Mini Graders Perform Multiple Tasks
The graders come to work after the dozers have done all the heavy work and before the asphalt is laid to create the final layer of the roads. Typically, they are used for making smoother surfaces, fine grade, levelling soil and shifting small amounts of dirt. Being small in size, they can be easily put to use in crowded spaces with a small turning radius.
Generally mini graders are made up of three axles. The first axle is located with the engine and on top of the cabin, the second axle is at the front end of the machine and the third one is located at the rear end. Mini graders are identified by their long adjustable blade which does most of the cutting work. The blade of the grader is not only restricted to cutting process but can also be used for spreading and levelling. They can be even used for finishing a slope or digging a ditch.
One of the biggest advantages of mini graders is that they come with a variety of attachments that can be used for completing different kinds of construction or mining tasks. These attachments increase the versatility of the equipment and help them to perform different types of tasks at the jobsite. For example, the ripper attachment can be used to cut through challenging ground conditions such as hard, compact or frozen dirt or soil before grading and the dozer attachment helps with spreading.
Given their increased versatility, mini graders are multi-purpose equipment. Be it road construction sites, civil construction sites, mining sites, quarries, airport sites, snow removal sites etc., mini graders can be spotted anywhere very easily performing a host of tasks.
Multiple tasks performed by mini graders
Here is a list of all the tasks that are performed by mini graders…
1. The most basic task performed by mini graders is removing the unwanted substance which is the reason to bumpy roads. Generally, mini graders cut loose those unwanted substances.
2. The other most traditional use of this equipment is in the construction and maintenance of roads with its main function being preparing the topmost layer for laying asphalt on top of it.
3. They are used to finish grade (refine, set precisely) the rough grading performed by heavy CE such as scrapers and bulldozers.
4. Graders are also used to set native soil foundation pads to finish grade prior to the construction of large buildings. In building construction projects, graders are also used for levelling the parking areas.
5. Mini graders are also used for moving the earth and debris from one location to another i.e., for earthmoving purposes.
6. Mini graders are commonly used at mining sites like coal mining sites too. Jobsites like quarries and industrial sites in remote areas generally do not have proper roads leading to the site. This causes a lot of hassle for the movement of men and material. Here, comes the importance of mini graders as they can be used to create temporary roads leading up to the site to sustain daily operations and enable ease of transportation.
7. Although most grader models are used for roadwork applications, some graders can be used for digging shallow holes and even for rough grading.
8. The motor graders also ensure that the compactor is effectively used with minimum load on it.
9. Mini graders can also be used for sacrificing which means complete removal of layer of soil and then spreading a new layer at that particular point.
10. The equipment is also used for levelling of the soil so that the next layer is spread uniformly throughout the surface.
11. Tasks like mixing of two materials can also be well-performed by mini graders with the help of the right attachments.
12. Spreading of soil, aggregates etc., can also be done easily with this equipment.
13. Trenching tasks can also be performed with it.
14. For land grading tasks i.e., creating a certain slope, mini graders are useful.
15. For purposes like cutting of bank canals, mini graders are the best.
16. Mini graders can also be used for snow removal. Since they are smaller in size and because of their speed and normal wheel instead of crawler wheel, they can remove the snow easily. This makes mini graders as the most suitable machine for this type of operations in areas where snow rate is above the normal conditions.
Mini v/s large motor graders
A small or mini motor grader within a range of 80-150 horsepower is usually enough for most of the jobs. While, the smaller graders are perfect for jobs that need to be completed in a tight spacing environment, larger motor graders can be used in broader spaces. Larger machines are known to use a direct drive or a torque converter drive transmission system while the smaller ones are hydrostatically driven. Graders, both the large and mini ones are an integral part of the road maintenance fleets across the country. Though small in size, the mini grader are power-packed and their size helps the machine to operate successfully in small spaces.
