List of 35+ Heavy Equipment and Their Functions

Heavy equipment is known as a large machine that is deliberately designed to perform a variety of construction jobs. Be they for earthworks or moving building materials to their right places.

There are five components in a construction tool of this kind, including the control system, traction tool, power and transmission sources, implements, and structures. Basically, heavy equipment is the most important aspect of a project. Especially in construction projects, mining, or other large-scale activities.

Here are several types of heavy equipment that are differentiated according to their own functions.

Type of Heavy EquipmentFunction
Articulated dump truckMoving and disposing of material in a muddy road area.
Asphalt paver or asphalt finisherLaying out the entire asphalt mixture that has been made by the asphalt production beforehand.
BackhoeExcavating soil to a greater depth than dragline and clamshell and can be used as a loading tool.
Boom liftTaking the workers to a certain height.
BulldozerCultivating land, pushing excavated soil material, or making material piles.
ClamshellDigging loose soil, such as gravel, sand, and crushed rock which is then lifted vertically.
CompactorCompacting soil and other materials to the required density.
Concrete batching plantMixing or producing concrete on a large scale so that the quality of ready mix concrete is maintained and living up to standards.
Concrete mixer truckTransporting the concrete mixture from the mixing plant to the project site. The mixer contained in the tool continues to rotate 8 to 12 times per minute. That way, the concrete inside does not harden.
CraneTransporting and moving material from top to bottom or vice versa. It moves mechanically, both vertically and horizontally.
Crawler craneTransporting heavy materials that are equipped with a transport range.
Diesel hammerStacking or punching piles into the ground to the depth required by the project. Usually, this tool is used in the construction of multi-story building foundations, bridges, or piers.
Down scrapper tractorTowing and transporting material by being pulled by a bulldozer.
DraglineDigging the soil and loading it into transportation tools, such as trucks or landfills that are close to the excavation site.
ExcavatorExcavating the soil and moving all the materials into a cargo truck, leveling the ground, sticking the foundation rods, dredging rivers, and so on.
Feller buncherCutting down large trees in the work area of ​​a project.
Front shovelExcavating hard material that is located above ground level, where the tool is located.
Mobile craneCarrying material. It can move places easily.
Motor graderMechanically leveling the ground surface with a long blade. It can also be used to carry out land clearing, fill excavation, mixing soil, leveling embankments, and so on.
Motor scraperDigging soil between concrete buildings, cutting slopes of embankments or dams, and also leveling roads.
Off highway truckCarrying very large quantities of material from one location to another.
Pile boringMaking boreholes at the construction site for the installation of precast piles.
Pile drivingLifting the pole while holding it in the right position, then pushing the pole into the ground according to the desired depth.
Pneumatic tired rollerUsed in works that produce granular materials. It can also be used to grind hot mix layers and compact the soil using two combined methods, namely kneading action and static weight.
Power shovelDigging the soil without the aid of other tools and loading stockpiles.
SkidderPulling logs which is usually done by logging companies.
Stone crusherBreaking super large rock into smaller ones. Usually, this tool is used by companies in the mining sector.
Swamp bulldozerPushing or digging the soil in an area with very soft soil, such as a swamp.
Tamping roller or Sheep’s foot rollerCompacting clay or soil in the form of sand and loam.
TelehandlerLifting heavy materials to the required height or providing a construction platform for the workers.
Telescopic handler craneInstalling a steel frame on the top, especially on coal mining projects.
Track type loaderLoading materials with a small capacity.
TrenchersDigging the soil that will be used for laying pipes, cables, or drainage purposes.
Tundem roller compactorFlattening the surface in the final grinding process.
Vibration roller compactorLeveling the soil surface with excellent compaction efficiency.
Wheel loaderMoving goods or materials from one place to another. It can also be used to clean the site, level out heaped soil, dig the soil in close quarters, and smooth flat surfaces.
Wales stump or Vibro rollerCompacting the ground or asphalt surface in a highway construction project.
Wheel tractor scrapperLoading, moving, spreading, and dumping materials in road maintenance projects.

Those are some types of heavy equipment that are often needed in large-scale projects. Hopefully, you find this information useful.