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11 Fuel Saving Tips for Heavy Equipment

Fuel efficiency is a critical factor in the operation of heavy machinery. Implementing effective fuel-saving strategies can significantly reduce operating costs and minimize environmental impact. Here are 11 fuel-saving tips for heavy equipment that can help improve heavy machinery fuel economy.

Fuel-Saving Tips to Maximize Efficiency in Heavy Equipment

Managing fuel consumption in heavy equipment is essential for reducing operational costs and environmental impact. Fuel is a major expense in the construction and mining industries and optimizing fuel use can lead to significant savings. These 11 fuel-saving tips for heavy equipment will help you maximize efficiency, save money, and reduce emissions.

1. Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance is key to ensuring your heavy equipment operates efficiently. Keeping engines, filters, and other components clean and in good working condition can prevent fuel wastage.

Benefits:

  • ● Improved engine performance
  • ● Reduced fuel consumption
  • ● Prolonged equipment lifespan

Regularly scheduled maintenance checks help identify and fix issues before they become major problems, ensuring that your machinery runs smoothly and efficiently.

2. Optimize Engine Use

Avoid unnecessary idling, as it consumes fuel without contributing to productive work. Turn off the engine during extended periods of inactivity to save fuel.

Benefits:

  • ● Reduced fuel consumption
  • ● Lower emissions
  • ● Extended engine life

Training operators to be mindful of idling time can significantly impact overall fuel efficiency.

3. Proper Tire Inflation

Maintaining proper tire inflation is crucial for fuel efficiency. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which requires more energy and fuel to move the equipment.

Benefits:

  • ● Improved fuel economy
  • ● Better handling and safety
  • ● Extended tire life

Regularly check tire pressure and adjust it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure optimal performance.

4. Use the Right Equipment for the Job

Using appropriately sized equipment for specific tasks can enhance fuel efficiency. Overworking smaller machines or underutilizing larger ones can lead to increased fuel consumption.

Benefits:

  • ● Optimized fuel usage
  • ● Improved productivity
  • ● Reduced wear and tear on equipment

Match the equipment size and type to the task at hand to ensure efficient operation.

5. Implement Telematics Systems

Telematics systems provide real-time data on equipment performance and fuel usage. These systems can help identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.

Benefits:

  • ● Enhanced monitoring and control
  • ● Data-driven decision making
  • ● Reduced fuel consumption

Utilize telematics to track fuel usage and optimize equipment operation.

6. Train Operators on Fuel-Efficient Practices

Proper training for equipment operators can significantly impact fuel efficiency. Teach operators techniques such as smooth acceleration, maintaining consistent speeds, and avoiding excessive braking.

Benefits:

  • ● Improved fuel economy
  • ● Increased productivity
  • ● Safer operation

Invest in regular training sessions to keep operators updated on best practices for fuel efficiency.

7. Utilize Fuel-Efficient Technologies

Modern heavy equipment often comes equipped with fuel-efficient technologies such as eco modes, automatic engine shutdown, and advanced fuel injection systems.

Benefits:

  • ● Reduced fuel consumption
  • ● Enhanced equipment performance
  • ● Lower operating costs

Take advantage of these technologies to maximize fuel savings.

8. Plan and Optimize Routes

Efficient route planning can reduce the distance traveled and the amount of fuel consumed. Avoid unnecessary trips and optimize routes to minimize travel time and fuel use.

Benefits:

  • ● Reduced fuel consumption
  • ● Lower operational costs
  • ● Increased productivity

Use GPS and mapping tools to plan the most efficient routes for your equipment.

9. Monitor and Adjust Load Weights

Overloading equipment can lead to increased fuel consumption and strain on the engine. Ensure that loads are within the equipment’s capacity to optimize fuel use.

Benefits:

  • ● Improved fuel efficiency
  • ● Reduced equipment wear and tear
  • ● Enhanced safety

Regularly monitor load weights and adjust them as needed to ensure efficient operation.

10. Maintain Clean Air Filters

Clogged air filters can restrict airflow to the engine, causing it to work harder and consume more fuel. Regularly inspect and replace air filters to maintain optimal engine performance.

Benefits:

  • ● Better fuel economy
  • ● Improved engine performance
  • ● Reduced emissions

Clean air filters ensure that your engine runs efficiently and uses less fuel.

