Glossary

Machinery and construction glossary

84 terms you'll find on a datasheet, on the jobsite, in the workshop or in a quote, explained in one or two sentences. Each one links to the guide that covers it in depth.

Machines and equipment

Articulated dump truck: Off-road hauler with a joint between the cab and the dump body and all-wheel drive. It moves through soft ground, mud and slopes where a rigid truck or a road dump truck gets stuck.; Also: ADT · articulated hauler; Read the guide: Articulated dump truck
Asphalt paver: Machine that receives the asphalt mix, spreads it to the design width and thickness and gives it a first compaction with its screed.; Also: paver · finisher; Read the guide: Asphalt paver
Backhoe loader: Wheeled machine with a front loader and a rear digging arm. It does two jobs with one operator and drives itself between nearby work fronts.; Also: backhoe; Read the guide: Backhoe loader
Bulldozer (crawler dozer): Crawler tractor with a front push blade and often a rear ripper. It pushes earth, clears land, opens roads and breaks hard material. It works well on slopes and soft ground.; Also: dozer · crawler tractor; Read the guide: Bulldozer (crawler dozer)
Cold planer (milling machine): Machine with a cutter drum that removes damaged asphalt to a controlled depth, so a road can be rehabilitated without full reconstruction.; Also: milling machine; Read the guide: Cold planer (milling machine)
Forklift: Machine with forks that lifts pallets and raises them into racking. There are electric (lead-acid or lithium battery), combustion and rough-terrain types; you choose by capacity, lift height, floor and working environment.; Also: lift truck; Read the guide: Forklift
Hydraulic excavator: Machine on tracks or wheels with boom, arm and bucket that swings 360° on its undercarriage. It digs, loads trucks, shapes slopes and, with attachments, demolishes or breaks rock. It's classified by operating weight in tonnes.; Also: excavator · digger; Read the guide: Hydraulic excavator
Light tower: Mast with floodlights and its own generator to light work fronts at night or where there's no grid power.; Also: lighting tower
Mini excavator: Compact excavator of a few tonnes, built for tight spaces: trenches, urban work, landscaping and work next to walls. Many have short or zero tail swing.; Also: compact excavator; Read the guide: Mini excavator
Motor grader: Machine with a long blade (moldboard) between the axles that shapes, levels and sets the grade of a surface. It's key in roads and earthworks, and for maintaining dirt roads.; Also: grader; Read the guide: Motor grader
Pallet jack: Truck with forks that lifts a pallet a few centimeters off the floor to move it horizontally. It can be manual (hydraulic) or electric. It doesn't lift loads into racking.; Also: pallet truck; Read the guide: Pallet jack
Rammer (jumping jack): Impact compactor that strikes the ground with a small shoe. It's the right tool for narrow trenches and cohesive soils like clay.; Also: jumping jack · trench rammer; Read the guide: Rammer (jumping jack)
Rigid off-highway truck: Rigid-frame haul truck for mines and quarries with prepared haul roads. It carries more per trip than an articulated truck but needs a better road.; Also: mining truck · rigid hauler; Read the guide: Rigid off-highway truck
Road dump truck: Road truck with a tipping body. It runs on public roads and suits long hauls on paved roads; off them, in mud or steep grades, it performs worse than an articulated truck.; Also: dump truck · tipper; Read the guide: Road dump truck
Roller (compactor): Machine with one or two drums that compacts soil or asphalt with its weight and, if vibratory, with vibration. Smooth drums suit granular soils and asphalt; padfoot drums suit clays.; Also: roller · vibratory roller; Read the guide: Roller (compactor)
Self-loading concrete mixer: Machine that loads aggregates, batches, mixes and discharges concrete on site with a single operator. It makes sense where a mixer truck can't reach or there's no plant nearby.; Also: self-loading mixer
Skid steer loader: Compact loader that turns on its own axis by braking the wheels on one side. Its value is in the attachments: bucket, forks, sweeper, breaker, auger and more. There are wheeled and tracked versions.; Also: skid steer · compact loader; Read the guide: Skid steer loader
Stacker: Walk-behind machine that lifts pallets onto low or mid-height racking. It's the step between a pallet jack and a forklift for small warehouses.; Also: walkie stacker
Telehandler: Machine with a telescopic boom that lifts and places loads at height and forward reach. A mix of rough-terrain forklift and light crane, widely used on jobsites and farms.; Also: telescopic handler; Read the guide: Telehandler
Vibratory plate compactor: Plate compactor that vibrates on the surface. It works on granular soils (sand, gravel, base) and pavers; on clay it compacts little.; Also: plate compactor; Read the guide: Vibratory plate compactor
Wheel loader: Articulated wheeled machine with a large front bucket. It loads trucks, feeds crushers and moves loose material in yards, quarries and jobsites.; Also: front-end loader · payloader; Read the guide: Wheel loader

