Construction equipment manufacturers design and build each machine for a specific task; therefore it is equally important for users to know the task perform by the each machine before they bring it to the construction site. Here we will see the usage and functionality of two most used Earthmoving equipment, the Excavator, and Backhoe Loader. They alone consist almost 40% of the market share.

Excavator and Backhoe Loader, both are versatile construction equipment in the field of civil engineering, but the major difference between these two are the capabilities of each machine depending on the project size, the difference in weight and size of each machine. However, both these machines are available in different sizes so that contractors can perform the specific task and depending on the project size.

This versatile construction equipment performs different tasks at construction sites. An excavator is majorly used for medium and large size of construction projects in industrial and commercial sites. It performs multiple jobs such as Digging holes, foundations, and trenches, River dredging, driving piles, Snow removal, dragging and lifting materials, and is also used for demolition.

The Hydraulic excavators can perform various other tasks beyond the excavation with the attachment like a Grapple, Breaker, and Auger; it can perform Brush cutting, drilling shafts, rock blasting and others. It comes in different sizes, like small size called mini or compact excavator, medium excavator, and large excavator and each size is designed to use for different kinds of projects, for example, the large excavators used for big projects and vice versa. In the recent time, many contractors started preferring mini excavator over Backhoe Loaders.

This versatility makes Excavator ideal Earthmoving equipment for medium to heavy-duty tasks.

Backhoe Loader is called a standard tractor and is most sold construction equipment in India due to its multi-functionality abilities. This unique construction equipment has a combination of different tools (Boom, dipper, bucket, Shovel etc.) and each tool associated with Backhoe Loader performs different tasks at construction sites. The machine is used for small demolition, digging holes, paving roads, breaking asphalt, laying pipes, setting up drainage system, transport heavy items; it is capable of performing various other tasks. It is given the name backhoe as it pulls the dirt back towards itself.

Backhoe Loader is a right kind of machine for small to medium types of construction projects in the small budget. Backhoe Loader uses for almost all types of construction projects in India. The future market for the Backhoe Loader in India is quite bullish as various reports suggest that India will remain the most profitable market.

1 - Backhoe Loaders are very small as compared to the Excavators

2 - Backhoe Loader looks like an advanced tractor, fitted with bucket/shovel on the front and a Backhoe on the back side of the machine.

3 - Excavators consist of a stick, bucket, boom and cabin mounted on a platform. It is considered as most versatile machine as compared to the Backhoe Loader. The excavator is the most specialist machines to perform its task.

4 - Backhoe Loader has tire whereas excavator comes with tracks (either rubber or metal).

5 - The advantage with excavators is that it can swing on 360 degrees while the backhoe loader has restricted rotation of 200 degrees on the left and right side.

6 - Excavators are suitable for heavy duty tasks (commercial and industrial) with sufficient open space at the sites and Backhoe Loaders relatively used for small and medium duty work. Backhoe Loader can be used in compact and constricted job locations whereas Excavators require open space.

7 - As far as cost involves with both the machines are concerned, buying a standard excavator is much higher than standard backhoe loader. The maintenance, storage, renting or leasing excavator is costly compared to the backhoe loaders.

8 - In the cabin, operators of the excavators sit on the rotating platform, whereas backhoe loaders cabin is fixed.

9 - To transport Excavators, one requires carrier vehicle to transport it to one place to another or bring it to the construction sites. While Backhoe loaders can be transported easily from one place to another. However, transporting Excavators are quite high compared to the Backhoe Loaders.