11. Use High-Quality Fuel

Using high-quality fuel can improve engine performance and fuel efficiency. Low- quality fuel can contain impurities that may clog fuel systems and reduce efficiency.

Benefits:

  • ● Enhanced fuel efficiency
  • ● Prolonged engine life
  • ● Reduced maintenance costs

Invest in high-quality fuel to keep your heavy equipment running smoothly and efficiently.

11. Use High-Quality Fuel

Using high-quality fuel can improve engine performance and fuel efficiency. Low- quality fuel can contain impurities that may clog fuel systems and reduce efficiency.

Benefits:

  • ● Enhanced fuel efficiency
  • ● Prolonged engine life
  • ● Reduced maintenance costs

Invest in high-quality fuel to keep your heavy equipment running smoothly and efficiently.

Conclusion

Implementing these fuel-saving tips for heavy equipment can lead to significant cost savings and environmental benefits. Regular maintenance, operator training, and the use of advanced technologies are key strategies for improving heavy machinery fuel economy. By following these tips, you can ensure that your equipment operates efficiently, reducing fuel consumption and operational costs.

Optimizing Fuel Efficiency in Heavy Equipment

To further enhance fuel efficiency, consider these additional strategies:

Regular Inspections:

Conduct regular inspections to identify potential issues that may affect fuel efficiency.

Use of Additives:

Consider using fuel additives that can improve combustion and reduce fuel consumption.

Continuous Monitoring:

Implement continuous monitoring systems to track fuel usage and identify areas for improvement.
By adopting these practices, you can optimize fuel efficiency and maximize the performance of your heavy equipment, leading to long-term savings and sustainability.

Top 5 Advantages of Backhoe Loader for Construction

In fact, the name backhoe loader is almost synonymous with the term construction machinery or construction equipment. This is because it is nearly impossible to think of any construction site without the presence of the ubiquitous backhoe loader.

5 Key Advantages of Backhoe Loader

Take a look at some of the significant advantages of this essential heavy construction machinery.

  • Versatile: Backhoe loaders can handle any type of earthwork and adapt to any kind of terrain. From digging pits and trenches to structural demolition, excavation work and transporting building material, the versatile backhoe can do it all.
  • Cost-efficient: The backhoe’s versatility also translates into better ROI because a single equipment and operator are able to perform multiple functions, enabling projects to be completed on time while saving cost.
  • Reliable: The rugged build of this heavy construction equipment, makes it a capable and dependable partner even on the toughest terrains and allows it to work on the most demanding construction sites with ease.
  • Compact: Backhoes are well-suited for urban area construction work because of their easy maneuverability. The compact dimensions allow it to reach difficult construction locations and perform a range of earthworks even at smaller sites.
  • Easily Available: As the most used construction equipment, customers have a wide choice of brands and models when selecting a backhoe loader in India to meet their project and budget requirements. This also means that servicing and finding spares is not a hassle.

When it comes to contractors and construction companies looking for a suitable backhoe loader in India, various parameters need to be considered before making a purchase. Depending upon the size, power output, features, fuel efficiency, and other factors, the backhoe loader price in India varies significantly. The best approach to buying a backhoe loader is to select one suited to the specific project requirements.

Mahindra Construction Equipment is among the top OEMs for backhoe loaders in India. Our latest CE-IV compliant range of Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loaders is available in three models to suit your business requirements:

Mahindra EarthMaster SX Smart 50 (36.2 kW)

Mahindra EarthMaster SX IV (55 kW)

Mahindra EarthMaster VX IV (55 kW)

Mahindra EarthMaster is a tech-advanced, feature-packed backhoe loader designed specifically for Indian conditions. Powered by Mahindra’s proven CRDi engine, it delivers class leading fuel efficiency with uncompromised robust performance.

Mahindra EarthMaster comes in-built with Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology that makes real-time vehicle monitoring and tracking possible, putting total control of the vehicle in your hands. Fuel consumption monitoring, fuel level analysis, location tracking, geo fencing, vehicle diagnostic reports and more, allow for timely service intervention, thereby improving productivity.

Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loaders are also available on a rental basis, effectively addressing the flexibility and affordability aspects sought by our rental customers. Our service package further enhances the equipment rental experience, ensuring complete peace of mind for our customers.

Can high-performance construction machines also be affordable?

