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'''Excavators''' are heavy construction equipment primarily consisting of a [[Engineering:Backhoe|boom]], dipper (or stick), [[Engineering:Bucket (machine part)|bucket]], and cab on a rotating platform known as the "house".<ref>{{cite news |title=Yandram.com - What is an excavator? What is it made of? |newspaper=Yandram Blog |url=https://yandram.com/blog/what-is-an-excavator/ |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129144401/https://yandram.com/blog/what-is-an-excavator/ |archive-date=29 January 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The modern excavator's house sits atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels, being an evolution of the [[Engineering:Steam shovel|steam shovel]] (which itself evolved into the [[Engineering:Power shovel|power shovel]] when steam was replaced by diesel and electric power). All excavation-related movement and functions of a hydraulic excavator are accomplished through the use of [[Physics:Hydraulic fluid|hydraulic fluid]], with [[Engineering:Hydraulic cylinder|hydraulic cylinder]]s and hydraulic motors,<ref>{{cite news|title=Industrial Expe ..Lasso Gives More Power To The Hy-Mac Elbow|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19620609&id=QOA9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=QkgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3615,1603500|access-date=29 December 2013|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald|date=June 9, 1962|archive-date=4 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304011335/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19620609&id=QOA9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=QkgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3615,1603500|url-status=live}}</ref> which replaced winches, chains, and steel ropes.<ref>{{cite news|title=First Wind Farm In Nh To Begin Operation|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=20060109&id=SsA8AAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ey4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1480,1690624|access-date=29 December 2013|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=Jan 9, 2006|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023524/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=20060109&id=SsA8AAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ey4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1480,1690624|url-status=live}}</ref>  Another principle change was the direction of the digging action, with modern excavators pulling their buckets toward them like a dragline rather than pushing them away to fill them the way the first powered shovels did.

==Terminology==
Excavators are also called diggers, scoopers, mechanical shovels, or 360-degree excavators (sometimes abbreviated simply to "360"). Tracked excavators are sometimes called "trackhoes" by analogy to the [[Engineering:Backhoe|backhoe]].<ref>{{cite web|last=-F|first=Kevin|title=Types of Excavators and Their Uses|date=31 July 2009|url=http://www.brighthubengineering.com/building-construction-design/44424-types-of-excavators-and-their-uses/|access-date=29 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019163238/http://www.brighthubengineering.com/building-construction-design/44424-types-of-excavators-and-their-uses/|archive-date=19 October 2012}}</ref> In the UK, wheeled excavators are sometimes known as "rubber ducks".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heservices.co.uk/plant/komatsupw130.php|title=Komatsu PW130-7|publisher=H.E. Services|access-date=13 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329094520/http://www.heservices.co.uk/plant/komatsupw130.php|archive-date=29 March 2010}}</ref>

==Usage==
[[File:House destroyed by an excavator 2 - Invermere, British Columbia.jpg|thumb|House demolition by a [[Hitachi]] excavator in Invermere, British Columbia]]

Excavators are used in many ways:

* Digging of [[Engineering:Trench|trench]]es, holes, foundations
* Material handling<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Material Handling Excavators and Purpose-Built Material Handlers Get the Job Done |url=https://www.conexpoconagg.com/news/how-material-handling-excavators-and-purposebuilt |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=AEM Tradeshows - ConExpo Con/Agg |language=en}}</ref>
* Brush cutting with hydraulic saw, mower, and stump removal attachments
* Forestry work
* Forestry mulching
* [[Engineering:Demolition|Demolition]] with hydraulic claw, cutter and breaker attachments
* Mining, especially, but not only open-pit mining
* [[Earth:River|River]] [[Earth:Dredging|dredging]]
* Hydro excavation to access fragile underground infrastructure using high pressure water
* Driving [[Engineering:Deep foundation|piles]], in conjunction with a [[Engineering:Pile driver|pile driver]]
* Drilling [[Engineering:Caisson (engineering)|shafts]] for footings and rock blasting, by use of an [[Engineering:Auger (drill)|auger]] or hydraulic drill attachment
* Snow removal with snowplow and snow blower attachments
* [[Engineering:Aircraft recycling|Aircraft recycling]]