Parts, attachments and specifications

Attachment: Implement mounted on the machine for another job: breaker, forks, sweeper, auger, special bucket. To choose it you need the machine's brand, model and weight, its hydraulic flow and pressure, and the coupler type.; Also: implement · work tool; Read the guide: Attachment
Auxiliary hydraulic flow (high flow): The oil the machine sends to a hydraulic attachment, in liters per minute. Attachments such as planers, mulchers or brush cutters need high flow; if the machine lacks it, the attachment underperforms or won't work.; Also: high flow; Read the guide: Auxiliary hydraulic flow (high flow)
Bucket capacity: Volume the bucket holds, in m³ or yd³. Datasheets usually give it «heaped» (material above the edge); what it really carries each cycle depends on the material's fill factor.; Also: heaped capacity; Read the guide: Bucket capacity
Centrifugal force (compaction): The force generated by the vibratory system of a plate or roller, in kN. More force means deeper compaction, as long as the soil suits that machine.; Read the guide: Centrifugal force (compaction)
Dozer blade: The bulldozer's push blade. A straight blade cuts and levels precisely; semi-U and U blades carry more material for long pushes.; Also: blade; Read the guide: Dozer blade
Fill factor: How much of the bucket's rated volume actually fills with a given material. Loose, moist materials fill more; poorly fragmented rock fills less.; Read the guide: Fill factor
Ground engaging tools (GET): The parts that touch the material and wear out: bucket teeth, adapters, cutting edges and end bits of the bucket or blade. Replacing them on time protects the main part, which is far more expensive.; Also: teeth · cutting edges; Read the guide: Ground engaging tools (GET)
Hydraulic breaker: Attachment that breaks rock, concrete and pavement by impact. It must match the weight and flow of the carrier machine; an oversized one damages it.; Also: hammer · rock breaker
Maximum digging depth: The deepest the bucket reaches below the machine's ground level, per the datasheet. It defines whether a machine can handle a given trench or foundation.; Also: dig depth
Moldboard: The motor grader's long blade. It tilts, rotates and side-shifts to cut, move and spread material at the design grade.; Also: grader blade; Read the guide: Moldboard
Net power: The power the engine delivers at the flywheel after accessories (fan, alternator…). It's the comparable figure between datasheets; gross power is always higher.; Also: net horsepower
Operating weight: What the machine weighs ready to work: with fluids, operator and standard equipment, per the manufacturer's datasheet. It's used to classify the machine and to plan its transport.; Also: operating mass; Read the guide: Operating weight
Quick coupler: System that lets you swap buckets or attachments in minutes without hammering pins out. On skid steers it's what makes «one machine, many jobs» practical.; Also: quick hitch
Rated operating capacity (ROC): The load a skid steer or compact loader lifts safely, defined by the manufacturer as a percentage of its tipping load. It's the figure for choosing a skid steer by the load you'll move.; Also: ROC · rated capacity; Read the guide: Rated operating capacity (ROC)
Ripper: One or more shanks at the rear of a bulldozer that break soft rock or very hard ground so it can then be pushed or loaded.; Also: ripper shank; Read the guide: Ripper
ROPS / FOPS cab: Cab protective structures: ROPS protects the operator if the machine rolls over; FOPS, from falling objects. They only protect if the operator wears the seat belt.; Also: rollover protection
Short or zero tail swing: Design in which the excavator's rear doesn't overhang (or barely overhangs) the tracks when it swings. It lets you work against walls or in one lane without hitting anything.; Also: ZTS
Tipping load: The weight on the attachment that would lift the machine's rear off the ground. You never work near it: that's what rated operating capacity is for.; Also: tipping capacity
Track shoe: Each plate on the track. A wider shoe spreads weight and floats better on soft ground; a narrow one grips better on firm, rocky ground.; Also: track pad
Undercarriage: The set of tracks, shoes, rollers, idlers and sprockets on a tracked machine. It's one of the biggest items in maintenance cost; its wear is measured, not guessed.; Also: tracks

