Heavy equipment is an essential part of numerous industries, from construction to mining, offering the power and efficiency needed to tackle the toughest jobs. When choosing heavy machinery, the brand can significantly impact performance, durability, and overall cost-effectiveness. Industry leaders like Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, and Volvo are renowned for their innovative and reliable equipment, continually setting the standard for excellence. In this article, we explore the top brands that dominate the heavy equipment sector and what makes each unique in their offerings.
Illustration of heavy equipment
Best brands of heavy equipment in 2025
Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, boasting a market share of 67.63% in the Construction & Mining Machinery industry as of Q3 2024. With revenues of $67.1 billion in 2023, Caterpillar dominates the market, providing off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. The company saw a significant increase in revenue from $16.6 billion to $17.1 billion between 2022 and 2023, and its profit margin rose from 10.1% to 18.4% in the fourth quarter of 2023. Caterpillar's equipment is in high demand, particularly in the commercial construction market, which is expected to boom in 2024. The company's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship further solidifies its position as an industry leader. For more information, visit Caterpillar's official company page.
Komatsu
Komatsu is a leading manufacturer of heavy equipment, ranking as the world's second-largest producer in the construction and mining sectors, with a global market share of 10.4% in 2023. The company achieved impressive annual sales of $24.8 billion in its 2023 fiscal year, marking a 9.1% increase from the previous year, and reported an operating income of $3.9 billion, up 23.7%. Komatsu dominates the Japanese market with a record-high market share of 37.5% in the construction equipment industry. The company's strong presence is also evident in North America, where sales grew by 15% to $6.4 billion in the same fiscal year. Komatsu's success is driven by its commitment to innovation and reliability in its machinery.
Volvo Construction Equipment
Volvo Construction Equipment is a leading global manufacturer of heavy equipment, renowned for its innovative and reliable products. In 2023, Volvo CE experienced a remarkable 14.7% increase in sales in North America and an 8.7% rise in Europe for the fourth quarter, culminating in a full-year sales increase of 4.7% to SEK 104.961 billion. The company offers a comprehensive range of products, including wheel loaders, hydraulic excavators, and articulated haulers, and has been at the forefront of technological advancements, such as the introduction of electric machines like the ECR25 Electric compact excavator in 2020. Volvo CE also focuses on reducing total cost of ownership and enhancing safety features, such as the Collision Mitigation System. With production facilities in multiple countries, Volvo CE continues to be a major player in the construction equipment industry. For more detailed information, visit their official website.
Hitachi Construction Machinery
Hitachi Construction Machinery is a leading producer of heavy equipment, known for its robust and versatile machines used in excavating, loading, lifting, and hauling tasks. With a market cap of JPY 762.33 billion and an enterprise value of 1.29 trillion, the company demonstrated significant financial strength in the last 12 months, generating JPY 1.40 trillion in revenue and JPY 67.54 billion in profits. Hitachi Construction Machinery is particularly renowned for its articulated wheel loaders, with a history dating back to 1962, and it continues to maintain a leadership position in technology, service, and support. The company's shares are widely held, with 25.28% owned by institutions and a trailing PE ratio of 9.74. Its global presence is supported by a comprehensive after-sales service and parts availability. For more information about their products and services, visit the Hitachi Construction Machinery website.
John Deere
John Deere is a paramount leader in the heavy equipment industry, boasting a 53% market share in the U.S. for large tractors and 60% for farm combines. As the largest farm equipment corporation globally, Deere sells twice as much machinery as its two next-largest competitors combined. The company has expanded its dominance through strategic acquisitions, such as the $5 billion purchase of the world's largest road construction equipment maker in 2017. John Deere's construction and forestry segment generates significant revenue, with $12.5 billion in net sales and a 16.1% operating margin in 2022. The brand is renowned for its quality, durability, and innovative technology, including advanced connectivity and telematics solutions. For more information, you can visit John Deere's official website.
Liebherr
Liebherr is a leading manufacturer of heavy equipment, renowned for its high-quality construction and mining machinery. In 2023, the company generated over 3.4 billion euros in revenue from its mobile and crawler cranes segment, marking an 18% increase from the previous year. Liebherr's global sales in 2023 also included significant revenue from material handling technology, with a growth of EUR139 million to EUR725 million. The company's diverse product range, including earthmoving, mobile cranes, and concrete technology, has contributed to its strong market presence. Liebherr's record sales in 2019 reached EUR11,750 million, with an 11.4% increase from the previous year. For more detailed information, explore Liebherr's material handling technology segment.
Case Construction Equipment
CASE Construction Equipment, a renowned brand in the heavy equipment industry, was founded in 1842 by Jerome Increase Case and is part of CNH Industrial. The brand is celebrated for producing an extensive range of construction machinery, including excavators, motor graders, wheel loaders, and skid-steer loaders. Highlighting its industry influence, CASE achieved notable milestones such as manufacturing its 500,000th backhoe loader in 2005 and its 300,000th skid-steer loader in 2017. In the second quarter of 2023, CASE Construction Equipment witnessed a 19% growth in construction equipment sales, contributing to CNH Industrial's total sales of $1.06 billion for the period. The company's estimated annual revenue is $457.1 million, with an estimated revenue per employee of $494,200. For more information, visit the official CASE Construction Equipment website.
JCB
JCB (J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited) is a leading global manufacturer of heavy equipment, known for its innovative and high-performance machines. In 2023, JCB reported a significant increase in sales, with a turnover of £6.5 billion (approximately $8.65 billion) and a profit before tax of £805.8 million, despite a 4.3% global market contraction in construction and agricultural machinery. The company has a strong presence in North America, where its sales grew robustly, and it continues to invest in new production capacity and product innovation, such as the recently launched JCB Pothole Pro and the development of hydrogen combustion engines. Rising to the ninth position in the global construction equipment market, JCB is set to further expand with its new factory in San Antonio, Texas. With over 70 years of history and a global workforce of 12,000, JCB remains a major force in the industry. For more details on their innovative approaches and corporate journey, visit their official website.
Doosan Infracore
Doosan Infracore has established itself as a leading producer of heavy construction equipment, notably emerging as the market leader in Nepal's construction equipment market with a market share of around 20% by the end of 2017, up from 5% in 2015. The company's success is attributed to its enhanced sales capabilities and significant contracts, such as the Likyu Hydropower Project in Nepal. In China, Doosan Infracore achieved a market share of 10.5% in February 2018 and dominated the mid-size excavator market with a 15.6% share. The company has also focused on innovation, launching advanced models like the 100-ton excavator with smart power control and fuel optimization systems. Doosan Infracore's global sales growth has been robust, with a 15.4% increase in excavator sales in January and February 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.
SANY Group
SANY Group is a globally leading enterprise in the high-end equipment manufacturing industry, known for its record-breaking overseas performance, with international sales revenue of 25.88 billion yuan in 2022, a year-on-year growth of 43.7%. The company's excavators achieved a remarkable 62.8% year-on-year growth in overseas sales, exceeding an 8% market share. SANY retained its position as the world's number one manufacturer of concrete machinery and dominated other export industries such as piling machinery and large-tonnage lifting machinery. In 2020, SANY's total sales revenue reached 15.14 billion USD with a 31.29% year-on-year growth, and the company invested 954 million USD in R&D, accounting for 6.3% of its total annual revenue. For more details on their outstanding achievements, visit the SANY America website.
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