<gallery widths=200 heights=160>
File:Old excavator.jpg|A cable-operated excavator under the Northwest (now [[Company:Terex|Terex]]) name at the Pageant of Steam grounds
File:Liebherr 314 excavator.JPG|Liebherr 314 wheeled excavator
File:LinkBelt290X2Excavator.jpg|Link-Belt excavator trenching
File:Caterpillar5230.jpg|CAT 5230 in coal mining operation
FEMA - 28723 - Photograph by Mark Wolfe taken on 03-03-2007 in Alabama.jpg|Caterpillar 315C L Excavator cleaning up tornado debris
File:L&T Komatsu Excavator.jpg|An L&T Komatsu excavator seen in [[Place:India|India]]
File:New Holland E215 03.jpg|A New Holland E215 in Hamburg, Germany
File:Caterpillar 350L excavator with pincher claw Louisville Kentucky USA March 2001 file a1c018.jpg|[[Company:Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] 350L excavator in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 2001. Note the hydraulic thumb.
File:Grävmaskin - Ystad-2021.jpg|A smaller excavator is digging for the laying of a [[Engineering:Broadband|broadband]] cable in central Ystad in 2021
File:Daewoo digger.jpg|Waterways Ireland Daewoo Solar 150LC-V '''crawler excavator''', used for [[Earth:Canal|canal]] maintenance
File:Crawler excavator.JPG|Crawler excavator
File:Crawler chassis.JPG|Crawler chassis
File:Excavator, SH200, Sumitomo.JPG|Excavator, SH200 Sumitomo, in storage/parking lot for 8-10 units in Chiba [[Earth:Japan|Japan]] in 2008
</gallery>

==Configurations==
[[File:Excavator mechanism.gif|thumb|The principle of a hydraulic excavator]]
[[File:Minibagger Beschreibung.jpg|thumb|Hydraulic excavator controls illustration, color of the control matches the moving part]]

Modern hydraulic excavators come in a wide variety of sizes. The smaller ones are called mini or [[Engineering:Compact excavator|compact excavator]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tips to Help You Operate Your Mini Excavator|url=http://natparts.com/tips-to-help-you-operate-your-mini-excavator/|access-date=29 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231002035/http://natparts.com/tips-to-help-you-operate-your-mini-excavator/|archive-date=31 December 2013}}</ref> For example, [[Company:Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar's]] smallest mini-excavator weighs {{convert|2,060|lb|kg}} and has 13 [[Horsepower|hp]];<ref>{{cite web|title=300.9D Mini Excavator {{!}} Cat {{!}} Caterpillar|url=https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/excavators/mini-excavators/18099279.html|access-date=2023-10-03|archive-date=2023-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009113119/https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/excavators/mini-excavators/18099279.html|url-status=live}}</ref> their largest model is the largest excavator available (developed and produced by the Orenstein & Koppel, Germany, until the takeover 2011 by Caterpillar, named »RH400«), the CAT 6090, which weighs in excess of {{convert|2,160,510|lb|kg}}, has 4500&nbsp;hp, and a bucket as large as 52.0 m<sup>3</sup>.

Hydraulic excavators usually couple engine power to (commonly) three [[Engineering:Hydraulic pump|hydraulic pump]]s rather than to mechanical [[Engineering:Drivetrain|drivetrain]]s. The two main pumps supply oil at high pressure (up to 5000 [[Pounds per square inch|psi]], 345 bar) for the [[Engineering:Hydraulic cylinder|arms]], swing motor, track motors and accessories while the third is a lower pressure (≈700 [[Pounds per square inch|psi]], 48 bar) pump for pilot control of the [[Physics:Hydraulic machinery#Control valves|spool valves]]; this third circuit allows for reduced physical effort when operating the controls. Generally, the three pumps used in excavators consist of two variable displacement piston pumps and a gear pump. The arrangement of the pumps in the excavator unit changes with different manufacturers using different formats.

The three main sections of an excavator are the [[Engineering:Chassis|undercarriage]], the house and the arm. The boom, the front part that is attached to the house itself and holds the arm, is also used. The undercarriage includes tracks, track frame, and final drives, which have a hydraulic motor and gearing providing the drive to the individual tracks. The undercarriage, especially frequently for a mini-excavator, can also have [[Engineering:Bulldozer#Blade|blade]] similar to that of a bulldozer. The house includes the operator cab, [[Physics:Counterweight|counterweight]], engine, fuel and hydraulic oil tanks. The house attaches to the undercarriage by way of a center pin. High-pressure oil is supplied to the tracks' hydraulic motors through a hydraulic swivel at the axis of the pin, allowing the machine to slew 360° unhindered and thus provides the left-and-right movement.<ref name=mx270a>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVE2PIV5_k|title=How it works: The track motor spool in an Excavator|last=Lance Lefebure|date=2 December 2010|access-date=5 May 2018|website=YouTube|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217014851/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVE2PIV5_k|archive-date=17 February 2016}}</ref> The arm provides the up-and-down and closer-and-further (or digging movement) movements. Arms typically consist of a boom, stick and bucket with three joints between them and the house.

