Archive for the ‘construction equipment’ Category
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 |
Heavy construction equipment requires a lot of capital investments. When the companies opt to buy these types of heavy construction equipments like Aggregate Equipment, AirCompressor, Asphalt/Paving/Concrete Equip, Compaction Equipment, Excavator Crawler, Dozer, Drill machinery,Excavator, Forklift, Forestry Equipment then they look out for the used equipments that may be on sale in the local market. This helps them in various manners. Companies sometime get used heavy construction equipment for sale which are as good as new but the cost is much lesser than that offered in the showroom. Moreover, buying heavy construction equipment from the local market reduces the transportation cost as well. These overheads not look good in the balance sheet as they lead to increase in the project costs.
Financing is a major concern while buying heavy construction equipment. Most of the companies look out for times when the interest rates are low and they can strike a good bargain. In developing countries the rate of economic growth determines the external investments. A healthy growing economy attracts heavy foreign investments. Thus since the financial inflows are more the interest rates are much low. Thus buying heavy construction equipments or taking them as rentals is much more economical.
After the opening up to the markets and signing of the GATT agreement by most of the countries there has been increase in the competition and reduction in cost of equipments. Moreover, the heavy construction equipments have been manufactured at more locations than before. This trend has been on increase to serve the global market and cross-country support for infrastructure development. Moreover, there has also been increase in the duty-free import structure in the economies. But in case of the growing economies, increase in exports and development of local markets is still required to support the imports in the countries.
Demand for heavy construction equipment is more region-specific. In US markets and Western Europe, requirement for up-gradation of the locations is more required rather than developing new projects. These countries require maintenance and upgrading of the existing projects, which is more crucial for the existing infrastructure for long time sustenance.
In case of developing countries, building up of rail, roads, flyovers, high-rise, airports, and urban development is more crucial. All this requires lot of construction work, which requires use of heavy construction equipment. The largest producers of heavy construction equipment are located in the U.S., Japan, Germany, the U.K. and France, followed by Italy, South Korea, Canada, Sweden and Belgium. There are manufacturing units located at other locations also like China, Russia and Latin America. More manufacturing like Caterpillar equipments, Komatsu, Deere, Hitachi, Case, Dozer, Drill, JLG, Ingersoll-Rand, Genie etc units for heavy construction equipments are expected to crop up at locations, which offer low material costs and cheap labor.
Heavy construction equipment is also available on rent. These can be leased out easily from the domestic market. It is much more beneficial to take the heavy construction equipment on rent or on least for a day or few days rather than purchase them and then sell them at lower cost or carry overheads like transportation, maintenance, etc. Buying heavy construction equipment is not much preferred option. Mostly in the US, long-term leasing is much more preferred over purchasing due to tax structure.
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Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 |
Many companies and contractors in need of acquiring new or used construction equipment often don’t have the financial resources needed to buy the construction equipment outright, unless it is a large corporation or some branch of the government. This is when the option of renting or leasing construction equipment comes into play. Deciding to rent or lease often depends on what the contractor or business manager feels most comfortable doing from a financial perspective after evaluating the many possibilities and deciding what suits their need from long term leasing to short term renting. The side of construction equipment rentals has met a positive growth since 2004, where nearly 50% of construction equipment dealers’ are offering heavy equipment rentals as part of their operation.
There are two ways most companies acquire their construction equipment, renting or leasing. Many contractors or business managers viewed renting or leasing as an opportunity to test out construction equipment at no extra cost and with no strings attached with the possibility of buying. Most often the rental would be converted into a purchase to avoid losing the invested equity. Most buyers would also take into account whether their business is flourishing or floundering, before committing to buying any construction equipment. In a case where a business has an uncertain future, the potential buyers may deem renting as the best way economically and then return the construction equipment to its owner when the job is done.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is the international trade and business development resource for companies that manufacture equipment, products and services used worldwide in the construction, agricultural, mining, forestry, and utility fields. The AEM has conducted a survey that predicted that in the near future, more construction equipment buyers will turn to the Internet for product purchases; as construction equipment buyers increasingly turn to the Internet for transactions, information and support.
