Reference notes on the terms and figures used throughout this catalogue.
Ground bearing pressure
The pressure a machine exerts on the ground, in kPa. A conventional tracked excavator typically exerts 30 to 60 kPa. Amphibious pontoon undercarriages spread weight over a much larger area, greatly reducing it. The figure that matters is pressure under working conditions with the intended attachment, not the bare-machine figure in a brochure.
Reach and capacity
Maximum reach is a geometric figure and says nothing about what the machine can lift there. Lifting capacity at working radius is the number that determines whether the machine can do the job safely.
Tonnage class
A nominal grouping by operating weight, used throughout this site to compare equipment. Actual operating weight varies with configuration — particularly pontoon size and counterweight — so treat class as a starting point rather than a specification.
Auxiliary hydraulic flow
Hydraulic attachments require a specific flow and pressure. The machine’s maximum pump output is not the same as what the auxiliary circuit delivers to the attachment. Confirm the auxiliary circuit figures specifically.
Undercarriage wear limits
Rollers, links, bushes and sprockets each have defined wear limits. Running past them does not simply wear that component further — it accelerates wear on everything it contacts, which is why undercarriage neglect escalates so quickly in cost.