Types of construction machinery and examples. Detailed guide!

Construction machinery and equipment

The world of construction is very broad, and knowing what to do at all times is difficult. A colleague was telling us about his experiences in searching for construction machinery for the execution of a large avenue.

We were left perplexed by the complexity of the topic and the different options, characteristics, classifications, or types of machines used in construction, a topic that not only involves using excavators. There is a world behind it, which many technicians should remember as professionals in the architecture sector.

As it never hurts to review the subject of construction machinery, we wanted to simplify the information so that at least we have a perspective on what we will encounter and the possible options existing in the market, as well as their characteristics or types of construction machinery.

Classification of construction machinery

To determine a coherent classification, although there are many variants (by Application Norm, by DGT, etc.), we will proceed to a division according to the weight-volume ratio, i.e., attending to its capacity, and we can organize them in the following way to have a general perspective:

Heavy machinery

These would include those with large geometric proportions, comparable to traditional street vehicles, with considerable volume and weight.

They require a trained operator who needs a special license for heavy machinery, given the complexity of the controls and the functionality of the same.

Their main use is destined for large earth movements (either open-pit or tunnel), movement of heavy elements, civil engineering, or mining works. Examples would be; tunnel boring machines, large cranes, or the Tipper – Dump Truck… etc.

Types of Heavy Machinery

In the classification of heavy machinery for construction, from the perspective of works and their activities, a wide variety of equipment is used, and they have an impact on a broad range of public (civil engineering mainly) or private works.

Earth movements, roads, excavations, dams, dredging, tunnel drilling, and foundation works. So, the construction equipment used is several, just like their dimensions, but the main ones – if we talk about large-sized equipment – we can divide:

• The excavator
• The backhoe loader
• Draglines
• The dragline
• The motor grader
• The scraper
• The paver
• The compactor
• The motorized grader
• The water tanker
• The dump trucks
• Tractors
• The loader

Semi-Heavy machinery

We would classify them as medium-sized, with proportions and dimensions smaller than the previous ones. The typical motovolquete of work, small excavators, small cranes, backhoe loaders of smaller dimensions… etc (It may seem similar to the previous ones, but we must think in terms of dimensions).

Light machinery

In this section, we would include specialized construction equipment or machinery of small dimensions; a water pump, compressors, vibrators, steel cutters, road breakers…. etc.

We can also distinguish them according to the energy consumed for their proper functioning, having two different typologies:

• Pneumatic, functioning based on compressed air generated by a motor compressor.
• Electric, functioning with common electric energy directly from the power supply or, in its absence, from generator sets installed on the site.

According to the movement method

Here, the game of transportation from one place to another comes into play. We could classify them as:

According to the operations they perform

According to what they are destined for, we should clarify them according to:

According to the equipment and work to be performed

This classification is more based on the function and use that will be performed. It is a nomenclature and names of construction machinery supported by companies in the sector. The list and examples could be:

The previous names are assigned with images to the following examples of construction machinery equipment:

Once the names of common construction machinery have been reviewed, always considering that technological advancements provide us with new tools, especially from the perspective of robotics, where modern engineering devices are emerging on the market. In many cases, these are intended to replace the worker or operator in their functions.

See a related article on how a robot detects construction errors. It’s fascinating to see how devices and systems are changing in construction sites.

For more common use and typical construction site needs, we want to delve a little deeper into the construction machinery sector and excavators on-site.

Excavators

A machine designed for earthmoving and excavation. Self-propelled on wheels or tracks. Depending on the work performed, there are different applications:

Front push. Commonly used for excavating high banks.

Back push. Applied in excavations below ground level. (This is the backhoe excavator.)

Clamshell equipment. Although not very common, this refers to the bucket that is dropped open onto the material to be excavated, literally “biting” into it. When lifted, the jaws close, collecting the excavated material.

We can also observe the different types of excavators according to:

• Based on their conditioning: Cable or mechanical excavators and hydraulic excavators.
• Based on the translation system: Excavators mounted on tracks (crawlers), on wheels or tires, on rails, and on boats.
• Based on the type of operation: Standard or normal excavators, clamshell excavators, tambour excavators, and chain bucket excavators.

Remember that the topic of foundations is complex, and to better understand it, we have an article on foundations and types of pathologies with nine essential guides of great utility for construction technicians.

There is currently a wide variety of tools, implements, and attachments for excavators that provide different functions thanks to modern technology and tangible benefits in the architecture we practice. An example from the JCB brand…

We can also find more information related to examples and types of scaffolding in construction, which also dives into the assembly process, its advantages and disadvantages or weaknesses, and the proper use of scaffolding.

In the following video, we can see the parts of an excavator explained in detail along with some tips…

Construction machinery regulations

To clarify the applicable legislation in Spain, although it is somewhat complex since European regulations also play a role, we can deduce more information about the classification of construction machinery.

We have provided a diagram for the Spanish territory that may be of interest to understand the applicable regulations, although we primarily need to rely on Royal Decree 1644/2008 and its amendment with Royal Decree 494/2012.

How construction machinery depreciates

Although it might seem like a topic unrelated to an article about types of heavy machinery in construction, it plays an important role given the economic value and cost of such machinery in the market.

While we should highlight the differences and particular characteristics between civil, public, or private construction, in general terms, the goal of depreciation can be explained in several ways:

• To create a fund for machinery replacement.
• To account for the reduction in the company’s asset value.
• To distribute the machinery cost across production.
• To recover the money paid over several years for the machine acquisition.

The following video by Víctor Yepes from Polimedia (Polytechnic University of Valencia) offers an easy-to-understand introduction to this important concept from a construction perspective.

Although the topic is very broad and many concepts and points should be explained — from organization to safety and the various types of machinery — we have made a brief introduction to remind our readers of some ideas that many may have forgotten.

Guides for purchasing, maintenance, and technical specifications

The world of machinery is complex, especially when it comes to the construction sector. Numerous technical specifications and features vary by model.

The following diagram simplifies what to consider when purchasing construction machinery, along with some tips:

One of the best information portals is provided by the Fundación Laboral de la Construcción, which you can consult HERE. It also offers excellent documentation, such as:

The technical documentation and specifications in the aforementioned resources are excellent. Highly recommended!

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