Every construction project is unique and requires specialized heavy machinery, equipment and tools. Many different types are available and even industry veterans may need help remembering all construction equipment names. If you’re new to construction, it may take a while for you to be familiar with all of the names of heavy equipment and machines you will likely encounter during your career.
However, it is essential to know the different machine names for many reasons. First, it allows you to communicate clearly and effectively about the equipment to be used with others involved in the project. Doing so helps prevent costly and even dangerous errors. Secondly, knowing machinery names improves efficiency. For example, suppose you must perform a specific task, such as moving materials from one location to another. In that case, you’ll immediately know which equipment is best for the job.
We have compiled a list of construction equipment names to serve as a helpful reference for anyone interested in construction. Read on to learn more about the names of heavy equipment typically used in construction and their essential functions.
Names of Heavy Equipment to Keep in Mind
The following are some types of construction equipment categorized according to their function.
Earthmoving Equipment
As its name implies, the purpose of earthmoving equipment is to excavate, transport and grade earth. Apart from construction, earthmoving equipment is also used in mining.
Loaders
One of the heavy equipment names you should be familiar with is “loaders,” as it is used in most construction projects that require heavy loads to be moved. Loaders are used in any activity requiring large volumes of soil, rocks or waste materials. Examples include demolition works, forestry works, road construction, excavations and mining applications.
The following are some types of loaders:
- Skid Steer Loaders: These are typically used in small spaces as they are compact and easy to maneuver.
- Track Loaders: These are rugged machines mounted on tracks. They are used for digging, grading, clearing, slope work, truck loading and more.
- Backhoe Loaders: The most versatile kind of loader, backhoe loaders are mounted on wheels. They have a hoe on the back, hence their name, and a loading bucket in front.
Bulldozers
These pieces of equipment are used primarily for digging, excavating and leveling materials like soil at a worksite. They can also be used to transport materials. There are three main types of bulldozers:
- Crawler Bulldozer
- Wheel Bulldozer
- Mini Bulldozer
Dump Trucks
Dump trucks are essential in construction for carrying heavy loads. They have hydraulic lifting beds to quickly unload materials like soil, debris and construction supplies.
Crawler Tractors
These tractors are used for digging, grading, and moving heavy materials on construction sites. With tracks instead of wheels, they offer stability and traction on various types of terrain.
Vibratory Compactors
These heavy-duty machines, also called vibro compactors, use a plate or roller mechanism to compact soil, gravel and asphalt.
Excavators
Excavators are a crucial piece of earthmoving equipment used for trenching, drilling, lifting materials and other heavy-duty construction tasks. There are several kinds, including:
- Long Reach Excavators
- Mini Excavators
- Dragline Excavators
- Suction Excavators
Material Handling Equipment
This construction equipment is used to move, store, control and protect materials or goods. Material handling equipment is commonly used not just in construction but also in manufacturing, warehousing and transportation.
A lift truck, commonly called a forklift, is a powered industrial vehicle designed for lifting and transporting heavy materials. Its key feature includes two forks positioned beneath the load to facilitate lifting and movement.
Lift trucks come in various types, including the following:
- Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
- Reach Lift Trucks
- Telehandler Forklifts
Conveyors
Construction conveyor belts are designed to transport soil, aggregate, rubble and other materials from one location to another. One of its advantages is that it does not need to be operated by a driver.
Cranes and Hoists
A crane lifts and lowers heavy loads, such as building materials and even machines or equipment, along a vertical axis. It typically has a long boom with a hook or hoist at the end. The hoist extends the functionality of a crane, allowing it not just to lift and lower loads but also to move them horizontally.
- Crawler Crane
- Floating Crane
- Tower Crane
- Telescopic Crane
- Truck-Mounted Crane
- Overhead Crane
- Hammerhead Crane
Manlifts
Man lifts, also known as aerial lifts or cherry pickers, are devices used to elevate workers and their equipment to high work areas safely. Apart from construction, they are also used in maintenance, repair work and tasks like maintenance, warehousing, landscaping and repair work.
There are three main types:
- Boom Lifts
- Scissor Lifts
- Vertical Personnel Lifts
Construction Vehicles
These are heavy-duty vehicles used for a wide range of tasks, from hauling materials like stone and delivering supplies and tools to compacting earth. Construction vehicles run on either wheels or tracks, depending on the terrain they’re meant to be used on.
Because construction vehicles perform many jobsite-related tasks, they may be categorized under their functions. For instance, backhoe loaders are construction vehicles but are also considered earthmoving equipment. Here are some examples of construction vehicles:
- Cold Planers: These are used to remove damaged or deteriorated pavement or asphalt from driving surfaces like roads, highways and parking lots. They are essential in pavement recycling operations.
- Concrete Mixer Trucks: These vehicles are designed to transport and mix concrete on-site. These trucks have a large revolving drum where raw materials like cement, water, and aggregates are combined to produce fresh concrete.
- Drum Rollers: These heavy-duty machines are equipped with a large drum, which can be smooth or fitted with specialized patterns, to efficiently compress surfaces made of soil, asphalt or other materials.
- Dump Trucks: These vehicles feature large, open containers, often hydraulically operated, that can tilt backward to unload their contents. They are used to haul, deliver and move excavated soil, aggregates and other materials.
- Motor Graders: Also called “road graders,” motor graders are commonly used to maintain roads and to perform the “finish grade.” The height, angle and tilt of the grader’s blade makes it possible to achieve a high level of precision when grading.
Specialized Construction Equipment
This type of equipment is designed to perform specific tasks. For this reason, many types of specialized construction equipment are more expensive than general-purpose ones. The following are some examples of specialized construction equipment:
- Trenchers
- Pile-Driving Equipment
- Tower Cranes
- Cofferdams
- Asphalt Pavers
- Wrecking Balls
- Muck Haulers
- Tunnel Boring Machines
- Trash Pumps
- Light Towers
Rent Superior Construction Equipment From a Trusted Provider
While not an exhaustive list, the construction equipment names in this article are helpful for anyone interested in construction. These machines and tools are essential to the construction industry, and becoming familiar with them is a must, whether you have been in construction for years or are just starting out.
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