In their daily work, contractors need machines that can perform tasks humans can’t do alone. Digging large holes, reaching high places, and moving heavy materials are everyday jobs that contractors have to get done. Here are the ten most important machines contractors use to complete their jobs.
1.Excavator
There are many tasks that contractors use an excavator for, such as digging foundations, trenches, and holes for septic systems. Excavators are versatile machines that contractors can use to remove stumps and roots and demolish buildings> Contractors also use them to grade landscapes and handle materials.
2. Backhoe
Backhoes are earthmoving machines, and while there is considerable overlap with the excavator, backhoes are suited for smaller jobs. While backhoes can do everything that excavators can, they aren’t as powerful. However, backhoes are more adaptable than excavators, and contractors use them for everything from snow removal to loading jobs.
3. Self-Dumping Hoppers
Self-dumping hoppers are even more useful than their name suggests, which is saying quite a lot. They are incredibly easy to use because they do much of your work for you. You can use them in various applications, including loading, unloading, and transporting materials. They are mainly used to collect and dispose of waste materials and are often found at construction sites and industrial facilities.
Self-dumping hoppers are used for quickly and efficiently moving large amounts of debris, sand, dirt, gravel, and other materials. They can attach quickly to forklifts and skid steers, making them indispensable tools for contractors. They come in different shapes and sizes for various applications, such as low-profile stretch hoppers, slab wood hoppers, and scoop and dump hoppers.
4. Skid Steer
The skid steer is the perfect machine for many job sites. It can move quickly on uneven ground, and with numerous attachments, such as pallet forks and grapple hooks, it can perform various tasks.
Like backhoes, contractors use skid steers for excavation, grading, landscaping, and demolition, but they are smaller than a backhoe, which makes them ideal for smaller jobs and tight spaces.
5. Dump Truck
Contractors often need dump trucks when they demolish buildings or move large amounts of dirt for landscaping. Dump trucks can also be used for hauling aggregate for foundations and other materials for construction projects. Another reason to have a dump truck in northern climates is that it can be used for snow plowing and salting in the winter.
6. Concrete Mixer
Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials, and contractors need a concrete mixer to combine cement, sand, gravel, and water to make concrete. Many contractors like to mix concrete on the job site because job site concrete mixing gives them greater control of the timing and the batch size. It also allows them to add plasticizers, dyes, and other products for special concrete applications.
7. Crane
For large, multi-story building constructions, a crane is a must-have for contractors. Cranes can lift heavy items, reach high areas, and move materials from one place to another. They are also helpful for demolition.
With the cost of land increasing, high-rise buildings are becoming more popular. For the first time in over thirty years, new multi-story buildings have outpaced low-rise buildings, and building contractors need cranes to build them.
8. Forklift
The forklift is the machine contractors use most when it comes to moving heavy objects. Contractors use forklifts for loading and unloading heavy materials and transporting them on the job site.
Forklifts can also be used to move heavy equipment onto trucks, and with the right attachments, construction workers use them for everything from grading driveways to moving trailers. In addition, since they turn on a dime, forklifts can be used when many other types of equipment are too big for the job.
9. Compactor
Compactors are used for compacting soil and asphalt, as their name suggests. Ground stabilization is critical in the construction of buildings and roads, and the only machine for that job is the compactor. However, until the compactor has stabilized the ground, it is vulnerable to erosion. Compactors can also be used during demolition to break down large pieces of debris.
10. Trencher
Trenchers save contractors time and labor expenses. They are used to dig narrow trenches for underground utility lines, such as cable, water, sewer, and drainage pipes. Trenchers are also helpful for landscaping projects because they can be used for planting and edging.
Trenchers are less adaptable than backhoes but are far more effective and less expensive for particular operations requiring long-distance trenches.
Conclusion
Contractors need a variety of machines to complete their tasks. The types of machines they use will vary with their work, but all of these important machines have one thing in common. They make construction jobs easier and faster. Today’s roads and buildings wouldn’t be possible without these machines.