Backhoe loaders, road graders and other such construction machinery are typically bulky, rugged equipment purchased and deployed by construction companies and contractors for various types of infrastructure construction projects. From the customer’s standpoint, construction equipment is a big ticket purchase that needs due homework and evaluation at the consideration and purchase stages.

Considering the rapid advancement, especially technological advancement using robotics and other emerging tech in newer generations of construction machines, their efficiency and performance has improved manifold. But this obviously has an impact on the overall product cost as well. Therefore the challenge for OEMs – to continuously calibrate their offerings, so as to achieve a balance between the machine performance and its cost.

Cost of ownership of a construction machine such as backhoe loader for instance, will mean not just the purchase price of the equipment but also the costs related to maintenance, repair and spare parts. Hence it becomes important to determine the long term value that a piece of construction equipment will likely deliver. And given the nature of work such machines are expected to do, buyers definitely look for and expect optimal performance and good returns during the total lifespan of the machine.

Among the OEMs in India who have successfully managed to strike a balance between machine performance and cost, is Mahindra Construction Equipment. With the next gen BSIV compliant Mahindra EarthMaster series, Mahindra Construction Equipment is able to offer customers the twin benefits of superior performance at an affordable cost.

Powered by Mahindra’s proven CRDI engine which delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency, the Mahindra EarthMaster BSIV 74 HP comes with a performance guarantee of the highest productivity per litre of diesel. Our customers also receive an uptime guarantee that in the event of a breakdown, they will get their machine back in action within 48 hours. Such measures not only increase machine productivity, they actually boost our customer’s business by translating into greater savings and profits; thereby making the Mahindra EarthMaster among the most efficient and economical backhoe loaders in the market.

We have further enhanced the performance and efficiency of our machines with the game-changing Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology. It comes in-built in the latest gen EarthMaster and puts total control of the machine and business in the hands of our customer. The real-time monitoring, tracking and reporting on every aspect of the vehicle’s operation allows for timely service intervention; saving cost, extending machine life and ultimately improving productivity.

All these factors combined have enabled Mahindra Construction Equipment to strike the right balance between performance and overall cost, and offer an attractive product with maximum ROI to buyers

Say hello to your reliable business partner – Hello Machine

While you can choose to buy any of the world-class machines that Mahindra has to offer, renting machines from Hello Machine would be a prudent choice for your business.

Jalaj Gupta, Business Head of Mahindra Commercial Vehicles, opines “For developing countries to grow faster, machine rental is the most effective model in the construction space.”

The advantage of machine rentals is that you can adopt an Asset Light Model for your business. You needn’t block capital to purchase construction machines, hence you minimize the project cost significantly. You also enjoy a lower maintenance cost, and you help improve uptime. You can focus solely on core construction activities and on completing the project sooner, and not on shelling out huge sums of money.

But there’s a big difference between renting from the unorganized sector and from Hello Machine. The difference is reliability. After all, Hello Machine is a service offered by the globally trusted Mahindra Group. The following services offered by us elicit why Hello Machine is a reliable choice for your business.

Our machines come with pathbreaking digital support. You can keep track of the machine’s health, performance, fuel status, and real-time location with our iMAXX Telematics app.

We offer well-trained operators and maintenance services as part of our package. To ensure the smooth completion of your projects.

We also offer additional services like regular maintenance and backup machines in the event of a breakdown – assuring 24X7 uptime.

Safety is a big priority for us at Hello Machine. By offering trained operators, the chances of on-site accidents are minimised. We also provide medical insurance to all our operators and crew members, thus offering complete peace-of-mind.

As you can see from the benefits listed above, we’ve developed an entire ecosystem for your business to thrive. It’s no wonder that we’ve helped with the completion of over a hundred prestigious projects in a short span of time.

We now plan to scale up our fleet to over 1000 machines to include tippers, transit mixers, backhoe loaders, motor graders, and gensets. Our current project base includes roads, bridges, airports, tunnels, irrigation, water supply, and more.

So, there you have it. Renting machines from Hello Machine make both financial and logistical sense. To know more or to rent a machine, reach out to us on 99701 02760.

Why backhoes?

They have a distinctive look, owing to the fact that they are actually 3 components of construction equipment built into one. The backhoe itself, the loader and the tractor. The backhoe functions and moves much like an arm, digging up and moving material around. The tractor has a powerful engine, strong, large and rugged tires and basic steering controls in the cab. The loader works as a tool to transport material around, smooth it over, or for scooping.