Jobsite, operation and productivity

Asphalt surface course: The top layer of asphalt mix in a flexible pavement, the one that carries traffic. It's laid with a paver and compacted with rollers.; Also: wearing course; Read the guide: Asphalt surface course
Compaction: Reducing the voids in a soil or mix with pressure, impact or vibration so it carries loads without settling. It's done in layers and the machine is chosen by soil type.; Read the guide: Compaction
Cycle time: The time the machine takes to complete one work cycle (for example dig, swing, dump and return). Timed on your own site, it's the basis for calculating productivity.; Read the guide: Cycle time
Daily (pre-operation) inspection: The check the operator does before starting: a walk around the machine, fluid levels, leaks, undercarriage or tires, wear parts, cab and safety devices. Findings are logged with the hour-meter reading.; Also: walk-around · pre-start check; Read the guide: Daily (pre-operation) inspection
Earthworks: The cuts and fills of soil that bring the ground to the project's shape and level, before the base and pavement layers or the foundations.; Also: earthmoving · grading; Read the guide: Earthworks
Idling: Time with the engine running but no work being done. It burns fuel and adds hours to the hour meter (bringing maintenance forward) without producing anything.; Also: idle time; Read the guide: Idling
Lowboy trailer: Transport trailer with a very low deck to haul heavy machinery without exceeding road height limits. Permits and limits depend on each country's traffic authority.; Also: low loader; Read the guide: Lowboy trailer
Productivity (m³/h): How much material a machine moves per hour. It's calculated from real capacity per cycle, cycles per hour and shift efficiency; it's confirmed by measuring on site.; Also: output · production rate; Read the guide: Productivity (m³/h)
Road infrastructure: The set of works that let people and goods move: highways, streets, rural roads and their complementary works, such as drainage and signage. It covers building, rehabilitating and maintaining them.; Also: road works; Read the guide: Road infrastructure
Standby and prime (generators): The two generator ratings: standby is backup that starts when the grid fails; prime is a continuous source where there's no grid. The choice of generator depends on it.; Also: backup power · prime power; Read the guide: Standby and prime (generators)
Subgrade, subbase and base: The layers that support a pavement, from the bottom up: the subgrade is the prepared ground; the subbase and base are compacted granular layers that spread traffic loads.; Learn more: Subgrade, subbase and base
Swell: The increase in volume when material is excavated: a bank cubic meter takes up more space once loose in the truck. That's why bank, loose and compacted cubic meters are kept apart.; Also: bulking; Read the guide: Swell

