How Optimised Graders Work Efficiently in Small Projects and Smaller Space
Graders better known as motor graders are generally used to get a smooth flat surface during the grading process across various types of job site. Graders are commonly used for maintenance of gravel roads and dirt roads. In road construction a graders is usually used to create a smooth base course to lay the asphalt on. Graders are used to provide camber to the roads and a grading finish. On building construction sites the graders are used to set native soil foundations to finishing grade before the construction of the buildings. In developed countries the graders have found additional uses for clearing snow and in agriculture lands to create dirt tracks. Some countries even use the graders to create shallow v shaped drainage channels along the highways.
Most motor graders while effective are huge and bulky making them unsuitable for projects with a small budget and restricted moving space. To meet the requirements of this new small project small space market, OEM’s have started manufacturing graders that are optimised in terms of the size, power and versatility. These optimised graders are relatively smaller but pack power much higher than expected form a machine of its size. Additional optimisation comes in terms of blades having the option of being extended or reduced to suit the requirements of the job site. Graders have become optimised for versatility with the addition of attachment options like the ripper and dozer.
Working in smaller spaces has its own set of challenges. For starters small spaces to be worked on are usually found in crowded spaces and narrow lanes with a continuous flow of human and vehicle traffic. Transportation of machines to and fro from the job sites becomes a task and at times nearly impossible to transport the bulky graders to the site. These difficulties are usually handled by filing back on labour intensive methods or using misfit machines to get the job done in a set budget. To solve this problem, the motor graders are now being optimised to have relatively smaller sizes while still packing the power of larger machines. The machines use powerful engines and hydraulics to pack the power while the body is created form light weight reinforced materials for strength and durability.
While the size of the overall machines have been optimised for size, the blade too has ben optimised. The blades have been optimised to have options of increasing and reducing the blade length. A small blade size means one can use the blade on one side of the road without hindering the traffic and then work on the second side. A smaller blade size also implies the grader becoming suitable to smaller roads that constitute of a major chunk of Indian roads. Graders these days are optimised to have removable extensions in addition to having the blade being built in multiple parts for ease of replacement of damaged parts of the blade. The adding and removing the extensions are an easy one time task that can be handled by an individual alone.
Optimised machines have smaller sizes and turning radiuses making it easy to manoeuvre the machine in restricted spaces. Logistics through narrow roads becomes easier with the smaller size of the machine. Small crowded spaces require the task at hand be completed in minimal possible time to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the pubic. This is where the speed and efficiency of the optimised machines comes into play. The speed of work is optimised by the power that the machines are packed with. The design of the machine and blade helps increase efficiency of the machine to get more work done in less time.
Smaller machines are optimised for ease of transportation too. It is cheaper and relatively more convenient to transport the smaller machines from one job site to another. Optimised machines save on storage space requirement and expenses too. A Powerful engine in a smaller machines works well to bring down the operating cost of the machine making it more cost effective and budget friendly. Size and power optimised machines usually do 50% the work of a conventional grader at one their the ownership cost. Optimised machines are perfect for small and medium size business owners looking to expand their scope or work and business.
Optimised machines are relatively much more affordable as compared to the conventional ones. The optimised machines have all the benefits often later machines without the accompanying problems of size and cost. Conventional machines tend to burn larger holes in one’s pockets and eventual profit margins especially in India since most graders available in India are either imports or manufactured by International players with graders designed for developed countries. Conventional graders dont make for the best choice for small and medium players that form a rather huge market in Indian construction scenario. Optimised machines tend to perform at a much lower operating cost while saving them and money involved with labour intensive methods.
For small projects, the budgets are usually tight and buying or renting the conventional graders is very cost intensive when compared to the efficiency of the machine on smaller sites. On the other hand being dependent on labour and misfit machines like the tractor grader or a backhoe loader compromise on the quality of the grading finish and have an increased unpredictability due to the labour factor. Managing labour is another time and cost consuming affair. Optimised machines reduce the unpredictability of labour while increasing the efficiency, delivering the job on time and is budget friendly if not anything else. Optimisation is becoming key.
With the consumers becoming increasingly more educated and demanding, it is no longer enough to provide specialised machines. Consumers want more features at affordable prices. Optimised machines come with options of having additional attachments to increase the versatility of the machine without burdening the owner with the cost of a new machine. Small projects and spaces warrant versatility in machines to ensure that the job is completed on time whilst staying within the stipulated budget. Attachments like ripper, dozer and software upgrades help make the machines more versatile and efficient without compromising on the quality of finish.
Small space and small projects have various issues that warrant the use of optimised machines if the jobs have to be completed on time while still maintaining the quality of finish. Soft wares have been developed to optimise and assist the machines and operators to perform better and provide higher quality of work. Big data, IoT and machine communication have become the face of optimisation to add value to the machines.
Optimised graders work well with restricted movement space, logistic issues, crowded working conditions, tight schedules and budgets to name a few. Additionally optimised graders reduce the completion time of projects without compromising on the quality of work. Simply put, optimised graders are slowly but steadily taking over the motor grader market as more and more people being to realise their worth and how they can help bring in more business and profitability to both the small and large players and everyone in between. Optimised graders while perfect for small projects and spaces are taking the world of larger sites by storm.