Backhoe loaders can be used for a range of tasks like minor demolitions, transportation of construction and building materials, excavation, digging ditches and trenches, paving roads and even landscaping. Backhoe loaders can have several attachments that are used for various purposes like an equipment tracking system, fuel management, quick couplers for bucket detachment. The bucket can be detached and also fitted with different attachments like an auger, grapple, a stump grinder or a breaker.

These features combined with its small profile and high mobility is what makes the backhoe loader one of the most common and popular pieces of construction equipment in urban areas and small construction projects.

Let’s get into what makes the backhoe loader one of the most in demand products in the construction equipment business and take a specific look at the features of the range of backhoe loaders that Mahindra provides.

  • The arrangement of the equipment is such that it allows for the easy front bucket loading, while the hoe in the back can excavate and dig trenches and ditches below machine level. The Earthmaster range provides high productivity with bigger buckets and a bigger loader.
  • It has the capacity to push and scoop materials and is driver operated with precise control. The Mahindra range of backhoe loaders also provide better digging depth with 2mm thicker digging plates for applications where strength is needed.
  • The balanced weight distribution of the 12-bolt support plate design offset the extremely heavy load on the wheels by absorbing the intensity of the weight that is displaced while the backhoe is digging; providing support and minimising impact to the loader.
  • The higher flow handling capacities and lower pressure losses of the optimised hydraulic circuit make this range better in terms of speed and performance. It has better fuel efficiency due to a lesser load on the engine along with the lowest hydraulic refills required.
  • The range comes with more load bearing capacity to the front axle with 63 mm thick beam, which helps the backhoe loader to do heavy work in it’s loader application. It also provides structural strength and rigidity due to its closed box section design.
  • The Mahindra Earthmaster series of backhoe loaders also cost lesser than the current market leaders, providing the most Value for Money product in India’s market. Not only does the Mahindra backhoe loader save 0.5ltrs of fuel per hour minimum, but it also has the cheapest servicing cost in the Indian backhoe loader market.
  • The new Mahindra iMAXX technology compliments the tried and tested BS6 engines provided in their construction equipment boasts of a robust, cutting edge telemetry technology that not only has artificial intelligence and machine learning but also 4G, and Dual CAN (Controller Area Network).

Here at Mahindra, taking stock of the Indian landscape of construction and usage patterns, along with using innovative technology, we have specifically engineered a product that not only has optimal backhoe performance but also the best in class fuel efficiency, and naturally aspirated Mahindra machinery.

Most Versatile Equipment : Backhoe Loader

In fact, it is almost unthinkable for a backhoe loader not to be present and put to work at a construction activity site. That is how integral this heavy earthmoving equipment is to the business.

Capable Construction Partner

Backhoe loaders or simply backhoes as they are often called, can handle any type of earthwork and adapt to any kind of terrain. The bucket and loader attachments, manoeuvrability, features and power of the backhoe loader makes it useful for excavation work, digging, trenching, as well as material lifting, loading, unloading, transporting, dozing and spreading.

Because of the variety of tasks that are performed so easily by a backhoe, it has proven its worth as a capable multipurpose earth moving machine. This versatility also translates into better ROI delivered by the machine because one piece of equipment and one operator is able to perform multiple functions, saving on time and cost. This is the reason why theversatile backhoe loader is the most used construction equipment in India.

Selecting a Good Backhoe Loader

The purchase price of a backhoe loader in India can range anywhere from rupees 18 lakhs to as much as 35 lakhs a year in India, depending upon various factors. For construction companies and contractors looking for a competent backhoe loader, it is therefore important to select one that is suited to their specific project requirements.

Size, power, features, fuel efficiency, service and spares availability are some of the criteria to consider while evaluating the price of a backhoe loader. Latest generation backhoe loaders available in India are vastly improved machines. They are feature-packed with advanced technology and are able to deliver a superior and more efficient performance. Among them is the Mahindra EarthMaster.

Mahindra EarthMaster offers a range of advanced, CEV-IV compliant backhoe loaders that are designed particularly for Indian conditions and promise best-in-class fuel efficiency with Mahindra’s proven 4-cylinder CRDi engine.

Advanced hydraulics, improved operational dynamics and hi-tech on-board diagnostic functions are available on all models of Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loaders.

