Equipment

Best Attachments for Excavation

On an excavation site, there is no shortage of work. Attachments provide you with more versatility, utilization, and productivity. The right attachments can turn a single working machine into a multi-faceted piece of equipment for every season and job - keeping your business growing and your machine working.  In this blog, learn more about the best types of excavator attachments and see them in action. If you need help or have questions about attachments, Empire can help you dig, grade, or move soil more efficiently today.


COUPLERS

Couplers allow a single person to change work tools in seconds for maximum performance and flexibility on the jobsite. One machine can move rapidly from task to task, and a fleet of similarly equipped machines can share a common work tool inventory. Various types of couplers and their benefits include the following:

  • Hydraulic Couplers are ideal and safer for larger excavators. They can be used by a solo operator. 
  • Pin Grabber Couplers stay pinned to your machine allowing you to switch out attachments between similar models quickly. 
  • Mechanical / Manual Couplers are less expensive than hydraulic models and are ideal for compact excavators, providing a tighter fit.

 See It In Action! | The Cat Hydraulic Connecting S-Type Coupler

Dig Deeper! | Learn more about buckets for Mini Excavators.

BUCKETS

Here are five types of excavator buckets that dig into the soil and / or level out working areas: 

  • Digging buckets often have teeth and are available in several shapes and sizes.
  • Grading buckets have a cutting edge to create smooth surfaces.
  • Riddle buckets filter debris away from other materials.
  • Rock buckets are heavy-duty digging buckets designed to cut through rocks. They are also known as rock-ripping buckets.
  • Trenching buckets are narrow to create cable and pipe trenches.
  • Tilting ditching buckets are fitted with a hydraulic cylinder that enables side-to-side movement. 
AUGERS

An auger's spiral design paired with choosing the right bit is built to penetrate the ground and remove material, dig, or match another excavation application. Learn about the bit options that get the job done.

  • Standard bits use a bolt-on system to engage the teeth to cut the ground. These bits are best suited for general-purpose drilling jobs.
  • Industrial bits are ideal for rougher ground conditions. They can feature a hammer-on or hammer-off ground engaging tool.
  • Rock head bits, also known as severe duty bitsare the strongest models suitable for hard materials, like rock and frozen ground.
  • Tree bits drill holes to plant trees or for landscaping.

Learn More! | An Auger Overview from Cat

See It In Action! | A Cat Compaction Wheel Overview

COMPACTORS

Compactors create smooth surfaces during construction on gravel, sand, base, and other soil types. Three different types of compactor attachments are available:

  • Vibratory Drum compactors roll over the earth, using a spring-loaded system to evenly flatten surfaces while applying pressure.
  • Vibratory Plate compactors send high-impact blows into the ground and are best suited for mini excavators.
  • Wheel compactors use the equipment's weight to compact the soil and use a backfill plate to smooth out material.

FIND THE RIGHT ATTACHMENT WITH EMPIRE

Our team can help you find the right excavator attachment for your needs. Find a location near you, reach out to us, or view our attachment deals!

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