Consequently, the rise of on-line auctions, sales, renting and leasing are made available by a variety of merchants who cater to the needs of companies and contractors worldwide. On-line merchants such as: Machine Mart, Rock & Dirt, Machinery Trader, Iron Planet, Contractors Hotline, etc. are only a few of the leading markets where companies and contractors alike can find nearly every piece of construction equipment they are looking for, from the top manufacturers such as Caterpillar equipment and John Deere equipment to many more. Many of these merchants offer the options of buying, selling, renting and leasing of new and used construction equipment to parts service and repair and machine maintenance. It’s always wise to investigate the background of any merchant before you place a bid or purchase any construction equipment, to ensure a good reputable stand point before entering into a contract with any dealer or merchant. It’s always wise to shop around and compare deals on construction equipment to
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Monday, October 27th, 2008 |
The forklift equipment for sale was developed in the early 1920’s and since then it has become an essential piece of heavy construction equipment in industrial and warehousing operations. Lift trucks are available in all shapes and sizes, from the common machines which handle weights of around 5000 lbs, to the very powerful forklifts which can lift more than 35.000 lbs. When purchasing a fork lift truck it’s important that you pay interest in safety as well as state of the art performance.
The industrial standard for lift truck capacity is 5000 lbs. For companies which produce identical pallets of products finding one forklift that suits all of their needs isn’t difficult. However, if the size of the loads is variable, the best solution is buying a truck with greater capacity than currently needed. A common use for the forklift is loading and unloading trucks. This activity doesn’t require a lift truck which can handle loads at great heights. However, if you plan on using your forklift in a warehouse or retail store, it is recommended that you purchase a machine that can reach shelves at more than 30 feet high. Size is also important when buying a forklift with the purpose of using it in a warehouse or store. Standard fork lift trucks can maneuver in 11 feet wide isles whereas for narrower aisles you will need a smaller forklift.
Size and capacity aren’t the only things to be considered when selecting a suitable lift truck. It is very important that the tires are appropriate for the environment in which you plan to use your vehicle. Cushion tires, made of solid rubber, are the best choice for an indoor work habitat. For working outdoors and on uneven terrain, pneumatic tires inflated with compressed air are recommended. In some settings, such as lumber yards or recycling facilities where there’s a high risk of bursting regular pneumatic tires, solid pneumatic tires can be used. These tires are more expensive than the other categories, but there’s a very low risk of deterioration on rough terrain.
There are two main types of fork lift trucks: electric forklifts and internal combustion forklifts. The electric trucks are powered by an on-board battery. Machines using an internal combustion system have a traditional engine that runs on various types of fuel. Both types have pros and cons and it is difficult to determine if one is superior to the other as it depends on the client’s needs.
Electric forklifts are especially used indoors and on well-leveled terrain. Probably the most important advantage is that they produce zero emissions as opposed to the internal combustion models which require very good ventilation in order to be used indoors. At a first glance, electric forklifts are more expensive than ones using a traditional engine. However, the cost of operation per hour is lower for the electric models and it compensates for the higher initial price. Two other pluses for the electric lift trucks consist in the fact that they operate quieter and have a longer life span than the internal combustion trucks. On the other hand, internal combustion trucks can handle larger loads and can be operated at greater speeds. These types of trucks run on different varieties of fuels, including diesel, liquid propane gas or compressed natural gas. For some models dual fuel systems are available which enable you to switch between liquid propane gas and gasoline. Fuel costs must also be taken into consideration as they are higher for gasoline and lower for diesel.
Nowadays a great variety of lift trucks is available for purchasing. When choosing a new vehicle you should look for the forklift which fits best with your storage stack-up or capacity and type of activity. It’s very important that you consider all the pros and cons of the different types of models available and discuss all of the details before purchasing.
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Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 |
The global demand for heavy construction equipment has increased dramatically over the preceding years. This demand of heavy construction equipment is highly accredited in part to the recovery from a recession in assorted Asian countries, as well as in Latin America, Russia, and Africa. Regardless of the fact that the heavy construction equipment industry is not as heavily concentrated as it had been in previous years, acquisitions are still going strong and substantial partnerships between competing companies are on the rise.
Marketing is improved as there is technical advances in the heavy construction equipment design, the price increases have a tendency to remain modest in retrospect. This applies for all new, used, rented or leased heavy construction equipment alike. Each year the heavy construction equipment industry is meeting a global demand of turnout at about six percent each year. The heavy construction equipment industry has been sharing in the worldwide drive with a number of countries to construct new projects and to restore older public and private structures.
Heavy construction equipment mainly consist of the following main categories: mixers, crane equipments, loaders, trucks, tractors, graders, rollers, excavators, dozers, forklift equipment etc as well attachments and parts. All new and used heavy construction equipment for sale is used in a wide range of applications from major infrastructure projects to office buildings and from housing to factories, power plants and mining. The extent of use of heavy construction equipment is so broad that key measures in demographics, such as the population growth, along with ample growth in economics, are the main influence of the demand for heavy construction equipment in the world today.