What’s more, Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology allows enhanced speed, precision and efficiency of these versatile machines. It enables monitoring of fuel consumption, fuel level analysis, machine health, vehicle location tracking, service reminders, vehicle diagnostic reports and more. Because of Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology you get total control of the machine and your business, right in your hands. The real time monitoring and tracking of the vital parameters allows for timely service intervention, cost saving and improving productivity of the Mahindra EarthMaster.

Choose from the following Mahindra EarthMaster models for your business requirements:

Mahindra EarthMaster SX Smart 50 (49.2 HP)

Mahindra EarthMaster SX IV (74 HP)

Mahindra EarthMaster VX IV (74 HP)

How the Right Equipment can Speed up Your Project?

Particularly, timely project completion is extremely important in the construction industry and this can be only achieved through the right Construction Equipment (CE) employed for the right job. In fact, right CE can highly increase the speed of any project and even help the contractors or construction companies to finish the project earlier than the committed deadline. Further, right CE can also improve construction quality to a great extent and ensure safety at work site in addition to increasing speed.

How to choose the right equipment?

Before getting into the discussion as to how right equipment can speed up any construction project, it is necessary to understand the different categories of CE. Well, CE sector includes a variety of equipment that can be divided into various categories. Typically, the CE sector is made up of five main segments i.e., earth moving equipment, road CE, concrete equipment, material handling equipment, and material processing equipment. After knowing about various CE, as a contractor or construction company owner, you should know as to how to go about selecting the right equipment for your project. Below are few pointers…

1. Identify the type of job that you want to perform as this will help you to determine the type of CE that you need.

2. After knowing about the job type, it is necessary to figure out the size of the project.

3. It is also important to find out about the job conditions like whether it is a hilly, rocky or uneven terrain, loose soil or valley where the equipment will be used. It is equally important to consider the weather and climatic conditions as well.

4. You should opt for front-end possibility dedicated equipment that offer better efficiency and performance. Here, it is to be noted that inter-changeable equipment are always more versatile.

5. Last but not the least, equipment that make your work easier and more effective should be chosen.

Speeding up the project through right equipment

After shedding light on how to choose the right equipment, now we throw light on how the right equipment usage can increase speed of any construction project…

1. Right equipment ensures no project delays: Since the present-day highly advanced and technologically-sound CE are not at all affected by any weather or extreme operating conditions, they can very well complete the projects on time and even help the contractors to take up more and more projects. Such equipment can also make jobsites more efficient and help to streamline project schedules.

2. Right equipment reduces rework and increases accuracy, reliability and productivity: Equipped with advanced technologies, right CE can improve quality of work and result in accuracy, thus, saving time and cost associated with rework tasks. This can surely increase the speed and productivity at the construction site.

3. Equipment that can perform multiple tasks can also increase overall speed: At any construction site, it is always better to employ specialised equipment for tasks as they can increase the speed considerably. That said, specialised equipment that can perform multiple tasks may also be preferred as they can help contractors to do much more with one equipment. For example, backhoe loaders can be used to do a variety of tasks like moving dirt, backfill, digging trenches, crushing, lifting, grabbing objects, small demolitions, laying pipes, asphalt breaking, paving roads etc., when used with different attachments. Even, motor graders can perform various tasks like making smoother surfaces, fine grade, levelling soil and shifting small amounts of dirt.

4. Right equipment leads to safety and less number of accidents, which in turn affects speed: Any construction site is the locus of multiple high-risk activities and this leads to fatal accidents quite often. If at the jobsite, there is lot of manual work or older equipment that have less safety mechanism are used, then this may lead to major accidents and can cause delay in project execution. Hence, this also necessitates the use of right equipment at the jobsite that result in work site safety, minimum number of accidents and the project is completed on time.

Apart from the above, right equipment usage can also boost employee morale which can further impact the speed of the project and ensure that work is completed at a fast rate. That said, if projects are completed on or before time, the brand value of contractors or construction companies can increase considerably in the market, which in turn can help them in getting new clientele.

Talking about the right CE, here, Mahindra Construction Equipment’s Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loaders and Mahindra RoadMaster motor graders deserve a special mention as they are equipped with the right technology which can easily help the contractors finish the project before or within the given timeline.

To sum up…

Using right CE for the construction projects is extremely essential for the contractors to meet the deadline and maintain a good name in the market. This is the reason that demand for various CE is increasing and the CE market is expected to grow to $5 billion by 2020 and move towards further higher growth in the following years.

