Excavator Attachments for Mini and Full-Size Excavators

Technical Selection of Excavator Attachments

The job and the material being handled determine the required attachment type. Excavator buckets are used for excavation, trenching and grading. Hydraulic breakers are used to break concrete, asphalt or rock. Demolition and sorting grapples grip, load and sort material and, depending on the design, may also be used for controlled demolition work. Quick couplers and tilt couplers connect the attachment to the carrier machine and enable tool changes or additional tilting movement.

Machine class alone is not sufficient for a reliable match. The machine model, operating weight, machine configuration, manufacturer data on lifting capacity and approved attachment combinations, attachment weight and installed mounting system must be compatible. Hydraulic attachments also require the operating pressure, oil flow, control configuration, available auxiliary circuits and return-line requirements to be checked.

Information Required for Technical Assessment

• Carrier machine: Manufacturer, model, operating weight, machine configuration, manufacturer data on lifting capacity and approved attachment combinations, and serial number where applicable.
• Mounting system: Quick coupler or mounting system, size, locking method, and available mechanical or hydraulic interfaces.
• Hydraulics: Operating pressure, oil flow, control configuration, single- or double-acting auxiliary circuits, a separate function or rotation circuit where required, and the attachment's return-line requirements.

Photos of the mounting system and available data plates can support the assessment of modified or insufficiently documented machines. They do not replace checking the technical data for the carrier machine, quick coupler and attachment.

Excavator Buckets and Coupler Systems

Excavator buckets are selected according to the job, material, bucket design, cutting width and mounting system. The Excavator Bucket Configurator guides the selection of cutting width, mounting system and tooth system for configurable LIS® digging buckets for excavators in the 14–30 t class.

Quick Couplers & Tilt Couplers are matched to the carrier machine, mounting interface and required locking method. Tilt couplers also require the tilt function and hydraulic supply to be checked.

Hydraulic Breakers and Grapples

For a hydraulic breaker, the mounting system, suitable carrier-machine class, required operating-pressure range, oil flow and return-line requirements must be checked against the carrier machine. For demolition & sorting grapples, attachment weight, intended application, hydraulic supply and, on rotating models, the rotation circuit must also be checked. The final selection must be based on the technical data for the specific attachment.

Attachment Parts, Accessories and Wear Protection

Adapter frames and weld-on frames, side cutters, weld-on hooks, coupling hooks and wear protection are grouped under Attachment Parts & Accessories. This section covers interface components, accessory parts and wear parts for existing attachments.