Bright future ahead for mini graders
Given that nearly 80 stalled road projects have been cleared in recent months, Union Ministry for Road Transport has planned to increase the length of National Highways, government has announced four major corridor development projects such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Amritsar-Kolkata, Vizag-Chennai and Bangalore-Mumbai, the overall motor grader market is expected to see a major boom. However, it is majorly the rural road construction segment that is expected to give a boost to the mini grader market in the country. In fact, in the Union Budget 2017-2018, an allocation of Rs19,000 crore has been made towards the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to connect far-flung habitats. This is expected to surely give a boost to the mini grader market in the country.
Benefits of Upgrading Construction Equipment
If the right equipment is used at the right place at a construction site, the construction job becomes easier, safe and quicker. In fact, good machines act as a backbone in the case of huge construction projects.
Just like employing the right equipment is important, upgrading the Construction Equipment at the right time is equally necessary as it can have significant positive effects in many areas. In fact, investing in a new equipment is like investing in your business to earn more and more profits. Also, this equips your already efficient team to complete the task with further efficiency. Typically, upgrading the CE can increase jobsite productivity, lead to less accident risks and injuries and can even help you to grow your clientele.
Here is the list of all the benefits of upgrading the CE…
1. Increases productivity: Often usage of old equipment can lead to heavy wastage of man-hours caused due to slow and outdated machinery. On the other hand, new and better equipment can help in increasing the productivity and reduce wastage of time and money as there are lesser chances of machinery breaking down during the project execution. Hence, upgrading the equipment becomes necessary as it may allow you to easily prepare for the demands of bigger projects.
2. Helps in performing multiple tasks: An old equipment may not be capable of doing all the work but machine embedded with advanced technology may do similar work and may be few other tasks as well smoothly in less time. Thus, upgradation of CE becomes important.
3. Facilitates timely completion of projects: Usually we see construction projects witnessing delays in execution. The main reason behind project delays is usage of old equipment with obsolete technology. Hence, it makes sense to upgrade the CE. New equipment fitted with cutting-edge technology can ensure successful project completion within the given deadline.
4. Enhances brand value and helps in building a good client base: If projects are completed on time using highly advanced equipment, the brand value of business increases in the market, which in turn can help you in getting new clientele. So, again upgrading the CE is a good option.
5. Reduces maintenance cost: New CE with latest technologies always require less maintenance. They are designed in such a way that they can work for long without major wear and tear. So, equipment upgrade should never be avoided.
6. Improves quality of work: Upgradation of CE also helps the contractors to complete work with minimal quality defects as the new CE will be much better than the old one.
7. Leads to cost-savings and profitability: Increased productivity and the reliability of the upgraded CE can translate into higher profitability from fewer defect-related claims and the avoidance of delay penalties.
8. Leads to less number of accidents: Any construction site is the locus of multiple high-risk activities and this leads to fatal accidents quite often. Older equipment generally have less safety mechanism and employ old technology, all of which can lead to major jobsite accidents. If the chances of these accidents become less through new equipment, then it always makes sense to upgrade the equipment without worrying much about the cost.
9. Ensures workers’ good health and environment: Employing old equipment can also affect the health of the workers as well as of the environment as they can produce harmful emissions. However, upgrading the CE can put an end to these problems with engine reliability, lower maintenance costs and less fuel consumption at the same time. Generally, CE equipped with latest technology are environment-friendly. Thus, they help in reducing CO2 considerably and can help you to put your greener foot forward.
10. Boosts employee morale: It goes without saying that motivated workers are the backbone of any business and construction business is not an exception as such workers can help your business to grow considerably. Well, an equipment upgrade is also known to improve employee morale and motivation on the jobsite. This is because the employees will not be burdened by using an outdated machine and they will feel valued. Thus, this can help you to retain and attract new workers.
11. Helps beat the competition: Last but not the least, when you upgrade the equipment, you will obviously be buying something which is technologically advanced than the previous one and this can help you to stay one step ahead of your competition.