How to Increase the Performance of Heavy Equipment with Mahindra Construction Equipment

All equipment, no matter what size, requires maintenance, the same can be said for heavy construction equipment. Maintenance is one of the important factors that will vastly improve the performance of construction equipment.

Mahindra Construction Equipment makes sure that its equipment performs at the highest possible efficiency and requires the least maintenance, which is why it has rigorously spent 4 years and more than 20,000 hours on machine testing.

This has allowed it Mahindra CE to include important built-in designs to improve performance,

1. Fuel efficiency – Mahindra’s proprietary “Ditec Engine” reduces fuel consumption hence increasing the fuel efficiency to 4.5 liters per hour. In addition, all of Mahindra’s heavy construction equipment are BS III compliant.

2. Lubricant Refueling – With better design enhancements Mahindra has made it so that there is an extended gap between service intervals and the same can be said for lubricant refueling. Lubrication prevents wear and tear of parts and is required for smooth and efficient performance.

3. Banana Boom – With this feature, Backhoe Loaders now have 7% more reach in backhoe operation than conventional backhoe loaders and in turn increase in productivity.

4. Ergonomic Design – All of Mahindra Construction Equipment factors into consideration the operator comfort, a necessary requirement to increase the efficiency of work.

The above-mentioned unique and thoughtful design allows customers to be worry-free about the maintenance of their construction equipment.

Apart from maintenance, there are other factors that affect performance like proper equipment selection, bucket size, site condition, cycle time, and operator’s skill. Let’s take a brief look at each of them.

Equipment Selection – The selection of proper equipment in a construction project can be a matter of profit or great loss. With suitable equipment selection, contractors can easily avoid the overhead cost, wastage of time, or in dire cases, breakdown of equipment. This is the reason why Mahindra offers a wide range of heavy construction equipment with multiple renditions of the same equipment, each perfectly fit for efficiently performing a particular work.

Bucket Size – Buckets determine how much capacity of material can be cleared in one cycle and hence play an important role in determining cycle time. The bucket selection also depends on the condition of the site.

Site Condition – Backhoe loader or any other equipment, selection of heavy construction equipment depends on the geotechnical characteristics of the site, and the topography. With appropriate selection of construction equipment based on site conditions, one can prevent machine breakdown or unnecessary delay in the project by selecting underpowered equipment. At the same time, it is important not to select overpowered or feature-loaded costly equipment as they might add to the operating and maintenance costs.

Operator’s Skill – It is often said that a sword is only as good as its wielder, the same can be said of the equipment. In the hands of a skilled operator, an equipment would undergo less duress and still get the work done. However, with an unskilled operator the equipment or its parts might be damaged, which will lead to overhead costs.

Any investor in construction equipment can easily improve the performance and profit from it provided, he/she/they can take good care of the above-mentioned factors.

Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Rock Breaker

o break rocks and a boom (arm) are two major components of the rock breaker. There are two major types of rock breakers i.e., mobile and stationary, typically placed on a pedestal or slew frame.

Generally, rock breaks are used to perform various tasks. These include…

1. Rock mining without blasting: Rock breakers are used for primary rock mining to increase productivity and save time. The rock breakers can in fact reduce the load on the primary crusher, thereby, increasing the latter’s output. Rock mining without blasting is also environment-friendly as the blasting emissions are eliminated. Also, this method boosts safety at the site as there are no flying rocks in the air.

2. Secondary reduction: In cases when the blasted rock is too big to be handled by loading equipment or the crusher, the importance of secondary reduction comes into play. Even with the most advance blasting techniques, it is inevitable that there will be oversize boulders and these need to be broken as economically as possible. It is in such cases that rock breakers come handy than the crusher.

3. Demolition: Rock breakers are very much suited for the demolition tasks. They are commonly used to break down concrete structures.

4. Other uses: Rock breakers can also be used for other operations such as tunnelling and excavating and trenching.

How to get the best out of the rock breaker?

Keeping in mind the functions performed by the rock breakers, it cannot be denied that they are an important attachment with backhoe loaders or excavators and need to be maintained well to give good results. Here are some top tips to get the most out of your rock breaker…

1. Visual inspection of the rock breaker: It takes only few minutes to visually inspect the rock breaker for any wear and tear. Visual inspection should be done after every use of the rock breaker. This can help you identify any worn or damaged components and prevent unexpected downtime. The visual inspection checklist should include checking hydraulic hoses, the breaker shell, attachment pins, tool retainers and locks and the tool point for any cracks or gouges.

