Machine Types

BROWSE ATTACHMENTS BY CARRIER

Machine Types

Start with the machine you operate, then identify attachment families that fit its capacity, hydraulics, mounting system and working geometry.

This directory covers excavators, compact machines, loaders, tractors, telehandlers, cranes, material handlers and forestry carriers. It explains the questions that connect each machine class to safe and productive attachment choices.

CARRIER-FIRST DIRECTORY

A machine name is only the starting point

Two machines in the same class can have different lifting charts, hydraulic circuits, couplers and attachment limits. Use the machine category to find the right technical checks before choosing a tool.

DIRECTORY

11+

Carrier groups

COMPATIBILITY

6

Core checks

Check every combination: machine model, attachment mass, payload, hydraulics, coupler, controls and working envelope.

HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY

Choose the carrier before comparing attachments

The same attachment family can be built for very different machines. A hydraulic breaker for a compact excavator is not simply a smaller version of a breaker for a large demolition carrier. The mounting, operating weight, hydraulic demand, impact energy, hose arrangement and control requirements all change with the carrier class.

Begin with the exact machine make, model and configuration. Then identify the job, attachment family and expected material. Finally, confirm the complete machine-and-attachment combination against the relevant technical documentation. The directory below helps you move from a broad carrier type to the compatibility questions that matter most.

THE CARRIER DIRECTORY

Browse Machine Types

Select the carrier family that most closely matches your machine. Individual machine pages can later connect these categories to attachment guides, applications and common technical limits.

EXCAVATION

Excavators

Buckets, breakers, grapples, augers, compactors, shears, mulchers and specialist hydraulic tools across a wide size range.

COMPACT EXCAVATION

Mini Excavators

Lightweight buckets, augers, breakers, grabs, compactors and landscaping tools for restricted-access work.

COMPACT LOADERS

Skid Steer Loaders

Quick-change attachments for grading, trenching, drilling, sweeping, snow work, mowing and material handling.

TRACKED COMPACT LOADERS

Compact Track Loaders

High-traction carriers for mulchers, graders, trenchers, soil conditioners, buckets and land-clearing attachments.

LOADING

Wheel Loaders

Buckets, forks, grapples, snow tools, material-handling attachments and heavy-duty tools matched to tipping load.

DUAL-PURPOSE CARRIERS

Backhoe Loaders

Front-loader tools combined with rear excavation attachments for utilities, construction and municipal work.

AGRICULTURE

Tractors

Three-point, front-loader and hydraulically powered attachments for cultivation, mowing, grading, drilling and land care.

REACH AND LIFTING

Telehandlers

Forks, buckets, grabs, platforms and specialist handling tools selected around load charts and boom extension.

LIFTING

Cranes

Hooks, grabs, magnets, vacuum lifters and suspended tools where rated capacity and load control are critical.

SCRAP AND BULK HANDLING

Material Handlers

Orange-peel grapples, sorting grapples, magnets, shears and grabs for recycling, ports and industrial yards.

FORESTRY

Forestry Machines

Harvesting heads, felling heads, log grapples, mulchers and vegetation tools for purpose-built forestry carriers.

SPECIAL CARRIERS

Utility & Municipal Machines

Sweepers, plows, spreaders, mowers, compactors and maintenance tools for year-round public works.

MACHINE–ATTACHMENT COMPATIBILITY

Six checks before an attachment goes on a machine

A matching coupler does not prove that an attachment is safe, productive or suitable. Review the full combination before purchase, hire or installation.

1 · IDENTITY

Exact Machine Model

Operating weight alone is not enough. Record the manufacturer, model, undercarriage or boom configuration, counterweight and any factory options that change capacity.

2 · CAPACITY

Weight, Payload & Stability

Combine attachment mass, coupler mass and expected payload. Check lifting capacity and stability throughout the intended reach and working angle.

3 · HYDRAULICS

Flow, Pressure & Return

Powered attachments may require defined flow, pressure, back-pressure, case-drain and cooling capacity. High-flow labels do not guarantee compatibility.

4 · INTERFACE

Coupler, Pins & Linkage

Confirm pin diameters, centres, mounting width, quick-coupler standard, loader interface or three-point linkage category.

5 · GEOMETRY

Reach, Clearance & Motion

The tool must clear the boom, tyres, tracks, cab and ground while maintaining the angles needed to work effectively.

6 · CONTROLS

Electrical & Hydraulic Functions

Rotation, tilt, open-close functions, proportional control and safety interlocks may require additional circuits, wiring or machine software.

CARRIER GROUPS EXPLAINED

How machine classes change attachment selection

Excavators and Mini Excavators

Excavators support one of the broadest attachment ranges because their boom, arm and rotating upper structure provide reach, digging force and precise positioning. Common tools include buckets, rippers, breakers, grapples, augers, compactors, shears, pulverizers, mulchers and rotary cutters.

Size the attachment around the exact machine rather than a broad tonne class. Front-end geometry, counterweight, boom configuration and quick-coupler mass can change stability and lifting capacity. Powered attachments also depend on auxiliary flow, pressure, return-line arrangement and oil cooling.

Mini excavators require particular attention to attachment mass. A tilt coupler, rotator or heavy tool can consume a large share of the available capacity. Compact dimensions improve access, but they do not remove the need to check stability at full reach.

Skid Steers and Compact Track Loaders

Skid steers and compact track loaders use a front-mounted interface and can change tools quickly. Their attachment range includes buckets, forks, augers, trenchers, graders, sweepers, snow tools, mowers, mulchers, soil conditioners and compactors.