The boom attaches to the house and provides the up-and-down movement. It can be one of several different configurations:

* Most common are mono booms; these have no movement apart from straight up and down.
* Some others have a knuckle boom which can also move left and right in line with the machine.{{Clarify|do you mean straighten and curl like a knuckle|date=July 2019}}
* Another option is a hinge at the base of the boom allowing it to hydraulically pivot up to 180° independent to the house; however, this is generally available only to [[Engineering:Compact excavator|compact excavator]]s.
* Variable angle booms have additional joint in the middle of the boom to change the curvature of the boom. These are also called triple-articulated booms (TAB) or 3 piece booms.

Attached to the end of the boom is the stick (or dipper arm). The stick provides the digging movement needed to pull the bucket through the ground. The stick length is optional depending whether reach (longer stick) or break-out power (shorter stick) is required. Most common is mono stick but there are also, for example, telescopic sticks. The largest form ever of an excavator, the [[Engineering:Dragline excavator|dragline excavator]], eliminated the dipper in favor of a line and [[Engineering:Winch|winch]].

On the end of the stick is usually a [[Engineering:Bucket (machine part)|bucket]].  A wide, large capacity (mud) bucket with a straight cutting edge is used for cleanup and levelling or where the material to be dug is soft, and teeth are not required.  A general purpose (GP) bucket is generally smaller, stronger, and has hardened side cutters and teeth used to break through hard ground and rocks. Buckets have numerous shapes and sizes for various applications. There are also many other attachments that are available to be attached to the excavator for boring, ripping, crushing, cutting, lifting, etc. Attachments can be attached with pins similar to other parts of the arm or with some variety of [[Engineering:Quick coupler|quick coupler]]. Excavators in Scandinavia often feature a [[Engineering:Tiltrotator|tiltrotator]] which allows attachments rotate 360 degrees and tilt ±45 degrees, in order to increase the flexibility and precision of the excavator.

Before the 1990s, all excavators had a long or conventional counterweight that hung off the rear of the machine to provide more digging force and lifting capacity. This became a nuisance when working in confined areas.  In 1993 [[Company:Yanmar|Yanmar]] launched the world's first Zero Tail Swing excavator,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yanmar.com/construction/products/excavators/ |title=Yanmar America Corporation - Excavators |access-date=2009-11-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330033515/http://www.yanmar.com/construction/products/excavators/ |archive-date=2010-03-30 }}</ref> which allows the counterweight to stay inside the width of the tracks as it slews, thus being safer and more user friendly when used in a confined space. This type of machine is now widely used throughout the world.

There are two main types of control configuration used in excavators to control the boom and bucket, each distributing the four primary digging functions across two x-y joysticks. This allows a skilled operator to control all four functions simultaneously.  The most popular configuration in the US is the SAE controls configuration while in other parts of the world, the ISO control configuration is more common.  Some manufacturers such as Takeuchi have switches that allow the operator to select which control configuration to use.

==Excavator attachments==
[[File:Excavator with grapple.jpg|thumb|Excavator with [[Grapple (tool)|grapple]]]]

===== Common Types of Excavator Attachments<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epiroc |title=Excavator attachments |url=https://www.epiroc.com/en-mk/products/excavator-attachments |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Epiroc |language=en-MK}}</ref> =====
{| class="wikitable"
!Attachment Type
!Function / Use
|-
|'''Hydraulic Breaker'''
|Breaking concrete, rocks
|-
|'''Hydraulic Shear'''
|Cutting steel, demolition of buildings
|-
|'''Grapple'''
|Grabbing logs, scrap, or debris
|-
|'''Quick Coupler'''
|Quick change of attachments
|-
|'''Ripper'''
|Loosening hard or frozen soil
|-
|'''Bucket'''
|Digging and loading soil or rocks
|-
|'''Screening Bucket'''
|Separating soil from rocks
|-
|'''Hydraulic Compactor'''
|Soil compaction
|-
|'''Dredging/Sand Pump'''
|Dredging or underwater operations
|}


