Top 5 Construction Equipment Brands 2025 in Canada

Construction equipment manufacturers play an important role in the construction process. They build and sell a variety of machines that are used across various industries, from mining to agriculture, forestry, and road construction, to carry out different tasks more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Operators working in the construction industry need reliable equipment that can tackle their tasks safely and effectively. Construction equipment manufacturers produce a range of machines such as excavators, bulldozers, forklifts, aerial lifts, trucks, tractors, cranes, and excavating booms that help operators complete their assignments faster and more efficiently. 

This article will look at the top five construction equipment manufacturers in Canada. We’ll go over a brief history of each company and explain the equipment that each brand manufactures. 

Caterpillar (CAT)

Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, Caterpillar Inc. is a Fortune 500 company that manufactures and sells construction tools and equipment. It operates in more than 90 countries and is one of the largest manufacturers of construction and mining equipment in the world, including bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, and mining trucks. 

A Brief History of Caterpillar 

Caterpillar was founded in 1925 in the USA when Benjamin Holt and his son Arthur formed a partnership to manufacture mining equipment. The following year, the Caterpillar Tractor Company was incorporated in Illinois, USA. 

The “Caterpillar” name came from the Holt Manufacturing Company’s popular line of wheel tractors, which were nicknamed “Caterpillar” because of the way their treads moved goods like a crawler. 

In 1930, Caterpillar began production of track-type tractors. In the 1940s, the company developed diesel engines, combining the strength of diesel engines with the flexibility of tracks. 

In 1958, Caterpillar manufactured its first diesel-electric locomotive and in 1959, the company acquired the Japanese company, Shibaura Engineering Co., Ltd, now known as Caterpillar Japan, Ltd. 

The company’s robust construction and mining equipment and powerful diesel engines have led to Caterpillar’s position as one of the top construction equipment manufacturers in the world.

Caterpillar Construction Equipment 

• Motor graders

• Excavators

• Wheel loaders

• Backhoe loaders

• Skid steers

• Forklifts

• Crawler tractors

If you’re considering adding Caterpillar machinery to your fleet, exploring construction equipment financing or heavy equipment leasing options can help you manage costs while gaining access to reliable equipment. Equipment Finance Canada offers tailored financing solutions to make acquiring Caterpillar equipment fast and hassle-free.

Komatsu Limited

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Komatsu Ltd. is a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. Its products include excavators, wheel loaders, bulldozers, forklifts, cranes, and draglines. The company also manufactures materials handling systems and undercarriage equipment for heavy-duty trucks and trailers. 

A Brief History of Komatsu

Komatsu Ltd. is one of the largest manufacturers of construction and mining equipment, diesel engines, and industrial robots in the world. The company was founded in Japan in 1915 when four mechanical engineers, Kiichiro Toyoda, Takeuchi, Cho, and Murase, built their first loom. 

In 1919, they changed the name of their company to “Komatsu Ltd.” and began manufacturing agricultural equipment. The company began producing construction equipment in 1926 and in 1931, the first Komatsu steam shovel was built. 

In the 1950s, Komatsu expanded into the mining industry and began building the world’s largest excavators. In 1959, Komatsu established a joint venture with Caterpillar Inc. to build “cat” machinery in Japan. In the 1960s, Komatsu started making diesel engines, and in the 1990s, the company began manufacturing construction cranes.

These days, Komatsu manufactures a variety of different machines for the construction industry and has sales and service centers all over the world. 

Komatsu Construction Equipment 

• Wheel loaders

• Bulldozers

• Forklifts

• Cranes

• Draglines

• Materials handling systems

• Undercarriage equipment 

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.

Also headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Hitachi Construction Machinery manufactures and sells construction equipment globally. It produces and exports a wide range of construction and mining equipment, including bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, tractors, engines, and mining trucks. 

A Brief History of Hitachi Construction Machinery

Hitachi Construction Machinery manufactures construction and mining equipment, power generation plants, and industrial equipment. Hitachi was founded in 1910 in Japan to produce mining equipment, electrical generators, and water turbines. 

In 1970, Hitachi started manufacturing construction equipment and in 1978, Hitachi acquired the Japanese Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. (JCM). In 2006, the JCM business was reorganized as Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. 

It was during the 1980s that Hitachi began manufacturing excavators and today, Hitachi is one of the top construction equipment manufacturers in the world. The company is also well known for its power tools, which, along with DeWalt and Mikita, are among the most popular in Canada. 

Hitachi Construction Equipment 

• Bulldozers

• Excavators

• Wheel loaders

• Backhoe loaders

• Tractors 

• Engines

• Mining trucks

• Forklifts

Volvo Construction

Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo) manufactures and sells construction equipment. Its products include wheel loaders, excavators, bulldozers, tractors, drills, and heavy vehicles. 

A Brief History of Volvo Construction

Volvo Construction Equipment began operating in 1913 as a manufacturer of marine engines. This business was very successful for many years. However, in the early 1950s Volvo began developing a line of excavators. 