Despite the major benefits of upgrading the equipment, most of the times, due to high cost of the CE, many businesses and contractors avoid upgrading the equipment and keep on using the old equipment for offsetting the initial purchasing cost. However, they forget that productivity and uptime are crucial drivers in the CE industry, where machine downtime can cost more than $1 million per day. Hence, in order to avoid major breakdowns and increase the productivity, equipment upgradation becomes utmost necessary.
So now, if you have decided to upgrade your CE like backhoe loaders, then Mahindra Construction Equipment’s (MCE) Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loaders loaded with a plethora of features should definitely be on your list. Equipped with the superior technologies like REMOTECARE, DITEC Engine, joystick, 2-way speaker system and Banana Boom design coupled with unmatched fuel economy, superior style, operator comfort, low maintenance cost and ergonomic layout and seating, the Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loaders can offer best of the benefits at the jobsite.
If you are looking to upgrade your motor grader, then MCE’s Mahindra RoadMaster G75 motor grader should be considered which is created to offer an affordable, un-compromised and mechanised grading solution for small and medium roads in India. The RoadMaster G75 comes with GPRS-based remote monitoring system that helps you to keep a track of your machine with the touch of a finger.
Apart from MCE, there are various other CE manufacturers in the country who manufacture different types of CE. All you need to have is a list ready of CE that you wish to be upgraded.
In a nutshell
It goes without saying that upgrading an equipment can make your business more functional, increase jobsite productivity, reduce downtime, ensure safety of workers and improve overall efficiency. So, the usage of good CE should never be underestimated on any construction site. In fact, in today’s ever changing scenario of the construction industry, equipment upgradation should be seen as the most critical task and should not be avoided at all when the need arises.
Multifunctional Equipment Provide Edge to Small Scale Operations
For small operators, it also meant that they would be restricted in the kind of jobs that they could take up. The eventual outcome being that the organisations took a much longer time to expand due to the the heavy investment required for procurement and maintenance of the new machines. The advent of multifunctional machines have brought about a drastic change in the said scenario.
Over the years OEM’s have started realising that creating bulky specialised machines are no longer a viable option if they have to keep their market share. The buyers have become more educated and demanding. Keeping in sync with the trend, the machines have started becoming multifunctional. The best example being the backhoe loader.
The backhoe loader in its basic configuration can be use for excavating, material handling, re-filling, asphalt breaking etc. Now, the OEM’s have come up with an assortment of attachments that help the backhoe become an all in one machine. The dozer blade attachment can instantly transform the loader into a full power bull dozer at less than 20% of the cost of a new machine. Similarly one can use the various attachments to transform the backhoe loader into a crane, an auger, a paver and an excavator etc.
Lets take a look into why multifunctional equipments have proven to be a boon to small scale operators.
1. Cost Reduction: Multifunctional equipments mean a one time spend for a single machine that does the job of multiple machines at much lower expenses. At the cost of a single machine now, the owners can take up various diversified jobs and make the most of the machines. A machine working at full capacity for maximum number of hours means that the owner makes both break even and profits at a much faster rate. Usually a basic construction site for housing would require different machines for excavating, material handling and refilling. A backhoe with its various attachments can do all three tasks single handedly at barely 20% of the cost.
2. Cost saving: Having a single multifunction machine means that costs are saved on storage and maintenance. Additionally it also means that the fuel expenses are saved since only a single machine is being put to use instead of multiple ones. The same logic applies to repair of a single machine and attachments. Buying attachments is much cheaper as compared to the whole machines. Big money is saved on the insurance of the machine too since only one machine has to be insured instead.
3. Faster Expansion: Back when machines were specific to certain jobs, the work for a contractor was also restricted. Now that the single machine can do multiple tasks, the same equipment contractor can take up additional work at the same site. Increased work eventually amounts to the owner expanding at a faster rate and entering the organised sector. The expansion that would have in the past taken 5-10 years can now happen in a much lesser period of time making it a lucrative investment option.
