The Development History of Excavators

Initially, excavators were manual, and it has been over 130 years since their invention in 2013. During this period, they have gone through a gradual development process from steam driven bucket rotary excavators to electric and internal combustion engine driven rotary excavators, and fully automatic hydraulic excavators that apply electromechanical hydraulic integration technology. The first hydraulic excavator was successfully invented by the Poclain factory in France. Due to the application of hydraulic technology, hydraulic backhoe suspension excavators were installed on tractors in the 1940s. In 1951, the first fully hydraulic backhoe excavator was launched by the Poclain factory in France, opening up a new space in the field of excavator technology development. In the early and mid-1950s, the towed fully rotary hydraulic excavator and the tracked fully hydraulic excavator were successively developed. The initial trial hydraulic excavator used hydraulic technology from aircraft and machine tools, but lacked hydraulic components suitable for various working conditions of the excavator, resulting in unstable manufacturing quality and incomplete supporting parts. Since the 1960s, hydraulic excavators have entered a stage of promotion and vigorous development, with a rapid increase in excavator manufacturers and varieties in various countries, resulting in a sharp increase in production. Between 1968 and 1970, hydraulic excavator production accounted for 83% of the total excavator production, approaching 100%.
The first generation of excavators: The emergence of electric motors and internal combustion engines gave excavators advanced and suitable electric devices, leading to the birth of various excavator products. In 1899, the first electric excavator appeared. After World War I, diesel engines were also used in excavators, and this type of mechanical excavator driven by diesel engines (or electric motors) was the first generation excavator.
The second generation excavator: With the widespread use of hydraulic technology, excavators have more scientifically applicable transmission devices, and hydraulic transmission replacing mechanical transmission is a major leap in excavator technology. The first hydraulic excavator in Germany was born in 1950. Mechanical transmission hydraulics is the second generation excavator.
Third generation excavators: The widespread application of electronic technology, especially computer technology, has enabled excavators to have automated control systems and has also led to the development of excavators towards high performance, automation, and intelligence. The emergence of mechatronics integration occurred around 1965, while the adoption of mechatronics technology on mass-produced hydraulic excavators began around 1985, with the main purpose being energy conservation. The electronicization of excavators is a symbol of the third generation excavators.
The excavator industry manufacturers can be roughly divided into four categories. More than 70% of domestic excavators are occupied by foreign brands, with domestic brands mainly focusing on small and medium excavators. However, the share of domestic excavators is gradually increasing, with a year-on-year increase of 3.6% in 2012.