Machinery glossary

The vocabulary of compact machinery, demystified.

43 terms defined to understand compact machinery in Quebec: Schäffer wheel loaders, Hitachi and Caterpillar forklifts, Transmanut pallet jacks, Benco-Schäffer snowplows, Erskine attachments, CCQ trades and regulatory bodies.

Compact wheel loaders

Compact loader with articulated frame — steering wheels via central pivot.

The articulated frame delivers a very tight turning radius with minimal ground wear. Flagship category of the Schäffer (Germany) lineup, for which Benco has been the exclusive Quebec distributor since 1970.

Compact loader with telescopic boom — extended lift height.

The telescopic boom doubles the usable dump height for loading tall trucks or reaching onto a concrete slab. Identified by the "T" suffix in the Schäffer lineup.

Compact Wheel Loader — under-8 t operating weight segment.

Regulatory category used by Caterpillar and Hitachi for loaders under 8 tonnes. Caterpillar M-Series 906M, 907M and 908M run a C3.3B Tier 4 Final engine, 75 hp gross. Hitachi ZW50 (operating weight 4,195 kg, Kubota V2403 engine, 46 hp gross).

Operating mass — cabin + standard equipment + operator + bucket.

Schäffer ISO convention: operating weight measured with cabin, factory-standard equipment, operator and standard bucket. Reference values: Schäffer 2428-2 = 1,820 kg, Schäffer 2430 SLT = 2,480-2,555 kg, Schäffer 3650T = 3,600 kg, Caterpillar 906M = 5,595 kg, 908M = 6,364 kg.

Maximum load the boom can lift vertically.

Schäffer 2428-2 = 1,700 kg, 2430 SLT = 1,900 kg, 3650T = 1,950 kg, 6680T = 4,200 kg (lifting force published by Schäffer). Not to be confused with tipping load (straight-frame tipping point, pallet fork per ISO 8313 / ISO 14397).

Hydraulic pump-motor drive, no mechanical gearbox.

Standard across the Schäffer lineup and on Caterpillar M-Series CWLs. Benefits: no clutch, instant forward/reverse shifting, fine throttle response for snow clearing and repetitive cycles.

Schäffer signature cabin — Schäffer Cabin Vision.

The SCV-Plus version (launched on the Schäffer 6680T) delivers improved visibility, sound insulation and instrumentation. ROPS/FOPS standard. Air conditioning and heating optional depending on model.

High-speed transmission option for traveling between job sites.

Available on the Schäffer 6680T (paired with the two most powerful engines). Lets operators drive between sites without a flatbed — a major time saver for multi-site contractors in Montérégie.

Snowplows & winter equipment

Narrow municipal snowblower — Benco-Schäffer sub-brand.

Co-brand developed by Benco on a Schäffer base for Canadian municipal and snow-removal contractor needs. Models 3650MAX and 4670MAX in stock at Benco Richelieu.

Blade with tall side panels — moves snow 5x faster than a conventional plow.

Erskine Attachments category: side panels approx. 37 in. tall, bolted high-carbon cutting edge, universal quick coupler. Ideal for parking lots and warehouses. Available in 96 in. (8 ft) and 120 in. (10 ft).

Hydraulically angled front blade.

More versatile than the snow pusher in urban environments (left/right angling). Erskine units and competitors use the universal skid steer / compact loader quick coupler.

Rotor + impeller — throws snow well clear of sidewalks or roads.

Erskine Attachments has been manufacturing snowblowers since 1948 (one of the first hydraulic-rotor builders worldwide). Hydraulic category for compact loaders and skid steers.

Rotary brush — light snow removal in winter, lot sweeping in summer.

Used in winter (light snow on sidewalks, storefront entrances) and summer (dust, gravel, vegetation debris). Erskine Brooms / Sweepers category.

Forklifts & material handling

Front-fork material handling truck — lift capacity rated in pounds or kg.

Benco distributes Hitachi and Caterpillar forklifts (Lift Truck lines), covering indoor warehouse and outdoor yard duty. Simplex / duplex / triplex masts depending on the stacking height required.

Manual under-pallet lifting tool — typical capacity 2,000-2,500 kg.

Lifting by manual hydraulic pump, travel by operator pull. Standard fork length 1,150 mm, EUR pallet compatible. Manufactured by French material-handling specialist Transmanut.

Battery-powered pallet jack — pedestrian or rider type.

Faster and less tiring than a manual unit over distances above 20 m or with more than 50 cycles per day. Typical battery runtime 4-8 h. Transmanut (France) range covered by Benco in Quebec.

Truck halfway between a pallet jack and a forklift — stacking 1.5 to 3 m.

Compact, pedestrian or platform type, ideal for moderate-height warehouse stacking. Transmanut range.

Erskine attachments & couplers

Universal skid steer / compact loader interface — tool change in under 60 s.

North American industry standard. Lets a single compact loader run buckets, forks, grapples, augers, brushes, blades and more. Every Erskine attachment ships with this coupler.

Core tool for bulk materials (soil, gravel, snow).

Erskine offers standard buckets, flat-bottom buckets, snow buckets (greater volume) and grapple buckets (upper jaw to grab branches/debris). Capacity rated in m³ or yd³.

Frame + 2 sliding forks for handling pallets and bundled loads.

Typical capacity 1,800-2,500 kg on a compact loader. Also used to carry concrete blocks, peat or sod bales, etc. Erskine Pallet Forks category.

Upper hydraulic jaw — grabs and holds irregular materials.