4. Edge over larger competitors: Having multifunctional machines means that a single operator has a better opportunity to take various multiple small jobs that the larger companies shy away from. Additionally, it also creates opportunity for smaller companies to work for the larger ones on a contract basis. The actual work for the larger projects eventually shifts to the smaller contractors, making it a win win situation for everybody involved.
5. Shifting to the organised sector: Most of the construction equipment sector apart from OEM’s and their outlets is an unorganised sector, which doesnt contribute to the national economy. As the small scale operators ride the tide of expansion standing on the back of multifunctional equipment, they will eventually need to shift to the organised sector to continue growing in the industry.
6. Increased investment: As the small players expand and become a part of the organised sector, they become a very lucrative investment option for investors. With the government pushing infrastructure projects, the small scale operators are bound to make their moolah given the required investment is available.
Small scale operations will grow to medium and large scale operations at a much faster rate all the while filling the gap that large scale players have traditionally shied away from. The expansion of these small scale operations will additionally lead to a growing market for heavy machinery training schools, increased equipment rental penetration across the country and creation of jobs in the industry. Multifunction equipments are quite literally paving the path for small scale operators to eventually become large scale operators in the industry.
Banana Boom Designs Extend Backhoe Performance
Most backhoe loaders usually have an almost straight boom stick unlike the Earthmaster Range. When designing the boom, strength, durability, dig depth, lift height, visibility, compatibility with the hydraulics etc all need to be taken into account. Its time to dissect each of these individual factors as they pertain to the banana boom.
Strength first, the banana boom is created with minimum welding points to increase strength and durability. As an individual component the banana boom can take upto 60kN force which is saying something! Making it one of the strongest boom’s in the segment.
The boom needs to work well even in the most harsh conditions be it heat, cold, rain, humidity or salinity. The Earthmaster range has gone through 20,000 hours of rigours testing in addition to 1500 hours of salt testing to ensure that no climatic condition proves to be a match for the machines. There are hardly any other machines in the Indian market can boast of such numbers.
The unconventional banana shape of the boom gives it a record 15% higher dig depth at 4.22 meters compared to other machines in the same segment. A higher dig depth directly translates to better performance and eventually more moolah for the owners. The banana shape of the boom gives the Earthmaster range a clear digging advantage over machines with the straight type boom.
The design of the banana boom, makes it easy to conceal the more sensitive parts of the hydraulics while at the same time providing better visibility to the operator. The design of the boom keeps the hydraulics protected, thereby reducing the costs of repair and replacement. The boom is designed to support hydraulic system pressures as high as 250 Bars which is the highest amongst its closest competitors.
The banana boom is powered by some of the best hydraulics seen in the industry today. Hydraulic cylinders from Dantal Wipro, Hydraulic pump and valve from Parker and Husco, USA respectively while the hose come from Gates Imperial, USA. Some of the best individual parts have come together in support to make the banana boom the front runner that it is today.
Adding oomph to the hydraulics is the indigenous DITEC engine from Mahindra & Mahindra which is both Euro III and BS3 compliant making it suitable for most international markets too. It is this DITEC engine that powers the hydraulics that are the secret to the high performing revolutionary Banana boom. 250 bars is the system pressure that hydraulics can exert, which is 22-60 bars higher than some off its closest competitors. Higher pressure translates to faster job completion and eventual savings in terms of both time and money. Each small component makes a sizeable difference to the owner’s final balance sheet.
The banana boom achieves a higher dig depth without compromising on the end forces and utilisation of the high pressure. A king post travel range of 1.190 meters supported by the unconventional boom ensures that the Earthmaster range can operate in relatively congested areas and near the wall digging areas. The banana boom easily supports a 0.27 CuM bucket. The advanced mechanical levers and joystick used to operate the boom make it a breeze for the operators letting them comfortably operate longer hours without the generally associated fatigue. All these features help make the machine a pleasure for the operator to work the machine even n the canniest of job sites.
