Kubota is a leading supplier of construction equipment in Australia. Their range of excavation equipment is engineered and designed for Australia’s climate. Kubota has all the tools, experience and support in order to help you choose the right equipment to meet your needs.

Bobcat

We can’t talk about excavation equipment without mentioning Bobcat! Over the last 50 years this brand has become so renowned, many refer to all excavators simply as ‘Bobcats’. And for good reason. Bobcat specialise in compact equipment such as skid steers, compact excavators and attachments. All their machines promise to offer versatility, toughness, comfort and superior performance.

Choosing the right excavation equipment

When it comes to construction, there are hundreds of machines to choose from. Each with their own specialties and uses. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common machines used in construction.

Excavators

Excavators (also known as ‘diggers’) are one of the most versatile pieces of excavation equipment available. They are used for:

• Digging trenches, holes & foundations
• Forestry work
• General grading & landscaping
• Drilling shafts for footings, etc.
• And more.

Find excavators for sale here.

Backhoes

Like the excavator, backhoes are generally used for digging. However, as you can see by the images above, there are quite a few differences between the two machines. Thanks to plenty of attachment options, backhoes can be used for:

• Construction
• Small demolition
• Landscaping
• Paving roads
• And more.

Find backhoes for sale here.

Dozers

Bulldozers are made for pushing large quantities of soil, sand and other materials. Generally you’ll see dozers equipped with a blade at the front and a ripper at the back (as pictured above). Dozers are used to:

• Move earth and soil
• Move topsoil away in preparation for road builds
• Smooth out the fill for road builds
• Strip off surface vegetation
• And more.

Find dozers for sale here.

Skid Steers

The skid steer is a compact machine used primarily for digging. While they are small, they’re one of the most handy pieces of excavation equipment. Especially for those tight-access sites. Ideal for construction and landscaping work skid steers can be used for:

• Digging & earthmoving
• Grading
• Demolition
• Overhead work
• And more.

Find skid steers for sale here.

Motor Graders

A grader is a piece of equipment with a long blade, used primarily for flattening and smoothing surfaces. Learn more about top brands for motor graders here. Motor graders can assist with:

• Earthmoving
• Levelling jobs
• Scarifying
• Mixing materials
• Spreading materials such as soil & aggregates
• Land grading
• Ditching
• And more.

Excavation Equipment Maintenance Checklist

The secret to keeping your machine as profitable as possible is to keep it in good condition. The longer your machine lasts, the more you will get out of it. So we’ve compiled a few tips to help.

Please note: These are general maintenance tips only. If you’re unsure, your machine’s manual should have everything you need. Otherwise, call your local dealer, service tech or the manufacturer for tips suited to your specific machine.

Daily Walkaround Inspection

Under The Hood

Check the coolant levels

Check engine oils

Check for any leaks or potential problems

Check swing motor oil

Side Compartments

Check for any leaks

Check hydraulic oil

Tracks

Check for any missing bolts

Check for bent shoes or other damage

Rear Of Machine

Check under the carriage for any puddles caused by leakages

Check coolers are clean and free of debris

Drain a little sediment and water from the fuel/water separator drain

Check dust ejector on the air filter

In The Cab

Check the levers are easily moved

Check safety equipment

Check any lights

Check travel alarm

Check windscreen wipers

Well, there you have it! A general overview of excavation equipment. Did we miss anything in this article? Let us know in the comments below!