Short answer
The data plate is a metal plate fixed to the machine's frame with the manufacturer, model and serial number (on recent earthmoving machinery, a 17-character PIN under the ISO 10261 standard); depending on the machine, it also shows the year, weight and power. The model says what machine it is; the serial number says which one is yours. With both you order the exact part, register the warranty and check that a used machine is the one its papers describe. The engine has its own plate and its own number.
What the plate shows
Each manufacturer designs it its own way, but nearly all carry the same data. The two you'll use most are the model and the serial number; the rest helps confirm you're talking about the same machine.
- Manufacturer and its address.
- Model (for example, PC200-10M0 or WB93R-5E0).
- Serial number or PIN: it identifies your unit, not the model.
- Year of manufacture (or model year).
- Operating weight or machine weight, and sometimes engine power.
- On equipment with CE marking or other certifications, the corresponding mark.
Where the plate is (and the other plates)
The machine plate is riveted or bolted to the frame, usually somewhere visible from the ground or near the operator's station. The exact spot changes with each model: the operator's manual shows it in the product identification section, with a drawing.
The machine doesn't have just one plate. The engine carries its own, with its model and serial number, and some major components —transmission, hydraulic pump, axles— may have their own identification. For an engine part, the engine plate is what matters; for everything else, the machine plate.
On SIMAQ light equipment, the serial number is on the machine's plate, next to a QR code: scanning it takes you to your machine's page, and with that number you register it to activate the warranty.
What do you need it for?
- Engine part (filters, injection) → Engine plate
- Machine part → Machine plate: model + serial
- Warranty or service → Machine serial number
- Buying a used unit → Plate + papers + number on the frame
How to read the model
A model name isn't a random code: it almost always gives the family, size and generation. At Komatsu, the letters give the family —PC excavator, WB backhoe loader, WA wheel loader, D dozer, GD motor grader, HD rigid truck, HM articulated truck, SK skid steer—; the number gives the size class, and what follows the dash is the series or generation. Extra letters mark versions: LC, for example, is a long undercarriage on an excavator.
That's why a PC200-8 and a PC200-10 are the same class of machine but different generations, with different engines and many different parts. At Bobcat, S is a wheeled skid steer, T a tracked one and E a mini excavator. When you order a part, copy the full model, with dash and suffix, exactly as it appears on the plate.
- PC: Family: hydraulic excavator
- 200: Size class
- -10: Series or generation
- M0: Version: copy it in full
The serial number and the 17-character PIN
The serial number is unique to each machine: two PC200-10M0s share a model and have different serial numbers. For earthmoving machinery, the ISO 10261 standard defines a 17-character product identification number (PIN) that the manufacturer assigns to each complete machine, to identify it over its whole service life. It has three parts: the manufacturer code, a section describing the machine and a section identifying it.
Older machines may have a shorter serial number, specific to each manufacturer. Whatever the format, copy it in full, without dropping zeros or letters, and mind the difference between O and 0 and between I and 1. The safest move is to send a photo of the plate.
Why the serial number decides the part
Within the same model, the manufacturer changes parts over time: a filter, a seal or a hydraulic component can differ before and after a certain serial number. That's why the parts catalog is looked up by serial, and a good dealer asks for it before quoting. Ordering by model alone is the most common way to receive a part that doesn't fit.
To get a part right the first time, send: a photo of the machine plate (and the engine plate if it's an engine part), a photo of the old part, its part number if you can read it, and the hour-meter reading.
- How often should you replace a machine's filters and wear parts?
- Genuine or aftermarket parts: which makes sense and what to check?
Warranty, service and telematics
The warranty is registered against the serial number, not the model: it's what says which machine is covered and since when. The same goes for maintenance contracts, manufacturer service campaigns and telematics: KOMTRAX, for example, reports the hours and location of a Komatsu machine identified by its serial.
When you book service, have the model, serial and hours at hand: the technician arrives with the parts and information for your machine, not a similar model.