Projects that require the sporadic use of heavy construction equipment also call for significant amounts of capital investment. In privately funded projects, investors seem more receptive when interest rates are low and when there is a reasonable rate of return. Most public works programs are ventured upon during recession as part of a broader financial turnout. In developing countries, the rate of sustainable economic growth is a major concern as sporadic trends tend to be shorter and more under consideration in mature markets. This may influence a country’s ability to attract external capital or to generate its own.
Heavy construction equipment and its components can be manufactured in fewer locations to service the global market. Heavy construction equipment can now move without any obligation between mature markets, while some emerging countries still require exports to qualify for liberated imports.
The demand for such equipments vary according to countries to perform tasks of building and re-building. The need for heavy construction equipment in these regions are more related to upgrade and maintenance of the existing infrastructure and buildings than it is to new projects. In other developing regions, the need for heavy construction equipment is used to build new projects such as highways, airports and urban buildings, etc. With a growing global demand of heavy construction equipment, the possibilities of building are endless.
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008 |
Forklifts or lift trucks have been high on demand, especially with industrial organizations that require new forklifts or used forklifts for the transport of new or used heavy equipments. New forklifts or used forklifts are indispensable today with the huge number of takers. Right from manufacturing to the stockrooms, these forklifts play a predominant role in the movement of raw materials or finished goods. Heavy goods industries like railway, infrastructure companies, etc employ these machines in their daily operations. Due to high demand, there are some select companies that have bridged in to offer these specialized forklifts to industries and manufacturing units.
The need Used forklifts as well as new forklifts are available for use by industries. Several industries even get these forklifts on a lease agreement. However, today used forklifts for sale have become a popular pick by new industries and small entrepreneurs who require them for their business needs. Infact, used forklifts that are well maintained can be as good as new forklifts at times. This can help you to save money.
However, in case you are purchasing one for a long term need, you should not mind those extra bucks that can get you a new one. Some drawbacks of used forklifts may include noisy operation, shorter life and greater maintenance and repairs. Also, in case you will be using a forklift for everyday operations, you need to rethink before buying a used forklift. A reputed dealer will be a better option for new forklifts and used forklifts rather than a relatively unpopular one. You will also have the benefit of better service. Moreover, the Used forklifts will last longer if you buy it from a certified dealer. He will also be handy at time of replacement, if any needed.
While using a used forklift or a new forklift, accidents tend to occur commonly in industrial usage. However, one must be careful not to overload the machine. Accidents happen due to errors rather than technical faults. Do conduct safety checks regularly.
Moreover, the number of varieties, designs and styles in which forklifts are available is commendable. As an entrepreneur you can be left spoilt for choice. Lift trucks, like cars and bikes are often available in a special customized manner. Thus, a vendor may ask you to pick anything from Hand Pallet Trucks to Rider Stacker or Towing Tractor. Apart from these, Walkie Stacker and Sideloader are quite popular too. Several more designs can be found with the vendor. It may be a new forklift or a used forklift. Each has its own charm.
Similarly forklifts may be classified on the basis of their utility. Electric forklifts, Internal Combustion forklifts, narrow aisle forklifts and rough terrain forklifts are the popular types. Caterpillar, Ford, Terex, Hyster etc are famous manufacturers of forklifts. There is a world out there. You just got to define your need.
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Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 |
When you are in charge of acquiring industrial cranes for your company, you voluntarily take on a substantial responsibility, in that the cranes you purchase must meet rigorous standards of safety and structural integrity. In other words, industrial cranes, particularly the more immense they get, must be operated with a fractional margin for error, as crane mistakes can lead to personal injuries or worse. You are aware, then, that any crane you purchase must be made according to the highest standards of production, and that vendors must be chosen carefully according to their commitment to excellence.
You are probably also aware of the wide range of new and used cranes for sale available, including, among others, wall- or floor-mounted jib cranes, gantry cranes, bridge or overhead cranes, boom cranes, truck-mounted cranes, and so on. Because of this diversity of available styles, it is crucial to know the exact specifications of any industrial crane you will be purchasing. Crane type, load capacity, vertical available lifting height, and horizontal available span–you must consider each of these capabilities, as well as optional features like automation, rotation, wheels, and so on.
You can be certain, however, that whatever style of crane you purchase, it will be a viable aspect of your operation for years to come. Also certain when you purchase this heavy equipment will be a the significant monetary investment that your company will make, so it is essential that you find a highly-qualified vendor who can offer you the best product for the best price. There are a number of ways to go about finding the most eligible vendor, but one method you should consider involves evolving Internet search capabilities.
