7 Types of Machinery Used in Heavy Construction

Many modern construction methodologies would be impossible without heavy equipment. There’s a machine for just about every job, so business owners need to select new equipment carefully to ensure that it will be a good fit for the company’s most frequently completed jobs. And every piece of equipment has custom machined parts in case one fails, and they can be easily replaced to ensure smooth operation. Read on to find out about seven of the most common types of machinery used in heavy construction to see if any of this equipment would make the building process faster or easier.

1. Excavators

Excavators aren’t just used to prepare the way for new foundations. The high-quality models available through a reputable heavy construction equipment company can be used for just about any type of heavy lifting, from excavation and demolition to dredging rivers. These machines feature a long arm equipped with a digging bucket, plus a cabin for the machine operator that can rotate up to 360 degrees, which makes them practical for a wide variety of purposes on many construction sites.

2. Backhoes

Don’t be fooled by the name. A backhoe is another piece of heavy equipment that, like the excavator, can be used for many purposes. It features a large hoe attachment on the back of the vehicle and a loading bucket in the front. This arrangement is perfect for loading, unloading, and lifting above grade with the front bucket and excavating trenches below grade with the backhoe.

3. Bulldozers

Bulldozers are designed to remove topsoil down to a specific depth. To accomplish this goal, they feature a sharp-edged, wide metal blade that can be raised and lowered with hydraulic pistons. Bulldozers are most widely used for removing rock strata and weak soil to prepare the way for new buildings.

4. Graders

Graders, also referred to as motor graders, are used most frequently in the maintenance and construction of roads. Unlike bulldozers, which remove soil, graders level the soil surface. These machines feature horizontal blades between their front and rear wheels that can be lowered into position on the ground from a rear-axle operating cabin. Graders can also be used for snow removal.

5. Trenchers

Trenching machines are used to create trenches in soil, usually for use in laying pipelines or cables or for drainage purposes. Chain trenchers feature a fixed arm surrounded by a digging chain, while wheel trenchers use metal wheels with digging teeth to excavate the soil.

6. Loaders

Loaders are used in conjunction with other heavy construction equipment such as dump trucks. The loader features a large bucket attached to a short moving arm that can be used to move materials up to the bed or bucket of a second, usually larger, piece of equipment. Loaders can move very heavy materials, including demolition waste and excavated soil.

7. Compactors

Compactors, sometimes called rollers, are designed to make it easier to compact materials, usually soil or another earth surface. Smooth wheel rollers are used primarily for compacting asphalt and shallow layers of soil, while sheep-foot compactors are more appropriate for deep compaction. Pneumatic tired rollers are also available for compacting materials like fine-grained soil and asphalt layers.

The Importance of Having High-Quality Machinery

The seven common pieces of heavy construction equipment described above are just a few of the many types of machinery used to make large-scale, complex projects easier to complete. No matter what type of structure a contractor is tasked with building, it’s important to have access to high-quality machinery that won’t break down and create unnecessary downtime. Repair or replace equipment as needed to make sure it’s always in good shape.

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