All excavator brands tell a fascinating story, made of innovation, experience and deep technical know-how. In this article we will review the main manufacturers, offering a look at a sector that, for over a century, has evolved and renewed itself to provide construction sites with increasingly effective solutions.
Doosan - Develon: the Korean tradition that looks to the future
The Doosan brand, founded in 1896 in Seoul, South Korea, boasts a long and prestigious history. Since the 1970s it has established itself globally as one of the main players in the construction machinery sector. Synonymous with quality and innovation, Doosan has created a complete range of machinery designed to successfully meet the challenges of the most difficult construction sites, including excavators and a wide range of accessories such as hammers and buckets.
Among the most popular models in the range are the DX140 LC and DX225LC excavators, symbols of reliability and superior performance.
In 2023, the Doosan brand passed the baton to Develon, which has inherited its legacy by continuing to embody the core values of quality and innovation.
Develon, owned by HD Hyundai Infracore, based in Seoul, stands out for its commitment to technological development, environmental sustainability and customer centricity. Thanks to a future-oriented vision, Develon aims to be a point of reference for earthmoving professionals, combining tradition and innovation to ensure excellence on construction sites around the world.
Bobcat: versatility at the service of construction sites
With over 70 years of history, Bobcat is one of the most iconic names among excavator and earthmoving machinery brands. Founded in 1947 in Gwinner, North Dakota, USA, Bobcat has established itself as a leading manufacturer of highly versatile compact excavators, skid steers and attachments for the industry. With its innovative range of small machines, it has become a preferred choice for professionals seeking reliability and excellent performance.
In 2007, Bobcat was acquired by Korean company Doosan, a move that further strengthened the brand by combining American ingenuity with Asian technological innovation. Today, Bobcat is part of the HD Hyundai Infracore Group, based in Seoul, South Korea, continuing to innovate and expand its portfolio.
The brand is particularly well-known for its compact and versatile construction equipment, perfect for jobsites in difficult areas. Among the most popular models are the Bobcat E35 and E48 mini-excavators and the Bobcat S86, S185, S205 and S770 skid steer loaders, symbols of quality and efficiency.
Caterpillar: An American Legend
Caterpillar, known worldwide by the abbreviation CAT, is one of the most iconic and influential brands in the construction machinery sector. Its history, which began in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, has made it a pillar of the earthmoving machinery market. Among its many innovations, one of the most representative is certainly the bulldozer.
The brand has its roots in 1909, but its true birth dates back to 1925, with the merger between the Holt Manufacturing Company and C.L. Best Tractor Co.. Today, with headquarters in Irving, Texas, Caterpillar Inc. continues to innovate and consolidate its leadership position in the sector.
Caterpillar's offering includes excavators, wheel loaders, dump trucks and many other construction machinery. Among the latest and most popular excavator models are the Cat 336, 315, 320, 325FLCR and 330FL, designed to ensure superior performance and functionality.
Komatsu: Japanese quality
Among the major excavator brands, Komatsu stands out as one of the world's leading manufacturers and exporters of earthmoving machinery and construction equipment. Founded in Tokyo in 1917, this Japanese company has built a solid reputation thanks to its combination of advanced technology, reliability and high-level performance.
Komatsu offers a wide range of construction machinery, including excavators, mini-excavators, wheel loaders, skid steers, rigid backhoe loaders, bulldozers and dump trucks. Each machine is designed for efficiency and durability, making the brand a trusted choice for earthmoving professionals around the world. Among the most representative excavator models, the PC210-10M0 stands out, a true example of engineering excellence.
Owned by Tokyo-based Komatsu Limited, the Komatsu brand continues to innovate and meet the needs of the global market, maintaining a prominent position in the landscape of excavator and construction equipment brands.
JCB: British excellence
JCB, founded in 1945 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, UK, is one of the most prestigious and globally recognized brands in the construction equipment sector.
Specializing in a wide range of machinery, JCB offers advanced solutions for every construction and agricultural need. Its main products include excavators, skid steers, rigid backhoe loaders, vibratory rollers, telescopic handlers, forklifts, agricultural machinery and generators. Among the most famous excavator models are the JCB 130, the JCB 100C1, the JCB 30 PLUS and the JCB 50Z.
Owned by J C Bamford Excavators Ltd based in Rochester, UK, the brand continues to set the benchmark for the industry, thanks to its constant commitment to innovation and the ability to respond to the needs of an ever-changing market. JCB is the ideal choice for those looking for high performance, quality and a wide range of solutions for the most demanding construction sites.
CASE Construction Equipment: Tradition and simplicity
CASE Construction Equipment, founded in 1842 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, has a tradition that spans more than a century and a half of innovation and quality. With its iconic orange and black logo, CASE is now a point of reference on construction sites around the world, thanks to machines designed to offer simple and effective solutions to the most diverse problems that can be encountered on the job site. And, as its reputation demonstrates, these solutions work!
The CASE product range extends from excavators to wheel loaders, including dump trucks and other earthmoving equipment. Among the most popular models are the CX350D excavator, the C Series mini (CX17C - CX60C), the CX75C SR/CX80C mini excavators and the D Series full size line (CX130D - CX750D).
With a global presence and a philosophy focused on practicality and efficiency, CASE Construction Equipment continues to be a trusted choice for professionals in the sector, combining a long tradition of excellence with an ongoing commitment to innovation.