When buying used: make the plate tell the same story
On a used machine, the serial number is your best defense. Compare the plate with the invoice, the import documents and the insurance policy: all three should show the same model and serial. Check that the plate is firmly fixed with no signs of having been removed, scraped or re-attached; on many machines the number is also stamped into the frame, and it must match.
If the serial doesn't match, the plate is missing or it can't be read, don't close the deal until the brand's dealer clears it up. With the serial, you can also ask for whatever service history they have on record.
Summary: what to choose
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| You're ordering a part | Full model + serial number + photo of the plate |
| It's an engine part | Use the engine plate, not the machine plate |
| You're booking service or claiming warranty | Serial and hour-meter reading |
| You're buying used | Plate = invoice = import papers = policy |
| You can't find the plate | Operator's manual, identification section |
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Topic: Part for my machine (with serial number)
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Common mistakes
Ordering the part by model alone
The same machine changes parts between serials. Without the serial, the part may not fit.
Copying half the model
PC200-8 and PC200-10 share few parts. Copy the dash and suffix.
Mixing up the engine plate and the machine plate
For filters and injection send the engine plate; for everything else, the machine plate.
Painting over the plate
An unreadable plate complicates every part, every warranty and the resale. Cover it when painting.
Buying used without cross-checking the serial
If the plate doesn't match the papers, there's no way to know which machine you're buying.
Take it to the job site
Print the checklist to go over it on site, or send the guide to your crew.
Book a workshop service for your Komatsu or Bobcat
250, 500 or 1,000-hour maintenance, a fault or an inspection. Suggest the day and the workshop confirms your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Where is an excavator's serial number?
On the identification plate, fixed to the frame; the exact spot depends on the model and is shown in the operator's manual, in the identification section. The engine has a separate plate with its own number.
What is a machine's PIN?
It's the product identification number: under the ISO 10261 standard, a 17-character code the manufacturer assigns to each earthmoving machine to identify it for its whole service life. It includes the manufacturer code, the machine description and its own number.
Is the model the same as the serial number?
No. The model (for example, WB93R-5E0) is the type of machine and every identical unit shares it; the serial number is unique to your unit.
Why do they ask for the serial number for a part?
Because within the same model the manufacturer changes parts between serial ranges. With the serial, the dealer looks up your exact machine's parts catalog and quotes the part that fits.
What if the plate is lost or unreadable?
Don't make a new one yourself. Look for the number stamped on the frame, check the invoice or import documents and contact the brand's authorized dealer to identify the machine and arrange a replacement plate if applicable.
Where is the serial number on a SIMAQ machine?
On the machine's plate, next to a QR code. Scanning the QR takes you to your machine's page, and with that number you register it at simaq.pro to activate the warranty.
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Find a part by part numberGrupo ConstruMarket · Job site checklist
How do you read your machine's data plate and serial number?
The data plate is a metal plate fixed to the machine's frame with the manufacturer, model and serial number (on recent earthmoving machinery, a 17-character PIN under the ISO 10261 standard); depending on the machine, it also shows the year, weight and power. The model says what machine it is; the serial number says which one is yours. With both you order the exact part, register the warranty and check that a used machine is the one its papers describe. The engine has its own plate and its own number.
What the plate shows
- Manufacturer and its address.
- Model (for example, PC200-10M0 or WB93R-5E0).
- Serial number or PIN: it identifies your unit, not the model.
- Year of manufacture (or model year).
- Operating weight or machine weight, and sometimes engine power.
- On equipment with CE marking or other certifications, the corresponding mark.
Avoid
- Ordering the part by model alone. The same machine changes parts between serials. Without the serial, the part may not fit.
- Copying half the model. PC200-8 and PC200-10 share few parts. Copy the dash and suffix.
- Mixing up the engine plate and the machine plate. For filters and injection send the engine plate; for everything else, the machine plate.
- Painting over the plate. An unreadable plate complicates every part, every warranty and the resale. Cover it when painting.
- Buying used without cross-checking the serial. If the plate doesn't match the papers, there's no way to know which machine you're buying.
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