All said and done it is safe to say that the Banana boom design does indeed extend the performance of its backhoes while at the same time paying for itself at a much faster rate.
Tips to Increase Construction Equipment Productivity
It is sure that after investing so much money on the heavy CE, you would expect better productivity from it at the site. Well, to tell you, productivity does not only come by purchasing highly efficient and costly equipment. It definitely requires a close observation of the machine every day and its regular maintenance.
Hence, big companies as well as small contractors need to take some precautions so as to ensure better and faster productivity at the construction site, thereby, ensuring the timely execution of the projects.
Here are some tips to ensure maximum productivity of the CE at the site…
1. Read and follow the CE manufacturer’s instructions and maintenance tips. It can help you to operate the machine efficiently.
2. Ensure that the employee who is operating the CE is skilled and trained in doing so, as inexperienced employees can damage the machinery or even injure themselves or others, causing delays and increasing cost.
3. Before starting the day, check the machine thoroughly.
4. Check the machine at the end of the day too to find out any possible damage.
5. Clean the parts that made the most contact with the soil and debris.
6. Use fuel which is prescribed by the manufacturer and avoid adulterated fuel which can reduce the life and productivity of the equipment.
7. Keep the engine completely shut off while refuelling the equipment.
8. Follow a periodic maintenance schedule, which would have notations on how often each part of the machinery should be inspected for problems, repairs and general maintenance. Through this way, you can ensure proper functioning of the machine and maximum usage for a longer period.
9. Keep the equipment properly greased and lubricated. Proper greasing of all moving parts of the equipment is also absolutely necessary 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.
10. Lubricate the equipment wisely with the recommended grade of grease.
11. Make sure that you replace original parts in your CE as otherwise there could be major defaults in the long run.
12. Make sure that each tyre has the right pressure as this can help in lessening tyre wear. Also, you need to check for any cuts and replace the tyres when needed.
13. CE parts are fitted with special seals and filters designed to keep dirt and grime out of sensitive areas. Hence, broken seals must be repaired immediately, breathers must be kept clean and all filters should be inspected regularly and changed when they become dirty or clogged.
14. Pay close attention to wear and tear signs too as they may signal problems that can cause machinery to malfunction more often or result in costly repairs or component replacements before your regular inspection. Some common signs of wear and tear are vibration, heat and belt shape.
15. Ensure you follow all the safety guidelines and the workers are also aware of the safety norms so as to minimise accidents.
16. If possible, keep the equipment housed in a building.
In a nutshell
On any construction site, a lot of work is done by heavy CE and the last thing you would want is a non-working and unproductive equipment due to improper maintenance, frequent breakdowns, thereby, slowing down your operations.
Thus, as responsible owners of heavy CE, you need to follow the tips mentioned above to help increase the lifespan of your equipment. These small but important tips can help you to increase productivity as well as efficiency of the machine.
Construction Equipment – Different Ways to Reduce Fuel Consumption and Costs
1. Preventive maintenance: Regular check ups are a must to ensure that the heavy equipment gives optimal performance. Poorly maintained equipment consume more fuel for for the same amount of work that a maintained machine completes for considerable lesser fuel. Preventive maintenance saves on both fuel costs and major repairs in the long term making the machines more productive and ensuring a longer life there by reducing costs.
2. Trained operators: While it may seem like excessive or unnecessary spending, it pays back higher returns to have your operators trained to be able to operate the machine at its optimal levels. Operators lacking the understanding tend to operate the machines haphazardly there increasing fuel consumption and possibly damage the machine. Trained operators know that the machines should be started off at low RPMs and then gradually increased to ensure both smooth functioning and low fuel consumption. Novices with informal training tend to get aggressive when using the machine thus increasing fuel consumption.
3. Minimal idling: No matter how fuel efficient your machine is, idling is an absolute waste of fuel. Overtime enough fuel is burnt without putting the machine to any use to cause sizeable holes in one’s pocket. When the machine is not in use, the engine should always be cut off to prevent unnecessary wastage of fuel.
