An excavator is a heavy construction equipment used for digging and moving large amounts of earth, rock or other materials. It is a common piece of machinery in the construction of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects. Excavators come in different types, sizes and classifications, each serving a specific purpose on construction sites.
The size of an excavator is determined by its arm length and digging depth. The smallest excavators, called mini excavators, are typically 1-3 tons and are suitable for smaller projects such as landscaping, while the largest excavators can weigh up to 800 tons and are used in large-scale mining operations. For EPC construction projects, the size of the excavator required depends on the scale of the project and the materials being excavated.
Excavators are classified into two main categories: crawler excavators and wheeled excavators. Crawler excavators have a long undercarriage that is mounted on tracks, making them ideal for working on rough and uneven terrain. Wheeled excavators, on the other hand, are mounted on wheels and are better suited for smooth surfaces and travel between job sites.
The purpose of an excavator in an EPC construction project is to excavate materials such as soil, rock and other debris to make way for construction work, such as digging foundations, trenches, and digging holes for utilities. Excavators are also used for grading and leveling sites, as well as loading materials onto trucks and other vehicles.
Excavators are highly versatile machines and can be equipped with a variety of attachments to perform a range of tasks. Some of the most common attachments include:
- Bucket: A bucket is the most basic attachment for an excavator. It is used for digging, grading, and excavation of materials. Buckets come in different sizes and shapes, including narrow, wide, and V-shaped buckets, to suit different tasks.
- Thumb: A thumb attachment is a hydraulic-powered device that clamps onto the end of an excavator’s arm to enable it to grip and manipulate objects. This attachment is especially useful for handling rocks, logs, and other materials.
- Augers: Augers are attachments used for drilling holes in the ground, making them useful for tasks such as installing fence posts, planting trees, and digging holes for utilities.
- Hydraulic breaker: A hydraulic breaker is a powerful attachment used for breaking up concrete, asphalt, and rock. It operates by using a high-pressure hydraulic hammer to deliver blows to the surface, breaking it up into smaller pieces.
- Shears: Shears are cutting attachments that can be used for demolition and scrap metal recycling. They work by applying high hydraulic pressure to cut through metal, concrete, and other materials.
- Hydraulic quick coupler: A hydraulic quick coupler allows for fast and easy changeover of attachments on an excavator, making it more efficient for tasks that require multiple attachments.
- Ripper: A ripper is a digging attachment used for breaking up hard and compact soil, rock, and other materials. It operates by using a sharp blade to loosen and break up the material, making it easier to dig and move.
- Tilt-rotator: A tilt-rotator is an attachment that allows an excavator to rotate and tilt its arm to provide a greater range of motion. This attachment makes it easier to reach difficult areas and perform tasks that would otherwise be impossible with a standard excavator arm.
Excavators are essential pieces of heavy machinery in the construction industry and are manufactured by several companies around the world. The top ten excavator manufacturers globally are known for producing high-quality and reliable excavators that are used in construction sites, mines, and other industries. Here are the top ten excavator manufacturers and their estimated market share:
- Caterpillar Inc.: Caterpillar is the largest excavator manufacturer in the world and is estimated to have a market share of around 30%. Caterpillar produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its durable and reliable equipment.
- Komatsu Ltd.: Komatsu is a Japanese multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 20%. Komatsu produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its innovative technology and high-quality equipment.
- Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.: Hitachi is a Japanese multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 15%. Hitachi produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its innovative technology and high-quality equipment.
- Volvo Construction Equipment: Volvo is a Swedish multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 8%. Volvo produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its innovative technology and high-quality equipment.
- JCB: JCB is a British multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 5%. JCB produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its innovative technology and high-quality equipment.
- Doosan Infracore: Doosan is a South Korean multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 4%. Doosan produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its innovative technology and high-quality equipment.
- Liebherr Group: Liebherr is a Swiss multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 3%. Liebherr produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its innovative technology and high-quality equipment.
- Sany Heavy Industry Co. Ltd.: Sany is a Chinese multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 2%. Sany produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its affordable and high-quality equipment.
- Kubota Corporation: Kubota is a Japanese multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 1%. Kubota produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its innovative technology and high-quality equipment.
- XCMG Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.: XCMG is a Chinese multinational corporation that is estimated to have a market share of around 1%. XCMG produces a wide range of excavators, including mini, mid-sized, and large mining excavators, and is known for its affordable and high-quality equipment.
These top ten excavator manufacturers are responsible for a large portion of the global excavator market, and their products are used in a wide range of industries, including construction, mining, and agriculture.