After-sales, maintenance and technology

3D machine guidance and control: Technology that compares the bucket or blade position, measured with GNSS, against the 3D design model. With guidance, the screen tells the operator how much to cut or fill; with automatic control, the machine adjusts the blade itself.; Also: machine control · 3DMG; Read the guide: 3D machine guidance and control
Bobcat Machine IQ: Bobcat's telematics system: location, hours, last recorded fuel level and maintenance tracking from your phone or computer, according to Bobcat.; Also: Machine IQ; Learn more: Bobcat Machine IQ
Extended warranty: Coverage you buy to go beyond the standard warranty. Examples: Komatsu Warranty Pro, up to 60 months or 12,000 hours according to Komatsu, and Bobcat Protection Plus, according to Bobcat.; Also: Warranty Pro · Protection Plus; Learn more: Extended warranty
Factory warranty: Covers manufacturing defects for the period or hours the manufacturer defines, whichever comes first. It doesn't cover normal wear or misuse, and usually requires maintenance to be up to date.; Also: standard warranty
Fault code: The code the machine logs when it detects an abnormality. With it, the workshop knows what to check before arriving and downtime is shorter.; Also: error code · DTC
GNSS and base station: GNSS is satellite positioning (GPS and other constellations). For jobsite precision, a base station on site corrects the machines' position; one base can serve several machines.; Also: GPS · RTK; Learn more: GNSS and base station
Hour meter: The engine's working-hours counter. It marks when each service is due, how much warranty is left and how much a used or rented machine has been worked.; Also: hourmeter · machine hours; Read the guide: Hour meter
KOMTRAX: Komatsu's factory telematics: location, real hours, fuel consumption, idle time, alerts and maintenance reminders on your phone or computer. According to Komatsu, it's for its customers only and free of charge.; Also: Komatsu telematics; Read the guide: KOMTRAX
Maintenance kit: A box with the filters and parts for an hour-based service (for example 250, 500 or 1,000 hours, depending on the brand and machine family), under a single part number. It keeps a part from missing on service day.; Also: PM kit · filter kit; Read the guide: Maintenance kit
Mechanical availability: The percentage of time the machine is ready to work, discounting only stops for failures or service. It's the indicator that tells you whether maintenance is working.
Misuse: Damage caused by how the machine was operated, not by normal wear or a factory defect: overloading, the wrong attachment, lack of maintenance. Warranty doesn't cover it.; Also: abuse
OEM (original equipment manufacturer): The original manufacturer of the machine or the part. An OEM part is the same one the machine has from the factory; the factory warranty is backed by the OEM.; Also: genuine; Read the guide: OEM (original equipment manufacturer)
Pre-delivery inspection (PDI): The workshop's check on a new machine before handing it over: fluid levels, functions, adjustments and accessories, so it arrives ready to work.; Also: PDI
Preventive maintenance: Service scheduled by hours or time according to the manufacturer's manual: oil and filter changes, adjustments and inspections, before something fails. The opposite is corrective maintenance, which repairs after the failure.; Also: PM · scheduled maintenance; Read the guide: Preventive maintenance
Remanufactured component and core: A major component (engine, transmission, pump) rebuilt to factory specification and sold as an alternative to a new one. The «core» is the used part the customer returns; if it arrives in acceptable condition, it's credited.; Also: reman · core charge; Read the guide: Remanufactured component and core
Remote diagnosis: Estimating the fault from a distance, with telematics and the operator's report, so the technician goes out with the likely parts and fixes it in one visit.
Smart Construction: Komatsu's digital jobsite: drone survey and digital twin of the terrain, 3D machine guidance and control, and haul measurement. It's designed per project, starting with a technical visit.; Also: digital construction; Learn more: Smart Construction
Technical handover: The formal handover of a new machine: pre-delivery inspection done, operator briefed on use and daily maintenance, manuals handed over and warranty registered.; Also: machine delivery
Technical report: The workshop's written opinion, with photos, about a fault or the condition of a machine. It supports warranty and repair decisions.; Also: inspection report
Telematics: Data the machine sends on its own: location, hours, fuel, alerts and fault codes. ISO 15143-3 (AEMP 2.0) is the common format to see mixed-brand fleets in one system.; Also: remote monitoring · fleet telematics; Read the guide: Telematics
Work order: The document that authorizes workshop work on a machine, stating what will be done. If something unplanned turns up, it's quoted and approved before it's done.; Also: job order

Buying, renting and financing

Authorized dealer: The company a manufacturer appoints to sell and service its brand in a territory, with genuine parts and brand-trained technicians. The opposite is grey import, without the manufacturer's backing in the country.; Also: dealer; Read the guide: Authorized dealer
Bond (bid and performance bond): Guarantee the agency requires in a tender: the bid bond to take part and the performance bond after winning. It's issued by a surety company or a bank.; Also: surety bond; Learn more: Bond (bid and performance bond)
Cost per hour: What each working hour of a machine costs: ownership costs (depreciation, interest, insurance) plus operating costs (fuel, maintenance, wear, operator). It's the fair way to compare machines.; Also: hourly cost · owning and operating cost; Read the guide: Cost per hour
Equipment rental: Paying to use a machine by the day, week or month instead of buying it. It suits short jobs or work peaks; for continuous use, buying usually lowers the cost per hour.; Also: equipment hire; Read the guide: Equipment rental
Inspected used («as is»): Used machine checked by technicians, with its history and hour meter documented, sold as is: anything found afterwards is repaired separately. It isn't the same as a warranty.; Also: used equipment · as is; Read the guide: Inspected used («as is»)
Leasing (finance lease): Financing in which an institution buys the machine and leases it to you for a term, with a purchase option at the end. Its tax and accounting treatment depends on your country's rules: confirm it with your accountant.; Also: finance lease; Read the guide: Leasing (finance lease)
Public tender: Public procurement by competition: the agency publishes tender documents with what it needs and the requirements, and bidders submit proposals. The documents rule: a missing requirement disqualifies the bid.; Also: tender · bid; Learn more: Public tender
Rental check-out and check-in: The inspection with photos and hour-meter reading when a rented machine goes out and when it comes back. Comparing both makes clear what damage or wear happened during the rental.; Also: check-in · check-out
Total cost of ownership (TCO): What a machine really costs over the whole time you own it: purchase plus operation and maintenance, minus what you recover when selling it. Divided by the hours worked, it gives the cost per hour, which is how two machines are compared. The cheapest to buy isn't always the cheapest in the end.; Also: TCO; Read the guide: Total cost of ownership (TCO)
Trade-in: Handing over your used machine as part of the payment for a new one. Its value comes from a technical inspection of the unit.; Also: part exchange; Learn more: Trade-in