4. Efficient transport routes and methods: Depending on the type of machine in question, plan transportation to minimise fuel and transportation costs. For example the backhoe can be driven short distances at lower fuel consumption. Drivers/ operators need to be aware of the best practices when driving one of these and know that the machines should be driven at a consistent speed with windows open for optimal performance.
5. Get your mix right: Choosing the right mix of oils and fuels used in the machines goes a long way in improving the performance of the machine at relatively lower costs. Depending on the type of engine, use the fuel most suited to it for optimal performance at lower fuel consumption rates. Usually it is a good choice to refer to the OEM’s recommendations for the same.
6. Monitor your machines: Machines like the Mahindra Earthmaster come with monitoring facilities to keep a track everything that is going on with the machine. Analysing the data with a close eye can help reduce fuel consumption and costs. Monitoring the machine helps you detect problems while they are still small and help control and reduce repair costs. Additionally monitoring basic elements like the air filter and fluid levels go a long way in reducing both fuel and repair costs in the long run.
7. Lubricated and filled up: Ensuring that parts of the machines are adequately and appropriately lubricated helps the machine perform at its best. Similarly its important to maintain the fluid levels in the machine for it to function properly. Additionally one needs to ensure that the tyres have proper air pressure and that the air filter is regularly checked and cleaned for optimal functioning and fuel efficiency.
Most Performance Oriented Backhoe Loader – Mahindra EarthMaster
That being said lets take a look at the mean machines much closer home that are paving the way for smarter and more performance oriented backhoes in India. Here is a list of reasons why the indigenous Earthmaster is the most performance oriented BHL in its category in the country.
Power loaded with a 4 cylinder turbocharged intercooled diesel engine the Earthmaster yields a whooping 83 PS @2300RPM. We have its DITECH engine to thank for this compact but power packed beast of a machine. With its displacement capacity at 3532 cc, it lands amongst the best in its category. Additionally the DITECH engine ensures that at 4.5 litres / hour the Earthmaster saves 10% on fuel costs making it a front runner in the category.
Everything about the indigenous Earthmaster is fashioned to make it a performance oriented machine. The loader bucket has 12% more capacity at 0.27cum compared to its competitors in the same category. Similar is the case with the 1.1cubic meter capacity of the front bucket. Larger bucket and loader size directly translates into faster completion of work in a shorter span of time there by saving time and money.
The Earthmaster comes with a specially designed banana boom giving it 7% more reach compared its competitors in the size category. Increased reach goes to prove how performance oriented the Earthmaster is.
A machine is only as good as its operator. Keeping that in mind the Earthmaster comes with car like comfortable interiors to increase productivity of the operators. The stylish comfortable interiors come loaded with three way storage space for the operator in addition to an FM radio, three way adjustable seat and a comfortable arm rest. Comfortable seats ensure that the operator is comfortable and can work longer hours without fatigue.
The Earthmaster comes with joysticks instead of the mechanical levers ensuring smooth movement and functioning of the machine without any unnecessary fatigue to the operator. Joysticks allow for smoother and more precise function making it a breeze to work with.
The Earthmaster requires various oil changes at longer intervals as compared to most of its counterparts meaning it requires less down time for maintenance leading to better performance. The beast of a machine is precise and has its outside bucket turning radius in a range of 3490 to 5660 mm with and without the inner wheels being braked. Loader dump height at 2716 mm and 1360 mm reach at ground makes the Earthmaster quite a catch at its price point.
The Earthmaster comes equipped with latest tech to improve performance of both man and the machine. It has Remote care facility that helps keep tabs on the machine’s location, fuel consumption, work hours, problems etc. It is a smart machine with trouble shooting capacity with its 6 language digital console. Its helps detect problems and solve them thereby reducing the down time of the machine spent on calling the experts and having them come and take a look at the machine.