Category Archives: Excavation Equipment

Also referred to as a loader backhoe, the backhoe loader is an engineering and excavation vehicle that consists of a tractor, front shovel and bucket and a small backhoe in the rear end.  Due to the small size and versatility, backhoe loaders are common with small construction projects and excavation type work. Originally invented in … Continue reading

The bulldozer is a very powerful crawler that is equipped with a blade.  The term bulldozer is often used to mean any type of heavy machinery, although the term actually refers to a tractor that is fitted with a dozer blade. Often times, bulldozers are large and extremely powerful tracked vehicles.  The tracks give them … Continue reading

As you may know, the CX330 is the upgrade to the 9050B model from Case.  The CX330 is quite an upgrade, being much bigger than the 9050B. In standard form, the CX330 is almost 5,000 pounds heavier than the 9050B.  This added weight comes from a larger counterweight and from a redesigned carbody that will … Continue reading

The company of Case has done it again, by introducing yet another spectacular excavator, the CX700, which weighs in at 70 metric tons and represents a new size for Case, fitting perfectly between the CX460 and CX800 models.  Case has also taken advantage of Tier 3 technologies and upgraded the CX330, increasing the power and … Continue reading

The CAT (Caterpillar) 420D and 430D backhoe loaders are the high performance machines in the D series lineup.  The 420D boasts 85 HP and a backhoe digging depth of 14 feet when equipped with a standard stick. The 430D offers 94 HP and a backhoe digging depth of 15 feet when it is equipped with … Continue reading

The D-11 from Caterpillar is among the series of tracked type tractors are among the largest conventional bulldozers in the world, second to the Komatsu D575.  It comes in two variations, the standard D-11R and the bigger and heavier D-11R CD. The D-11 bulldozer is among the upper end of Caterpillars track type tractors, which … Continue reading

Caterpillar Incorporated, also known as CAT is a United States based corporation that is based in Peoria, Illinois.  The company commonly known as CAT is known around the world as the largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. Well known and famous for their products that … Continue reading

The compact hydraulic excavator can be a tracked or wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight of 13,300 pounds.  Normally, it includes a standard backfill blade and features an independent boom swing.  The compact hydraulic excavator is also known as a mini excavator. A compact hydraulic excavator is different from other types of heavy machinery … Continue reading

Both of these machines are affordable, popular, highly productive, and they both have helped lay a lot of cable and pipe in the ground.  While they both can do the work, there are differences as to how they perform when stacked up against each other in residential utility installations. Size and price The average dig … Continue reading

A crane is a tower or derrick that is equipped with cables and pulleys that are used to lift and lower material.  They are commonly used in the construction industry and in the manufacturing of heavy equipment.  Cranes for construction are normally temporary structures, either fixed to the ground or mounted on a purpose built … Continue reading

Caterpillar Caterpillar hit a dial of power and performance with its top of the line 446 backhoe loader when it first introduced the D series version of the machine.  The 102 HP machine also features a new operator station and offers optional joystick controls.  The dig forces on the bucket have increased 10% on the … Continue reading

Drag line excavator systems are heavy machinery that is used in civil engineering, surface mining, and excavation.  With civil engineering, the smaller types are used for road and port construction.  The larger types of drag line excavators are used in strip mining operations to extract coal.  These are among the largest types of mobile equipment … Continue reading

Dump trucks or production trucks are those that are used for transporting loose material such as sand, dirt, and gravel for construction.  The typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open box bed hinged at the rear, with the front being able to be lifted up to allow the contents to fall out … Continue reading

Site prep is the best term that is used to describe the operations necessary to make raw land ready to accept improvements such as buildings, parking lots, roads, and other amenities.  Once the project has been completed, the site prep is invisible. The term site prep is a broad term that can include several different … Continue reading

Excavation is most commonly and best known for a technique within the science of archaeology.  The individual types of excavation are known simply as digs to those who participate, with this being an over literal description of the process.  An excavation concerns itself with a specific archaeological site or connected series of sites, and may … Continue reading

Sometimes called a forklift truck, the forklift is a powerful industrial truck that is used to lift and transport material by steel forks that are inserted under the load.  Forklifts are commonly used to move loads and equipment that is stored on pallets.  The forklift was developed in 1920, and has since become a valuable … Continue reading

Also known as a front end loader, bucket loader, scoop loader, or shovel, the front loader is a type of tractor that is normally wheeled and uses a wide square tilting bucket on the end of movable arms to lift and move material around. The loader assembly may be a removable attachment or permanently mounted … Continue reading

The harvester is a type of heavy machinery that is employed in cut to length logging operations for felling, buckling, and cutting up trees. Normally, a harvester is employed alongside a forward that will haul the logs and trees to a roadside landing. Harvesters were developed in Sweden and Finland, and today they do nearly … Continue reading

There are many different opinions as to what machines should actually be classified as earth moving equipment.  There are many different types of equipment that fall in this category, such as excavators, backhoe loaders, dump trucks, and even loaders. Other machinery that falls in between are articulated trucks, wheel and track tractors, and even scrapers.  … Continue reading

Hydraulic machinery are machines and tools that use fluid power to do the work.  Almost all types of heavy equipment is a common example.  With this type of equipment, hydraulic fluid is pumped to a high pressure then transmitted through the machine to various actuators. The hydraulic pumps are powered by engines or electric motors.  … Continue reading

A skid steer loader with backhoe attachment or a backhoe loader in general can be very productive if it is operated safely and efficiently.  The best way to get the job done safely and efficiently is to know yourself, the job site, and your equipment. Even though the models of backhoes will vary, there are … Continue reading

There are always going to be times when, no matter how carefully an excavation company plans out a project, there simply isn’t enough equipment on hand to handle the requirements of the project without running out of time.  The choices at this point are clear – rent the machines you need or go ahead and … Continue reading

The skid loader is a rigid frame, engine powered machine with lift arms that are used to attach a wide variety of labor saving tools or attachments.  Skid loaders are normally four wheel drive with left side drive wheels that are independent of right side drive wheels.  With each side being independent to the other, … Continue reading

Digging trenches is one of the oldest types of work with both construction and excavating.  Prior to World War 2, trenches were dug by hand.  As workers dug the trenches deeper, the sides needed to be shored or supported, to keep the walls of the trench from caving in. Following the World War, several innovations … Continue reading

When trenchers were first introduced to the residential and commercial contractors, they rapidly became the backbone of the crew.  The time and labor trenchers saved when they replaced the pick and shovel was simply incredible.  The contractor was able to double the number of jobs his crew could complete in the same amount of time … Continue reading