Excavator Attachments Glossary
Terminology for excavator attachments, materials, standards and specifications, from Hardox® steel grades to ISO compliance requirements.
Materials
Steel grades and components
Hardox®
Abrasion-resistant quenched and tempered steel manufactured by SSAB, used for high-wear applications.
Strenx
High-strength structural steel manufactured by SSAB, used to reduce attachment weight.
Wear Plate
Replaceable steel plate designed to absorb abrasion and protect the main structure of an attachment.
Brinell Hardness (HBW)
A standardized measurement of material hardness, used to predict wear resistance in excavator attachments.
Attachments
Excavator tools and equipment
Quick Coupler
A mounting frame between the excavator arm and the attachment that lets the operator change attachments quickly, by hand or from the cab depending on the type.
Coupler Code
A short code that names one quick coupler interface: the system and its size, such as S45, CW10, OQ70 or MS03. An attachment fits a coupler when its bracket is made for the same code.
Excavator Bucket
The primary digging attachment for excavators, available in specialized designs for different materials and applications.
Cutting Edge
The front wear component of a bucket that penetrates material first; welded, or bolt-on/reversible for field replacement, depending on the configuration.
Tilt-Rotator
A coupling device providing 360° continuous rotation and ±45° side tilt of the attachment.
Model and Configuration
A model is one code in a product family's model table, such as GB-60. A configuration is one row of that model where the table lists it in more than one width, such as GB-60 at 1200 mm.
Machines
Carrier specifications
Weight Class
Excavator size category based on operating weight. Used for initial sizing and preselection of an attachment; interface fit (pins, stick width, coupler) is verified separately.
Pin Spacing
The centre-to-centre distance between the mounting pins. It varies by machine and by interface, and is checked separately from operating weight.
Standards
Certifications and compliance
EN ISO 3834-2
International quality standard for fusion welding of metallic materials, requiring comprehensive quality management.
ISO 13031
Safety standard for quick couplers on earth-moving machinery, specifying requirements that guard against accidental attachment release.
CE Marking
European conformity marking applied where EU harmonisation legislation covers the product; it declares conformity with the applicable directives and regulations, not a quality grade.
Material Test Certificate (MTC)
Document certifying the chemical composition and mechanical properties of steel used in manufacturing.
Heaped Capacity (ISO 7451)
The volume a bucket holds with the load heaped above the rim, rated to ISO 7451. SAE J296 rates it the same way. Every bucket capacity on this site is heaped.
Operations
Usage and maintenance
All Terms (A-Z)
Help with Specifications
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