Material Handling Excavators Explained

At first glance, a material handler and an excavator look pretty much the same, and in many ways they are. The difference is that a material handler is built to handle specific materials in a given industry. They are often used in recycling, scrap, waste management, and forestry. The components and structure of a material handler are very similar to those of an excavator, but their attachments and other features make them highly compatible with the materials of their specific industry. 

Here’s a little more information on these extremely useful machines, from the team at RECO Equipment, Inc. We are a leading dealer of heavy equipment in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Reach out to our 13 RECO dealerships and six Bobcat of Pittsburgh locations for more information. 

Material Handlers: Task-Specific Excavators on Steroids

Material handlers are basically the next generation of excavation equipment, customized for specific industries. Excavators are built for earth moving, and people found them to be very useful in handling other materials besides earth, such as scrap metal, forest waste and other materials. 

Modifying excavators for these materials was the logical next step. Material handlers are built on an excavator base and can move via wheels or tracks. Tracks or wheels are designed for harsh conditions and extra rough terrain. Solid tires are common, and steel tracks are usually wider and higher than on standard excavators.

These machines are heavier than typical excavators because they include more steel and counterweights. Expect extremely heavy-duty components designed for harsh conditions. For example, the excavator turntables which are responsible for rotating the upper structure are generally heavier than on normal excavators. Material handlers have heavy-duty hydraulics enabling them to lift more than a comparable excavator. 

Increased Operator Protection

A material handler’s cab will include hydraulic elevation and tilt to improve operator visibility as they move materials. You’ll also find additional safety features such as overhead visibility, tempered glass, barred windows, sound suppression, and installed cameras for improved viewing of surrounding areas. Because these machines may generate lots of airborne debris, they are built with additional filtration of both fluids and air to keep the machine’s componentry and operator’s station cleaner. 

Material handlers rely on a range of hydraulic attachments such as magnets, clamshell buckets, grapples, and more.