No other heavy equipment is as important in construction as the hydraulic excavator. An excavator is a combination of an arm, bucket, boom, and rotating cabin placed on top of an undercarriage with wheels or tracks. It can perform all kinds of jobs, such as earthmoving, demolition, excavation, dredging, and trenching.

How does it accomplish these functions? You can understand how an excavator functions by examining its hydraulics. The excavator’s arm glides as smoothly as it does because of the hydraulic cylinders inside the structure. These cylinders get their power from the hydraulic system. At the heart of this hydraulic system is the hydraulic pump powered by the excavator’s engine.

The hydraulic fluid, a type of oil, is pumped through pipes by the pump. This high-pressure fluid reaches the hydraulic cylinder, displacing a piston within it, which moves a rod, and the rod causes part of the arm to move—lift, lower, or turn it. This is how excavators can scoop, lift, and dig.

But in what ways do excavators specifically contribute to construction?

• Digging and excavation

At their core, excavators are earthmoving machines ideal for digging trenches to lay pipelines, laying the foundation for buildings, or digging tunnels. These machines have the required power and control to undertake these operations with ease and finesse.

• Handling material

Excavators also assist in moving materials along a site or between sites. Their hydraulic arms and high-lifting capabilities make them the perfect equipment for digging, loading, and relocating materials on job sites.

• Landscaping and grading

Excavators are also great at shaping and modelling terrain for functional and aesthetic applications. Regarding landscaping, excavators can discard unwanted material, shape the land, and prepare the ground for planting or paving.

Grading, a key activity to ensure level ground, can also be achieved using excavators. Accurate grading ensures proper water runoff management and minimises future drainage problems, preventing water damage to structures.

How can you equip excavators to ensure maximum productivity?

Depending on your project needs, there is a wide range of Cat® excavators to choose from Gmmco’s catalogue. For instance, the Cat 313D2 L Hydraulic Excavator, with an operating weight of 13,300 kg, is ideal for general construction, utility work, and small-scale excavation. On the other end of the spectrum of options is the 395 Hydraulic Excavator with an operating weight of 94,100 kg, which is best suited to projects requiring heavy-duty excavation, mining, and large-scale earthmoving.

While these excavators are powerful and valuable machines, their functionality increases significantly with attachments. With augers, grapples, rippers, and compactors among a wide range of attachments, these machines can be converted into multi-functional machines ideal for a particular purpose.

For instance, with attachments like hydraulic breakers or shears, excavators can perform demolition duties—anything from demolishing low-rise residential buildings to breaking concrete in vast industrial areas. Their pinpoint accuracy ensures safety and efficiency, particularly in environments that call for delicate removal.

Both the Cat 395 and Cat 313D2 L accommodate a variety of similar attachments, such as general-duty buckets for digging, hydraulic hammers for breaking up concrete, grapples for material handling, and quick couplers to allow rapid attachment changes. These attachments enable both excavators to execute essential functions such as digging, demolition, and clearing sites. Also, both machines have compactors for stabilising soil, tilt buckets for grading, and augers for drilling holes, making them useful in multiple construction applications.

However, depending on their size and power, some attachments are specific to different excavators. The Cat 395, a heavy-duty machine, accommodates rock buckets, multi-processors, and shears and is therefore best suited for large-scale excavation, mining, and industrial demolition. The Cat 313D2 L, for smaller projects, accommodates ditch-cleaning buckets, thumb attachments, and light hydraulic hammers and is best suited for urban construction, utility work, and landscaping.

From laying foundations to landscaping and demolition, excavators are essential to the construction industry today. Versatile and powerful, excavators are your go-to machines for many on-site operations.

Whether working on small-scale utility projects or big industrial projects, selecting the right excavator can significantly improve efficiency, safety, and outcomes.

With Gmmco’s comprehensive range of Cat excavators, you’re equipped to tackle any challenge the job site throws your way.