===== Leading International Excavator Attachment Manufacturers =====

# '''Epiroc''' (formerly Atlas Copco) – ''Sweden''
#* Known for hydraulic breakers, shears, and drills.
# '''Stanley Infrastructure / LaBounty''' – ''USA''
#* Renowned for hydraulic shears and grapples.
# '''Beilite'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Beilite Machinery |url=https://www.beilite.com/en/aboutbellit/index.html |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=www.beilite.com}}</ref> – ''China''
#* Hydraulic breaker internationally renowned brand
# '''NPK''' – ''Japan / USA''
#* Offers breakers, shears, compactors, and more.
# '''Kinshofer''' – ''Germany''
#* Known for grapples, tilt rotators, quick couplers.
# '''Caterpillar (CAT Attachments)''' – ''USA''
#* Full line of OEM attachments compatible with CAT machines.
# '''Komatsu Attachments''' – ''Japan''
#* OEM attachments for Komatsu equipment.
# '''Rotar''' – ''Netherlands''
#* Specializes in demolition and recycling attachments.
# '''Trevi Benne''' – ''Italy''
#* Offers demolition tools like shears and pulverizers.
# '''MB Crusher''' – ''Italy''

* Famous for crusher buckets and screening buckets.

==Notable manufacturers==

<!-- In order to keep this section from becoming a disorganized mess and/or spam magnet, please list in alphabetical order and only manufactures which have a Wikipedia article.  See the talk page for more. -->
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* 14. oktobar
* Atlas
* [[Company:Bobcat Company|Bobcat Company]]
* Bucyrus International
* [[Company:Case Construction Equipment|Case Construction Equipment]]
* Caterpillar
* [[Engineering:CNH Global|CNH Global]]
* Doosan Infracore (formerly Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery) - including Solar brand
* [[Company:ENMTP|ENMTP]]
* Fiat-Allis
* [[Company:Ford Motor Company|Ford]] 
* [[Company:HEPCO|HEPCO]]
* [[Company:Hidromek|Hidromek]]
* [[Company:Hitachi Construction Machinery|Hitachi Construction Machinery]]
* [[Company:Hydrema|Hydrema]]
* [[Company:Hyundai Heavy Industries|Hyundai Heavy Industries]]
* [[Company:International Harvester|International Harvester]]
* [[Company:JCB (heavy equipment manufacturer)|JCB]]
* John Deere
* [[Company:Kobelco Construction Machinery America|Kobelco]] - subsidiary organization of Kobe Steel, also producing Kobelco
* [[Company:Komatsu Limited|Komatsu]]
* Kubota
* [[Company:Larsen & Toubro|Larsen & Toubro]] - subsidiary with Komatsu, operated as L&T Komatsu for Indian market
* [[Company:Liebherr|Liebherr]]
* [[Company:Link-Belt Cranes|LBX (Link-Belt) Excavators]]
* [[Company:LiuGong|LiuGong]]
* Lonking
* Mahindra
* [[Company:Marion Power Shovel Company|Marion Power Shovel Company]] - ceased operations in 1997
* [[Company:Massey Ferguson|Massey Ferguson]]
* [[Company:Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]] - the excavator market was fully owned by Caterpillar Inc.
* [[Company:New Holland Construction|New Holland]]
* Orenstein & Koppel (O&K) - ceased operations in 1999
* Poclain
* [[Company:Samsung|Samsung]]→The business was bought by [[Company:Volvo Construction Equipment|Volvo Construction Equipment]]
* Sandvik Mining and Construction
* Sany
* SDLG - subsidiary corporation of Volvo Construction Equipment
* [[Company:Shantui|Shantui]]
* [[Company:ST Kinetics#Construction vehicles|St Kinetics]]
* Sumitomo Heavy Industries
* [[Company:Takeuchi Manufacturing|Takeuchi]]
* [[Company:Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery|Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery]] - owned by Hitachi Construction Machinery for Indian market
* Terex Corporation
* [[Company:ThyssenKrupp|ThyssenKrupp]]
* [[Company:Uralvagonzavod|Uralvagonzavod]]
* [[Company:Volvo Construction Equipment|Volvo Construction Equipment]]
* [[Company:Wacker Neuson|Wacker Neuson]]
* [[Company:XCMG|XCMG]]
* [[Company:Yanmar|Yanmar]]
* [[Company:Zoomlion|Zoomlion]]
<!-- In order to keep this section from becoming a disorganized mess and/or spam magnet, please list in alphabetical order and only manufactures which have a Wikipedia article.  See the talk page for more. -->
}}

==Current manufacturers==
As of July 2021, current excavator manufacturers include:
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a manufacturer to this list if it already has its own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
{{Flagdeco|ALG}} '''Algeria'''
* [[Company:ENMTP|ENMTP]]