New Holland: a century of innovation between construction sites and fields
Among excavator brands, New Holland stands out for its long history and versatility in the construction and agricultural machinery sector. Since 1895, the brand has been synonymous with reliability and innovation. In 1999, New Holland became part of the CNH Industrial group, which also includes the renowned CASE brand, consolidating its position as a global leader.
Specializing in excavators, dozers, and wheel loaders, New Holland has established itself not only on construction sites, but also in the agricultural sector, thanks to the production of tractors, combines and other agricultural machinery.
Today, New Holland is part of CNH Industrial, headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and continues to innovate, carrying on a tradition of excellence that makes it one of the most recognized and trusted names among excavator and construction equipment brands.
Volvo: safety and robustness
When you think of Volvo, the first thought often goes to its cars, famous for their safety and design. But perhaps not everyone knows that the Swedish brand is also a major player in the construction equipment sector. Through the Volvo Construction Equipment division, the brand produces and distributes machinery such as excavators, wheel loaders and dumpers, confirming its excellence also in the construction sector.
Founded in 1927 in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo has grown to become a symbol of quality and innovation on a global level. In addition to construction equipment, the brand stands out for the production of cars, buses and trucks, consolidating its presence in various areas of mobility and construction.
Volvo Construction Equipment, part of the Gothenburg-based Volvo Group, continues to be one of the leading excavator brands, offering advanced solutions to meet the needs of construction sites around the world. A brand that combines the Swedish tradition of precision engineering with continuous innovation, ensuring performance and reliability on the road and on the construction site.
Liebherr: precision and innovation
Liebherr is one of the most prestigious and recognized brands in the construction and industrial machinery sector, synonymous with quality, innovation and excellence. Founded in 1949 in Kirchdorf an der Iller, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, the company has grown rapidly to become a global leader in the earthmoving machinery market, thanks to its range of robust and reliable machinery.
Liebherr specializes in the production of excavators, mini-excavators, dumpers (thanks to the acquisition of the American brand Wiseda), bulldozers and wheel loaders, offering advanced solutions for the most demanding construction sites. Under the same brand, the company also produces cranes, industrial machinery and even household appliances, confirming its versatility and ability to excel in various sectors.
Among the most iconic models are the R991 and R996 excavators, symbols of high performance and reliability. Today, Liebherr is an international family business based in Switzerland, but it continues to embody the German tradition of precision and innovation that has made it famous throughout the world. A reference choice among excavator and industrial machinery brands, Liebherr represents the perfect combination of experience and technological progress.
Poclain: the inventor of hydraulic excavators
Poclain was founded in 1927 in Verberie, in the Oise region of France. It played a pioneering role in hydraulics, revolutionizing the sector with the invention of the first fully hydraulic excavator. A true innovation that marked the history of earthmoving machinery, along with the characteristic bright red of the machines produced by this French company.
1974 was an important year for this brand. In fact, the excavator division of Poclain was acquired by the American CASE. From that moment on, the Poclain brand became CASE Poclain, and the typical red color of the French models was combined with the typical yellow color of the CASE models.
Today, the CASE Poclain brand is part of CNH Industrial, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, continuing the tradition of innovation and quality that made Poclain a legend in the world of hydraulic excavators.
Fiat Allis: the Italian legacy in earthmoving
Fiat Allis was one of the most important Italian companies in the earthmoving machinery sector. Founded in 1974 from the merger between Fiat Divisione Movimento Terra and the American company Allis-Chalmers, it created a brand capable of conquering the international market thanks to the quality and efficiency of its construction machinery.
Initially specialized in the production of bulldozers and crawler loaders, Fiat Allis expanded its range to include excavators.
Today, the Fiat Allis brand is under the direct control of New Holland, now part of CNH Industrial. Although the Fiat Allis name is no longer used, its legacy lives on through the earth-moving machinery produced by the group, representing an important piece of Italian and world industrial history.
Orenstein & Koppel (O&K): Made in Germany tradition
Orenstein & Koppel, better known by the acronym O&K, is a historic brand founded in Germany in 1876. Originally specialized in the production of locomotives, the company has been able to expand into the earthmoving machinery sector. Its ability to innovate and produce quality machinery Made in Germany has consolidated O&K's reputation in the global industrial landscape.
In 1999, the O&K company was closed. The brand was absorbed by New Holland, which in turn is part of the CNH Industrial group. Despite this change, the O&K name continues to evoke excellence and reliability in the construction machinery sector, thanks to a range that includes, in addition to hydraulic excavators, also bulldozers and wheel loaders designed to meet the needs of the most demanding construction sites.
This was our selection of the main brands of excavators, a list that, while not exhaustive, focuses on the most renowned and appreciated manufacturers in Italian construction sites. We have chosen to talk about these brands for their quality, reliability and longevity, characteristics that make them undisputed protagonists of the sector.
We speak with knowledge of the facts: we have been dealing with excavators for over 50 years. Our experience has led us to also create a division dedicated to spare parts, capable of rapidly shipping spare parts for excavators of any brand all over the world. Furthermore, thanks to decades of activity, we have collected a wide range of used components in good condition, ideal for those looking for solutions for models of earthmoving machines that are now obsolete.
Our history and our passion for the sector allow us to be a point of reference for those looking for expertise, quality and customized solutions in the world of excavators.