2. Greasing the equipment: This is an extremely important step because it helps in lubricating and clearing the tool bushing area of debris. Thus, rock breaker should be greased at regular intervals. When greasing the rock breaker, manufacturer’s recommendations should be followed. To quote an example, there could be seal damage or even a catastrophic failure if the grease is added before properly positioning the breaker. Another example could be that too little grease could cause the bushings to overheat, seize and damage tools. Ideally, greasing should be done every one to two hours to reduce build-up, tool wear and bushing wear.

3. Inspecting the nitrogen pressure: Some breakers feature nitrogen gas assist systems that work with the hydraulic oil to accelerate the breaker’s piston. In these cases, it is necessary to maintain and fill the nitrogen reservoir as needed for consistent power and output. The proper nitrogen charge pressure depends on the application and outside working temperature. The nitrogen level required for breaking rocks is different from what is required for breaking concrete in a parking lot. Here, the attachment’s operation and maintenance manual can come to help as it will have the mentione about the nitrogen pressure setting for your application and working temperature.

4. Performing regular checks: It is necessary to regularly check the wear status of chisel, bushes and chisel pin. Excessive wear of bushes and chisel can cause chisel head and piston damage. Rock breaker parts are easily available in the market and they can be bought to bring back the rock breaker into a good working condition.

5. Servicing the rock breaker on a regular basis: The durability of the rock breaker can be increased by servicing it on a regular basis. Rock breakers can be repaired or rebuild to give good results.

Apart from the above, the other few things that should be kept in mind include:

1. Always follow the rock breaker specifications written in the owner’s manuals, catalogues and brochures.

2. The rock breaker should never be used in a ‘lever’ motion. Also, the rock breaker should not be dropped on the object which is to be broken as it can damage the rock breaker and the equipment on which it is attached.

3. The impact point should be moved from the edge to the centre for achieving best working efficiency.

4. The tool point should be matched to the respective application to significantly maximise jobsite production and extend the breaker’s life.

5. In order to effectively break material, each breaker must be properly sized to a specific carrier’s performance. Energy can be displaced and this can diminish the breaker’s impact on the material, if the breaker is too large for the carrier. Alternatively, if the breaker is too small, it can put excessive pressure on the working steel and other mounting components, thereby, causing damage.

Thus, by following the above-mentioned tips, you can ensure that your rock breaker gives maximum result at the jobsite and its life is extended considerably. While there are many companies which manufacture rock breakers which are very efficient but one that deserves a mention is Mahindra Construction Equipment’s (MCE) rock Breaker.

Rock breaker offered by MCE

MCE offers various attachments with its Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loader and Rock Breaker HD is one among them. The rock breaker from MCE can be used for various applications. The features of rock breaker from MCE which makes it different from the others include:

1. Accumulator: High pressure surge dampener for protection of base carrier hydraulics.

2. Piston: Superior design, metallurgy and manufacturing render long life and trouble-free service.

3. Internal valve design for higher efficiency.

4. Can work in under water applications.

5. Auto greasing hole for break-free operation.

6. Back head design powers the breaker by stored gas.

7. Easy to charge and maintenance free.

8. Perfected clearance of cylinder allows longest service life in tropical climates.

Given the above features, definitely rock breaker from MCE can be your best bet for applications such as rock cutting, road cutting, pipelines, footings, demolitions and trenching.

To sum up…

In the coming years, the major drivers for growth of rock breakers would be the road and infrastructure industry and positive outlook of the mining industry that will lead to the increased demand in aggregates. So, it is right time that you arm your fleet with the best rock breakers to keep up with the growing demand.

Motor Grader: Different Ways to Reduce Fuel Consumption and Cost

Particularly, fuel cost is one of the major costs that impact the equipment owners profoundly. However, selection of the right equipment, smart equipment use, regular maintenance etc., are some ways through which fuel consumption and cost can be reduced drastically. These ways can further help in extending the runtime of the machine leading to greater productivity and reduced operating costs.

