Motor Graders Play a Critical Role in the Aggregates Industry
Aggregates are granular raw materials which are extensively used in the construction of roads, bridges, streets etc. Construction aggregates can be classified as crushed stone, quarry dust, boulder and gravel and manufactured sand. Aggregates are used for various applications like raw materials for site mix and ready-mix concrete, sub-base for road projects and are available in various sizes from 6 mm to 60 mm. The average usage of aggregates depends on project to project since the specification of each project is different. Typically, if we look at the Indian scenario, then for a two-lane national highway (asphalt), 6,800-7,500 cu m of crushed aggregates is required.
Market scenario of aggregates industry in India
At a time when there is increased importance given to road construction and maintenance projects in India, the aggregates industry is expected to see a boom. As per the facts, during the past few years, per capita consumption of aggregates in the country has increased by leaps and bounds. Currently, the overall construction aggregates demand in the country is estimated to be around 4,500-5,000 million tonne. Crushed stone aggregates is estimated at 40-45 per cent of the overall construction aggregates used.
As per a National Highway Authority of India survey report, the aggregate production is expected to grow from 1,010 million metric tonne (mmt) in 2000 to an estimated 5,075 mmt in 2020. This will mean more demand for aggregates and thereby quarry operations from where the aggregates are majorly derived.
It is generally seen that delivering high quality aggregates to the construction industry is a great challenge and is the foundation of all infrastructure progress. Here comes the importance of motor graders.
Motor grader’s role in the aggregates industry
A motor grader may seem like just another piece of equipment, but it is very critical to the entire aggregates operation. Typically, motor graders can be used to establish a rough grade, produce a precise finished grade, spread stone, mix aggregate and other materials on a new road.
With the ripper teeth, motor graders can break hard aggregates and carry them from the quarry to the place where they are needed. Then at the aggregate mining sites, they can be used for construction of haul roads. Motor graders have an essential role in haul road construction and maintenance, blasting cleanup, loading area cleanup and reclamation. Also, on the haul roads, motor graders help in creating and maintaining constant grade and proper drainage.
Moving to the road construction sites, then there motor graders can be used for blading aggregate surfaced roads. They can be used for the levelling of soil or land so that the new or next layers of soil, gravel aggregates and asphalt or bitumen can be spread uniformly throughout. Further, generally recovered gravel, either from a high shoulder or a ditch, contains clumps of sod which definitely should be removed before the reuse of the gravel. Motor graders equipped with windrow pulverisers can quickly and effectively remove these clumps. This eliminates the need for the material to be moved back and forth multiple times to break up the sod.
Simply put, motor graders can perform the grading task easily by cutting the surface of the unpaved road to the bottom of the potholes and/or washboards and then spreading the material across the surface of the roadway.
Mahindra RoadMaster G75 produces best-in-class aggregates
Mahindra Construction Equipment’s RoadMaster G75 is made in India for the Indian roads. The RoadMaster G75 is created to offer an affordable, un-compromised and mechanised grading solution for small and medium roads in India. It is an ideal grading machine for spreading and grading of earthwork in different types of roadwork across the nation. It possesses various unique features and promises best-in-class aggregates. Read on to know why RoadMaster G75 claims this...
1. RoadMaster G75 is equipped with 3000 mm mouldboard that comes with an option of having its size reduced by 400 mm. Depending on the requirement the blade size can be reduced by 200 mm on both sides. The cutting edge of the blade is in four separate pieces for ease of handling and replacement and has a lasting life of about 600 hrs on standard operation cycle. It is convenient, affordable and any blade part can be easily replaced in case of damage.
2. The equipment offers full blade visibility from operator station for superior grade finish.
3. RoadMaster G75 possesses the 5 tine ripper teeth attachment that is mounted at the rear of the motor grader and is perfect for breaking hard packed aggregates like asphalt. The design of the ripper teeth attachment allows for the ripping across the working range to be consistent. The design of ripper teeth tines also provides for easy penetration while prolonging the life of the tine tip. The attachment keeps the ripping depth, material break and mixing of aggregates consistent due to its robust design.
To sum up...
Considering the amount of infrastructure development activities anticipated in the coming years, market for aggregates will remain positive and the industry will grow at a very fast pace. This growing aggregates demand will put more pressure on quarrying as the need of the hour would be producing aggregates in larger quantities with the required quality to meet the escalating demand from the road construction sector. And given the fact that motor graders play a critical role in the aggregates industry, the segment is touted to see a sharp rise without fail in the years to come.