During the initial growth phase of the Internet, engineers and heavy equipment manufacturers had not yet developed efficient online search methods for quickly uniting purchasers with vendors. However, in recent years, this technology has reached a level of refinement of a degree that you can gain immediate access to extensive lists of vendors, product reviews and comparisons, technical articles, and much more. Jump online today, research these powerful sites, and find those industrial cranes that will be an integral part of your enterprise today and for the future.
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 |
Backhoes come in a variety of sizes that are suitable for the garden, construction or industrial site. Backhoes are just one type of the accessories that consumers can buy for their tractor. A bucket on a mechanical arm with an elbow is one easy way of describing the backhoe.
To begin with, tractors are powerful machines that can be adapted to different jobs. With a backhoe accessory in place, the tractor may be used to operate the bucket with a straight armed position or while the mechanical arm is bent. When a backhoe arm is straight and the bucket is swung back and forth, the motion and weight can be used for demolition purposes. While using the mechanical arm in different bent positions, a backhoe bucket can operated to drop its contents, scoop up material and dig a hole.
A backhoe can be used for household, business and agricultural purposes. Consumers can use the small backhoe equipped tractor for gardening, landscaping and building purposes. It is possible to dig small trees and roots with the household tractor. Backhoes are available for tractors in a variety of sizes.
Backhoes are used for construction, engineering and industrial purposes. Mining, brush cutting, heaving lifting and placement of equipment can be achieved with a backhoe. Dragging the bucket along the ground will grade surfaces.
The excavator or bucket of the backhoe will come in different sizes. Variations in the bucket will be related to depth, blade, teeth and width. Backhoes will have different safety measures that will provide protection during operation and movement of the equipment.
Before digging, carefully consider the placement of the hole. Contact any utility authorities who may have underground equipment in your digging area. If you break any such equipment, you will be responsible for repair or replacement parts.
When making your inquiries, ask companies that provide services such as water, sewage treatment or fuel. Any underground cable or pipes could be affected by digging. Assess the ground area near the digging site for an uneven ground cover, holes or obstructions that could affect the motion of the tractor backhoe attachment.
Once a backhoe and tractor are in motion, the clearance of the front and back end are important considerations for the work site. When you know the location of all underground utility or service equipment, mark the location with red flags or cones that will be visible from the driving position of the tractor.
Digging, breaking down, smoothing out and moving heavy equipment are tasks that are performed at home in the garden or on a larger scale in the construction world. The digging power of backhoes makes this equipment a necessary tool for many tasks that would otherwise require much labor and time. The backhoe’s many abilities are attractive to different consumer groups, which makes the backhoe a popular choice of tractor accessory.
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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 |
Bulldozer mechanics are heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics who specialize in troubleshooting, repairing and preventing problems associated with bulldozers and other industrial equipment. Most people attend formal training programs; however, some people, with no formal training but experienced in the field, find employment in this occupation.
The occupation of bulldozer mechanic is a specialization in the larger occupation of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics. Actually, most bulldozer mechanics also are knowledgeable in all types of construction equipment. In larger repair shops, bulldozer mechanics may specialize in certain aspects of repair such as engine, transmission, brake, electrical or others.
In their daily activities, bulldozer mechanics may perform routine preventative maintenance on equipment, such as oil changes. In the event a malfunction occurs, bulldozer mechanics consult the operator to get a verbal description of the problem and perform tests, which help pinpoint the cause of the problem. Bulldozer mechanics must be knowledgeable with computers and electricity as modern equipment has on board computers and diagnostic equipment. Using special tools, they replace or repair parts as necessary.
The following are the bulldozer mechanic duties and responsibilities :
* ‘Determines vehicle condition by conducting inspections and diagnostic tests; identifying worn and damaged parts. Corrects vehicle deficiencies by removing, repairing, adjusting, overhauling, assembling, disassembling, and replacing major assemblies, sub-assemblies, components, parts, or systems, such as, power and drive trains, electrical, air conditioning, fuel, emission, brake, steering, hydraulics; completes machine shop operations; making adjustments and alignments including bearing loads, gear tooth contact, valve mechanisms, governors, oil systems, control linkages, clutches, and traction units.’
* ‘The Heavy Equipment Mechanic analyzes malfunctions and repairs, rebuilds and maintains power equipment, such as cranes, power shovels, scrapers, paving machines, motor graders, trench-digging machines, conveyors, bulldozers, dredges, pumps, compressors and pneumatic tools. This worker operates and inspects machines or equipment to diagnose defects, dismantles and reassembles equipment, using hoists and hand tools, examines parts for damage or excessive wear, using micrometers and gauges, replaces defective engines and subassemblies, such as transmissions, and tests overhauled equipment to insure operating efficiency.’