Importance of fuel-efficient motor graders

Fuel costs of heavy equipment like motor graders can be as high as 50 per cent of the operating cost. Hence, it has a major impact on the profitability. Thus, for a motor grader to be best-in-class, fuel efficiency is the primary requirement. Further, fuel-efficient motor graders often emit far lesser amount of smoke, reduce the waste of energy and thus, save the environment from pollution. Fuel-efficient equipment are not only beneficial for the eco-system, but also for the construction companies as they can reduce the overall cost of maintenance of the equipment.

Ways to reduce motor grader’s fuel consumption and cost

Here is a list of simple ways and tips to reduce fuel consumption and cost of motor graders and increase the profit margin…

1. Selecting fuel-efficient equipment: These days, there are many manufacturers which offer highly fuel-efficient motor graders. One among them is Mahindra Construction Equipment (MCE). Its RoadMaster G75 is equipped with Mahindra DITEC engine which brings fuel efficiency down to an incredible 4.5 litres per hour and results in more savings. Hence, the motor grader is highly fuel-efficient and leads to increased productivity and profitability for the owners. Offering lowest maintenance in class as with technology and design enhancements, RoadMaster G75 lowers lubricant refilling requirement with extended service intervals, thus, reducing the overall maintenance cost.

2. Preventive maintenance: Regular check-ups are a must to ensure that the motor grader is properly maintained as poorly maintained equipment often consume more fuel for the same amount of work that a maintained machine completes for considerable lesser fuel. Thus, preventive maintenance saves on both fuel costs and major repairs in the long term making the machines more productive and ensuring their longer life.

3. Regular maintenance measures: In order to keep a tap on the maintenance requirement of the equipment, maintenance schedule which would have notations on how often each part of the machinery should be inspected for problems, repairs and general maintenance should be created and followed. It goes without saying that basic maintenance practices like proper tire inflation, using the recommended motor oil and regular engine tune-ups can improve the fuel economy of the motor graders to a very large extent. In fact, you should always make it a point to check the tires for the right pressure and replace badly worn tires to reduce slippage and resistance caused by bald or under-inflated tires that result in an inefficient use of the machine’s power. Also, all moving parts of the equipment should be properly greased in order to save them from failing to work and creating excess friction leading to severe wear and tear of the machinery, frequent breakdowns and shorter life span. It should be noted that properly greasing of the machine will result in less sloppy movements, helping the operator achieve the precision. Further, too little as well as too much lubrication can be harmful for the machine. Hence, you need to lubricate the equipment wisely with the recommended grade of grease. Also, the air filter needs to be regularly checked and cleaned for optimal functioning and fuel efficiency.

4. Fuelling the equipment rightly: It is very important to choose the right mix of oils and fuels in the motor grader if you want the equipment to work for long. This step can improve the performance of the machine drastically. Make it a point to use the fuel most suited to the engine type for optimal performance at lower fuel consumption rates. Usually, it is a good choice to refer to the OEM’s recommendations for the same.

5. Machine control: These days, advanced machine control systems equipped in motors graders also help in reducing fuel consumption and costs as they eliminate the need of rework by getting the job done right in the first attempt, thereby saving fuel and time.

6. Equipment monitoring: These days, motor graders come with monitoring facilities to keep a track of everything that is going on with the machine. Analysing the data with a close eye can help reduce fuel consumption and costs. For example, MCE’s RoadMaster G75 comes with GPRS-based remote monitoring system DigiSense that keeps a track of your machine with the touch of a finger. Through this, be it business information like daily work reports, fuel level or warnings like low fuel, filter clogging and low engine oil, you can get constant updates on your equipment.

7. Maintaining minimal idling of the machine: Machine idling always result in absolute wastage of fuel. Thus, the GPS systems and telematics can be used to provide real-time information and reduce machine idling. Even auxiliary power systems can help to reduce idle time by powering the vehicle without having to run the engine. However, if still the machine is kept idle, the engine should always be cut off to prevent unnecessary wastage of fuel.

8. Trained operators: Last but not the least, trained operators are a must as they can operate the machine at its optimal level, thus, leading to motor graders performing any task efficiently in less time, thereby, saving the fuel consumption and cost. Such operators very well know that the equipment should be started off at low RPMs and then gradually increased to ensure both smooth functioning and low fuel consumption. Untrained operators can not only increase the fuel consumption of the machine but also damage the machine.

These are just few of the important ways which can help in reducing fuel consumption and cost of the motor graders. Above all, education and awareness is necessary on part of the equipment owners so that they can easily cut down on their growing fuel costs.