Essential for wood, stumps and demolition debris. Erskine builds grapple buckets, brush grapples, weld-on grapples and utility grapples.

Hydraulically driven helical bit — drills holes for fencing, planting and more.

Interchangeable bits (typically 6 in. to 36 in.). Erskine Augers & Bits category. Widely used for farm fencing, signage posts and residential helical piles.

Technical terms

US EPA emissions standard for off-road diesel engines — in force since 2014.

Recognized in Canada (Environment Canada aligned with the EPA). Reduces NOx and particulate matter. Caterpillar M-Series 906M/907M/908M run a Cat C3.3B Tier 4 Final engine with DPF.

European equivalent of Tier 4 Final — enforced since 2019.

EU standard for off-road engines. Schäffer (Germany) homologates its engines to Stage V for the European market; Canadian versions are aligned with EPA Tier 4 Final.

Roll-Over Protective Structure / Falling-Object Protective Structure.

Cabins certified ROPS (rollover protection) and FOPS (falling-object protection) per ISO 3471 and ISO 3449. Mandatory under CNESST rules on construction sites.

ISO standard for measuring gross off-road engine power.

Used by Hitachi, Caterpillar and Schäffer to publish gross power figures (with fan, without aftertreatment accessories). Distinct from ISO 9249 (net power).

Abrasion-Resistant steels — used for buckets and cutting edges.

AR400 (Brinell hardness around 400 HBW) is standard for buckets. AR500 is used in high-wear zones (cutting edges, mining bucket floors). Erskine bolted cutting edges are made from high-carbon AR steel.

Load threshold at which the loader tips forward — measured per ISO 8313 / ISO 14397.

Measured with a pallet fork, straight frame (max) or at full articulation (min). Example Schäffer 2430 SLT: 1,733-1,954 kg (straight frame). Safe working load = 50% of tipping load (EN 474).

Civil engineering & excavation

Tracked machine with a backhoe bucket — earthworks, demolition, foundations.

The flagship category of civil engineering. In Quebec, common classes are: mini excavator (1-6 t), midi excavator (8-13 t), medium excavator (15-25 t), large excavator (over 30 t). Benco distributes the Hitachi Zaxis lineup in Quebec.

Hydraulic excavator 1 to 6 t — residential job sites, tight access.

Chassis width compatible with a standard gate (1.5 m or less). Ideal for pool foundations, septic tanks and weeping tile trenches. Short wheelbase limits maneuvering.

Hydraulic hammer attachment — breaks rock and concrete.

Sized to the excavator tonnage and hydraulic flow. Uses: foundation demolition, concrete pile trimming, pavement removal. High noise levels mean municipal time restrictions often apply.

Equipment for compacting soils and pavements.

Vibratory plate (walk-behind, light earthworks), single-drum roller (cohesive soil), tandem roller (asphalt). Selection depends on material type and lift thickness.

Seasonal cycle that governs Quebec construction schedules.

Freeze = excavation halts in deeply frozen ground (typically December-March). Thaw = axle-load restrictions on municipal roads (March-May). Project planning must respect these windows.

Trades, certifications & Quebec authorities

Authority that regulates the Quebec construction industry (Act R-20).

Issues competency cards (CCA apprentice, CCC journeyman), runs the workforce referral system and enforces collective agreements. Official site: ccq.org.

Quebec commission for labor standards, pay equity and occupational health & safety.

Regulates working conditions, pay equity and occupational health and safety. Construction-site safety codes, accident reporting and mandatory training. Site: cnesst.gouv.qc.ca.

Joint sector-based association — construction-site prevention.

Established under section 99 of the Act respecting occupational health and safety (AOHS). Delivers the mandatory OHS courses for construction sites, including the "General health and safety on construction sites" course. Site: asp-construction.org.

Professional order regulating the practice of engineering in Quebec.

Any structural, foundation or civil-engineering plan involving public safety must be signed and sealed by an engineer who is an OIQ member. Site: oiq.qc.ca.

Regulator that issues construction contractor licenses.

Anyone who carries out or has construction work carried out for others in Quebec must hold an RBQ license. License status and disciplinary history can be checked publicly at rbq.gouv.qc.ca.

CCQ trade — code 731 — operator of excavators, loaders, graders and dozers.

Governed by the CCQ (Act R-20, civil engineering and road infrastructure sector). Apprentice card (CCA) at entry, journeyman card (CCC) after the apprenticeship hours and the qualification exam. Training at the CFP (vocational training center).

CCQ trade — maintenance and repair of heavy machinery.

Specialties: diesel engines, hydraulics, transmissions and electrical systems. The Benco service shop applies this expertise to every brand distributed (Schäffer, Hitachi, Caterpillar, Transmanut).

Construction crew lead — manages safety and productivity.

The first level of site supervision on a construction project. Must hold a CCC card in their trade plus additional management training. Acts as the direct interface with CNESST on site compliance.

Quebec association of road and heavy construction contractors.

Represents employers in the civil engineering and road infrastructure sector. Negotiates the sector's collective agreement and manages training and workforce. Site: acrgtq.qc.ca.

Quebec automobile insurance corporation — driver's licenses.

Driving a wheel loader on public roads generally requires a class 5 license. For straight trucks delivering machinery over 4,500 kg GVWR, classes 1, 2 or 3 apply depending on the vehicle. Site: saaq.gouv.qc.ca.

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Ces 43 termes décrivent du concret : chargeurs Schäffer, pelles Hitachi, chariots Caterpillar, accessoires Erskine. Voyez les modèles disponibles ou demandez conseil à notre équipe.

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