The overall employment of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow at a rate about as fast as that of the average occupation through the year 2016. The median annual earnings for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics were $40,435 as of May 2006. Experience, voluntary certification and education bring not only advancement opportunities, such as supervisor, manager or repair shop owner, but also increased pay.
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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 |
A skid loader is a stiff frame machine with mechanical arms that can be fitted with attachments for a wide variety of different tools, including a backhoe, hydraulic breaker, pallet forks, angle broom, sweeper, auger, mower, snow blower, stump grinder, tree spade, trencher, and a wheel saw.
Modern skid loaders come in two varieties, a four wheeled system and a rubber track version. Wheeled skid loaders are typically are four-wheel drive and for additional maneuverability, the left and right wheels systems are independent. The track version also referred to as a track loader provides for better digging and pushes performance in higher end models due to less ground disturbance and better traction in un-ideal environments like mud and sand.
The first three-wheeled front-end loader was invented in 1957 by two brothers, Cyril and Louis Keller, in a small machinist shop in Rothsay Minnesota. The brothers conceived the idea to help a nearby farmer with the ignoble task of cleaning up manure for a pole barn. They wanted to help him, and out of this collaboration the first skidder was born.
This early machine was eventually purchased by Melrose Manufacturing Company and the Kellers brought on to continue development. Since then it has spread to become a highly valued piece of heavy machinery at construction and engineering site around the globe.
Due to the wide array of attachments available for these vehicles , they have many uses, but mostly are employed for scrape material from one place to another, carry materials in a bucket and proceed to load them into a truck or trailer.
Skid loaders can also be used in tight digging situations where factors limit the practically of using a large excavator, like digging a basement under an existing house. In this situation a skid loader would make use of a ramp at the edge of the site. The loader would proceed to use the ramp to carry materials out of the hole. The skid loader would reshape the ramp by making it steeper and longer as the excavation deepened. Major manufacturers for skid loaders include the Bobcat Company, Mustang, Case, New Holland, Komatsu, and Caterpillar.
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Friday, August 29th, 2008 |
Workers in the construction industry do not comprise a very big percentage of the total number of United States workforce. However, concerning worker injury and fatality rates, the construction industry sector has one of the highest percentages of such among all other industry sector in the country.
The basic causes of almost all construction accidents are fairly due to various heavy equipments used, work methods and site conditions. Here are some of the noted cases about construction accidents caused by equipments used:
- unsafe equipment
- improper installation of equipment parts and components
- inadequate maintenance of equipment
- misuse of equipment
- failure to use or misuse of safety equipments or gadgets
- workers’ lack of proper training in using equipments
Meanwhile, accidents occurring because of improper work method and unsafe work site condition may range from failure to install proper warnings and signs to failure in clearing or cleaning up a work area.
Many problems can be encountered involving ladders, scaffolds, areas of excavation, use of heavy equipments like bulldozers, cranes, backhoe, loaders, excavators etc. There are also severe incidents involving burns, electrocution, explosions and even poisoning.
It is a fact that some construction sites have poor attitude regarding safety and security that leads to many injuries and even fatalities.
First, regarding the federal government’s responsibility, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA is the agency in charge of enforcing the federal laws concerning the safety, security and health-friendliness in every workplace.
It works like this, the OSHA releases regulations based on the federal laws. Then, the head contractor of a construction site has the responsibility to take note of the OSHA regulations applicable to his or her work site. He or she will then impose measures and guidelines that will make sure that the entire site is safe and secure according to the regulations of OSHA.
Prime contractors have the main responsibility for ensuring compliance since they have the most influence regarding safety and security issues. They are the ones who supervise and coordinate the operation in the construction site and usually provide the equipment needed by the subcontractors and employees.
In cases when the head contractor delegates his responsibility to a subcontractor, then the responsibility for going over the safety rules and regulations in compliance with the OSHA rules falls into the subcontractor’s obligation. However, both the subcontractor and the head contractor still share the responsibility.
Owners and manufacturers of heavy equipment and the manufacturers of the equipment’s faulty component that caused the accident may both be charged with personal injury cases like product liability. Meanwhile, the contractor or subcontractor can also be charged with negligence in case they have been lax on imposing a safety guideline that resulted to injuries.
However, to get claims without having to file a lawsuit, the Worker’s Compensation Laws of a state can cover an employee who has sustained injuries or illness from a construction accident. The employee does not have to prove any one’s liability for the injuries and can still get monetary payment for damages. Filing for a lawsuit can also be helpful in getting to the bottom of a certain accident and learning lessons from it so that such accident do not happen again.
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