When it comes to digging absolutely anything on a construction site, the go-to machine of choice is an excavator. They are one of the most commonly used machines on construction sites due to their versatility, but what else can an excavator do?

In this blog, we unpack why excavators are so versatile and what the benefits of an excavator are, including a detailed look at the earthmoving abilities that they are world-renowned for.

Excavation is the term given to any task that digs down into earth and removes soil. Other terms for excavation include unearthing, digging, boring, or revealing. In terms of construction, the importance of excavation is that it is an essential application that takes place at the beginning of any construction project to clear an area and prepare it for foundations to be laid.

Every construction project starts with foundations being excavated. The importance of excavation in construction is that if the foundation is properly and effectively built, then the entire building is set up to be stronger. Foundations in construction are created by digging down into the earth to create deep, square foundations into which concrete can be poured – and that’s where an excavator comes in.

The main function of an excavator on most construction sites is to dig. Depending on their size and configuration, they can dig anything from foundations to trenches. However, they are considered machines that are jack-of-all-trades because they can do more than just dig. Thanks to their ability to handle a range of attachments, they can do more than just dig. Depending on the attachments used with the excavator, these powerful earthmoving machines are also able to:

• Complete material handling tasks like earthmoving or material moving
• Complete demolition tasks like breaking down old structures and buildings
• Land clearing can be done by excavators too, to clear trees, bushes, and other obstacles for construction to begin
• Heavy lifting tasks on site can be performed by excavators too

An excavator is an essential piece of earthmoving equipment with a simple mechanical process. Excavators consist of three main moving parts, namely a:

• Boom
• Arm or dipper
• Bucket

These moving parts are connected to a central cab which sits on a rotating superstructure on top of the tracks or wheels. The boom, arm and bucket are maneuvered electronically by an operator who sits in the cab and is able to have a 360 degree view of what he or she is doing.

Excavators are one of the most used machines thanks to their versatility and can be used for a variety of tasks from digging foundations and breaking up asphalt, to moving earth and clearing land.

With the ability to move earth and other materials, excavators help speed up the construction process by making it easier for construction workers to get the job done. Before excavators were invented, this kind of excavation had to be done manually by labourers’ ad would take 100 times longer for the job to be completed.

There are seven main types of excavators that are manufactured world-wide, including:

• Crawler Excavators
• Wheeled Excavators
• Dragline Excavators
• Suction Excavators
• Skid steer Excavators
• Long Reach Excavators
• Mini Excavators

The type of excavator you choose will depend on a few different factors pertaining to your construction project including:

• What does the job entail?
• Is it a small digging job or a larger excavation project?
• What is the site working conditions like?
• How much space is available on site?
• What type of soil is there?

When it comes to choosing the right excavator for your project, trust the team at Goscor Earthmoving Equipment to guide you as to the right machine for the job. We have been in the earthmoving machinery industry for over 25 years, and we have a wide range of SANY heavy excavators to choose from as well as more compact Bobcat mini excavators too.

Contact us today to find out more about Goscor Earthmoving Equipment.