Construction Heavy Machinery Terms and Definitions

The construction heavy machinery industry is chock-full of jargon and acronyms that are unfamiliar to most of us. If you’re just starting out in these sectors, whether it’s as a project manager in construction or trying to set up a new project in the realm of heavy equipment, a list of these commonly used terms and acronyms will come in handy.

Let’s take a look at this glossary list of some common industry terms along with their definitions.

Aggregate Crushing Equipment - Powerful machines used for processing rocks into smaller aggregates. These machines include jaw crushers, cone crushers, impact crushers, and more.

Aggregate machinery - Equipment used to extract, crush, screen, and transport aggregate materials such as the Powerscreen Premiertrak Jaw Crushers, the Powerscreen Chieftain 2100X Screeners, and more.?

Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) - An articulated hauler, or sometimes a dump hauler, is a very large heavy-duty type of dump truck used to transport loads over rough terrain, and occasionally on public roads. The vehicle usually has all-wheel drive and consists of two basic units: the front section, generally called the tractor, and the rear section that contains the dump body, called the hauler or trailer section. Examples of these machines include Al Marwan’s fleet of 40-45 tons rental trucks, the largest of its kind in the region.

Asphalt Equipment - Machinery used for asphalt laying and compaction such as pavers, asphalt plants, rammers, rollers, plate compactors, and more.

Auger drives - Equipment used for drilling holes in the ground.

Backhoe - A versatile machine with a bucket at the end of an articulated arm used for digging, trenching, and loading.

Blade capacity - This term is most relevant to equipment with a dozer blade attachment (bulldozers, graders). Blade capacity refers to the amount of material the blade can push or scrape in a single pass. It's typically measured in cubic meters (m3) or cubic yards (yd3).

Boom - The long arm on cranes and excavators used for extending reach.

Boom lifts - Telescopic platforms for reaching elevated work areas.

Breakers - Powerful tools used for breaking up hard surfaces like concrete, rock, or asphalt. These attachments are available from global brands such as Jisung and Toku.

Bucket - An attachment for excavators and loaders used for digging and loading materials. These attachments also come in specialized types such as crushing and screening buckets.

Bulldozer - A powerful tracked vehicle with a large metal blade at the front for pushing and leveling earth, debris, or other materials. These machines can reach staggering operating weights such as the rental large dozers from Al Marwan like the CAT D11 and Komatsu D475A.

Cab - The enclosed operator compartment of a heavy machine.

Chassis - The main frame of the machine that supports all other components.

Compactors - Machines used to compress soil, concrete, or asphalt to increase density and strength. Compaction equipment includes machines such as the Redline by Dynapac double drum rollers, the Dynapac plate compactors, and more.

Concrete Equipment - Equipment used for mixing, transporting, and placing concrete like concrete mixers, pumps, trucks, and more.

Counterweight - Weight added to the rear of an excavator for stability.

Crane - A lifting machine with a long arm and a hoist that can be used to move heavy objects vertically and horizontally. These machines come in different configurations and sizes, explained in our Top Crane Types article. Examples of these machines include the Japanese Kobelco crawler cranes such as the CKS2500, 7250S, CKS1350, and more.

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Crawler (or tracked) machinery - Heavy equipment with continuous tracks instead of wheels, providing better traction on uneven or soft surfaces.

Crushers - Machines that break down materials into smaller pieces.

Crusher bucket - Excavator attachments for breaking materials.

Demolition (DEMO) - The process of tearing down a building or structure.

Drivetrain - All components that transmit power from the engine to the wheels or tracks.

Diesel generator - Power source that converts diesel fuel into electricity.

Drill rigs - Heavy equipment used for drilling into the earth.

Earthmoving Equipment - These machines are used for excavating, grading, and transporting earth such as bulldozers, excavators, graders, loaders, scrapers.

Excavator - A tracked machine with a digging arm and bucket used for excavating earth, rocks, or other materials. These machines are used in conjunction with other heavy equipment such as trucks and more, and are commonly seen in construction, mining, quarry and aggregate applications, among many. Discover diggers available for sale in the region here.

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We hope this ?compact glossary will provide you with valuable insights and a better grasp of the common terms and acronyms you’ll encounter in this field.?Keep this newsletter handy for reference, and don't be shy to ask if any terms spark your curiosity.