Rated operating capacity, tipping load, hydraulic flow and electrical controls are key selection points. Standard-flow and high-flow machines may look identical while supporting very different powered tools. Continuous high-demand attachments can also expose cooling limitations.

Compact track loaders provide traction and lower ground pressure in many conditions, while skid steers offer manoeuvrability on firm surfaces. The application, tyres or tracks, guarding and machine balance should all influence attachment choice.

Wheel Loaders and Backhoe Loaders

Wheel loaders excel at moving bulk material and handling loads with buckets, forks, grapples, snow tools and specialist industrial attachments. The correct capacity depends on material density, tipping load, linkage geometry and the distance of the load centre from the machine.

Backhoe loaders combine a front loader with a rear excavating arm. The two ends use different mounting systems and capacity limits. Front attachments focus on loading and handling, while the rear supports buckets, breakers, augers and trenching tools.

Always confirm the actual linkage or coupler standard. Similar machines may use different hook profiles, pin dimensions or hydraulic locking arrangements.

Tractors and Telehandlers

Tractors operate rear three-point implements, front-loader attachments, PTO-driven tools and hydraulic attachments. Selection depends on linkage category, PTO speed, hydraulic output, ballast, axle limits and transport requirements.

Telehandlers place loads at height and reach, so attachment selection must follow the load chart for the exact boom extension and working configuration. Forks, buckets, grabs and platforms change the load centre and can reduce available capacity.

Neither carrier should be judged by engine power alone. Stability, interface geometry, auxiliary hydraulics and the intended duty cycle are often more important.

Cranes and Material Handlers

Cranes and material handlers support suspended or boom-mounted tools for lifting, scrap handling, ports, waste facilities and industrial yards. Grapples, magnets, hooks, vacuum lifters and grabs must be matched to rated capacity and control requirements.

Material handlers often use purpose-built hydraulic systems, elevated cabs and long-reach booms. Attachment weight and load capacity must be checked across the working radius, not only close to the machine.

For suspended loads, lifting accessories and attachment functions may fall under additional inspection and regulatory requirements. Use certified equipment and current documentation.

Forestry and Municipal Carriers

Purpose-built forestry machines operate harvesting heads, felling heads, log grapples and other high-cycle tools. Hydraulic response, control integration, hose routing and carrier guarding directly affect productivity and durability.

Municipal and utility machines use plows, spreaders, sweepers, mowers, compactors and maintenance attachments across changing seasons. Visibility, road transport, lighting, controls and fast changeover can matter as much as maximum capacity.

Special carriers often have manufacturer-specific interfaces. Confirm compatibility before relying on a generic machine-class description.

THREE WAYS INTO THE DIRECTORY

Move between the machine, attachment and job

The directory is designed to connect three questions: What machine do you have? What attachment do you need? What work must it perform? Start with whichever answer you already know.

ROUTE 1

Know the attachment?

Start in the individual Attachments directory, then verify the carrier requirements for that tool.

Browse Attachments →

ROUTE 2

Know the work?

Use the application route to connect a job such as demolition, trenching or snow clearing to suitable machines and tools.

ROUTE 3

Know the category?

Use the eight broad Attachment Types to explore related families before narrowing down to a machine-compatible option.

Browse Categories →

BEFORE YOU CHOOSE

Carrier information to collect

Prepare this information before contacting an attachment supplier or comparing models. Complete data reduces incorrect quotations and compatibility mistakes.

  • Exact manufacturer, model and serial-number range
  • Operating weight and machine configuration
  • Lift chart, rated operating capacity or tipping load
  • Coupler, pin, linkage or mounting-interface details
  • Available auxiliary hydraulic flow and pressure
  • Return-line, case-drain and back-pressure limits
  • Electrical connectors and control functions
  • Expected attachment payload and material density
  • Working reach, height, width and clearance requirements
  • Duty cycle, environment and expected annual hours
  • Required guarding, certification and local compliance
  • Transport, storage and changeover requirements

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions About Machine Types

Is operating weight enough to choose an attachment?

No. Operating weight is a useful first filter, but attachment selection also depends on lifting capacity, stability, linkage, hydraulic output, geometry, controls and the intended material.

Can two machines in the same tonne class use the same attachment?

Sometimes, but not automatically. They may have different couplers, lift charts, auxiliary circuits, boom geometry and manufacturer limits. Confirm each exact model.

What is the difference between hydraulic flow and pressure?

Flow mainly affects operating speed, while pressure contributes to available force or torque. Both must remain within the attachment manufacturer’s specified range.

Why does attachment load centre matter?

Moving the load farther from the machine increases leverage and reduces available capacity. Fork length, grapple depth, coupler thickness and boom extension can all change the effective load centre.

Do quick couplers make attachments universal?

No. Couplers standardise only part of the interface. Capacity, hydraulics, geometry, locking method and machine approval still need verification.

Which machines can use high-flow attachments?

Only machines equipped with the required hydraulic circuit, cooling capacity, controls and approved operating range. A high-flow label alone does not prove suitability for every tool.

Can one attachment be shared between several machines?

It may be possible when all machines use a compatible interface and each machine can safely handle the weight, hydraulics and working geometry. Verify every combination separately.

Where should I start when my machine is not listed?

Choose the closest carrier category, then use the Contact page with the exact make, model and task. Special-purpose carriers often require manufacturer-specific checks.

Start with the machine you already operate

Use the carrier directory to identify compatible attachment families, then continue into the individual attachment and category guides.