{{Flagdeco|CHN}} '''China'''
* Guangxi Yuchai Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.
* LiuGong
* Lonking
* Lovol Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd
* SANY
* SDLG
* [[Company:Shantui|Shantui]]
* Sunward Intelligent Equipment Group
* [[Company:XCMG|XCMG]]
* Xiamen XGMA Machinery Co., Ltd.
* [[Company:Zoomlion|Zoomlion]]

{{Flagdeco|DEN}} '''Denmark'''
* [[Company:Hydrema|Hydrema]]

{{Flagdeco|FRA}} '''France'''
* JMEKA
* Mecalac
* Mini-pelle
* ProtoMicroTP

{{Flagdeco|GER}} '''Germany'''
* [[Company:ThyssenKrupp|ThyssenKrupp]]
* [[Company:Wacker Neuson|Wacker Neuson]]

{{Flagdeco|IND}} '''India'''
* BEML
* L&T
* [[Company:Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery|Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery]]

{{Flagdeco|IDN}} '''Indonesia'''
* PT Pindad (Persero)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pindad.com/alat-berat|title=PT. Pindad (Persero) - Alat Berat|access-date=2021-04-25|archive-date=2021-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425152121/https://pindad.com/alat-berat|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Flagdeco|IRI}} '''Iran'''
* [[Company:HEPCO|HEPCO]]

{{Flagdeco|ITA}} {{Flagdeco|USA}} {{Flagdeco|NED}} '''Italy-USA-Netherlands'''
* [[Company:CNH Industrial|CNH Industrial]] - produces Sumitomo and CASE

{{Flagdeco|JPN}} '''Japan'''
* [[Company:Hitachi Construction Machinery|Hitachi Construction Machinery]]
* Kato Works Co. Ltd.
* [[Company:Kobelco Construction Machinery America|Kobelco]]
* [[Company:Komatsu Limited|Komatsu Limited]]
* Kubota
* SUMITOMO
* [[Company:Yanmar|Yanmar]]

{{Flagdeco|RUS}} '''Russia'''
* [[Company:Uralvagonzavod|Uralvagonzavod]]

{{Flagdeco|SWE}} '''Sweden'''
* Sandvik AB
* [[Company:Volvo Construction Equipment|Volvo Construction Equipment]]

{{Flagdeco|KOR}} '''South Korea'''
* [[Company:Doosan Group|Doosan]]
* [[Company:Hyundai Heavy Industries|Hyundai Heavy Industries]]

{{Flagdeco|SUI}} {{Flagdeco|GER}} '''Switzerland-Germany'''
* [[Company:Liebherr|Liebherr]]

{{Flagdeco|TUR}} '''Turkey'''
* [[Company:Hidromek|Hidromek]]

{{Flagdeco|GBR}} '''United Kingdom'''
* JCB

{{Flagdeco|USA}} '''United States'''
* Bucyrus International
* Case CE
* [[Company:Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar Inc.]]
* John Deere
* [[Company:Link-Belt Cranes|LBX (Link-Belt) Excavators]]
* [[Company:New Holland Construction|New Holland]]
* Terex Corporation
}}

==See also==
===Types of excavator===
* [[Engineering:Amphibious excavator|Amphibious excavator]]
* [[Engineering:Bucket-wheel excavator|Bucket-wheel excavator]]
* [[Engineering:Compact excavator|Compact excavator]]
* [[Engineering:Crawler excavator|Crawler Excavator]]
* [[Engineering:Dragline excavator|Dragline excavator]]
* [[Engineering:Long reach excavator|Long reach excavator]]
* [[Engineering:Power shovel|Power shovel]]
* [[Engineering:Steam shovel|Steam shovel]]
* [[Engineering:Suction excavator|Suction excavator]]
* [[Engineering:Walking excavator|Walking excavator]]

===Other===
* [[Engineering:Bulldozer|Bulldozer]]
* [[Engineering:Civil engineering|Civil engineering]]
* [[Engineering:Feller buncher|Feller buncher]]
* [[Engineering:Heavy equipment|Heavy equipment]]
* [[Engineering:Loader (equipment)|Loader]]
* Mining simulation
* SAE controls
* [[Engineering:Skid-steer loader|Skid-steer loader]]
* [[Engineering:Tractor|Tractor]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==


[[Category:Excavators| ]]
[[Category:Excavating equipment]]
[[Category:Heavy equipment]]
[[Category:Tracked vehicles]]

{{Sourceattribution|Excavator}}