Volvo has always been known as a top brand of construction equipment. The company has a long history of designing and manufacturing high-quality construction equipment. 

Volvo is especially well-known for its line of wheel loaders. This is arguably the most popular product that Volvo manufactures. However, they also build a variety of excavators and other heavy machinery.

Of course, the Volvo brand is world-famous as they produce some of the longest-lasting and most dependable commercial vehicles, including cars, trucks, and transport trucks. 

Volvo Construction Equipment 

• Excavators

• Bulldozers

• Wheel loaders 

• Cranes

• Motors

• Skid steers

• Vehicles

John Deere

Headquartered in Moline, Illinois, John Deere operates as a manufacturer of construction and agriculture equipment. Its product portfolio includes construction equipment (such as bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, and crawler tractors), agricultural equipment, lawn and garden equipment, and forestry equipment. 

A Brief History of John Deere

John Deere was born in Vermont in 1804 and moved to Illinois in 1836. Mr. Deere started building equipment for plowing when he realized that his horse-drawn plows often became clogged with soil. 

He created a steel plow made of cast iron, which did not rust and held up better under pressure. His plows proved to be very valuable, with sales reaching $1 million by the late 1880s. 

While the company was originally focused on manufacturing plows and other equipment for farmers, in the 19th century, it soon branched out into the construction industry. 

To this day, John Deere construction equipment is highly sought after by contractors and construction businesses in Canada and around the world. 

John Deere Construction Equipment 

• Bulldozers 

• Excavators

• Wheel loaders

• Crawler tractors

• Agricultural equipment

• Lawn and garden equipment

• Forestry equipment

The Different Types of Construction Equipment Manufactured by the Top Five Brands

Now that we have gone over the top five construction equipment manufacturers in Canada, let’s look at some of the most popular machines produced by these brands, and what each one does. 

Bulldozers

Bulldozers are one of the most common types of construction equipment. They are used for a wide range of different tasks such as clearing trees, digging, and other landscaping tasks. 

A bulldozer is a very heavy construction machine with a wide and very strong frame that allows it to push and move large amounts of material. They’re typically equipped with a very large and strong blade that can be raised and lowered to push and clear away various materials, depending on the terrain. 

Bulldozers are very strong machines and are often used to move or clear large amounts of earth in one go. This means that they’re often used in areas where digging, digging trenches, and other excavating work is needed.

Wheel Loaders

Wheel loaders are another very common type of construction equipment. They are used for a variety of different tasks such as grading land, moving materials, and digging. With a wide range of different designs, wheel loaders can be found in almost any type of construction job. 

They typically have a large, robust bucket attached to the front that can be moved up and down to lift and lower materials. They are frequently used to move large amounts of material like soil or gravel that can’t be lifted by other machines. 

Wheel loaders often have wheels that are larger than those found on other types of construction equipment. This means that they are better equipped to climb various grades and terrain. They can also operate in tighter spaces than machines that have smaller wheels.

Excavators

An excavator is a very large and heavy construction machine that is used primarily for digging and trenching work. They can often be found at work sites that require a lot of digging or excavation, such as gas and electric companies that need to lay pipelines. 

While some excavators are able to dig trenches, others are only able to dig to a certain depth. They are typically equipped with a strong bucket attached to the front of the machine that is used to lift and lower materials being dug up. 

Because excavators are such large machines, they are often used in areas where there are limited amounts of space. This means that they are frequently used to dig or trench in places where other types of construction machines would not be able to fit.

Skid Steer Loaders

Skid steer loaders are a very popular type of construction equipment. They are smaller machines that are used for grading soil, moving materials, and digging. 

Skid steer loaders are frequently used for grading soil because they can fit in places that other types of construction equipment are unable to reach. They are also commonly used to move large amounts of construction materials like sand, gravel, and concrete. In some cases, skid steer loaders can also be used to dig small trenches. 

Skid steer loaders are a very versatile type of machine that offers a lot of utility. This means that they are frequently used in many different types of construction projects.

Backhoe Loaders

Backhoe loaders, like skid steer loaders, are another type of construction machine that is frequently used for grading soil. They can be used for a wide range of different tasks such as digging, moving materials, and lifting heavy objects. 

Many backhoe loaders can also be converted into other types of construction equipment such as a skid steer, a bulldozer, or a forklift. This means that they can be used for a wide range of different tasks. 

Backhoe loaders are very common in areas where grading soil is required. They are frequently used to level out uneven areas of land that are unbuildable. They are also used in areas where materials are needed to be moved and graded away, such as along the side of a road.

Equipment Finance Canada Can Help You Get the Construction Equipment You Need ASAP

If you are looking to purchase new construction equipment from one of the top five brands discussed in this article, then Equipment Finance Canada can help. EFC works with construction companies big and small to provide financing for vehicles and heavy equipment. 

The application process is quick and easy, plus the rates are fair and affordable. So, if you need new construction equipment, then be sure to get in touch with Equipment Finance Canada today.