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arthworks and civil engineering are the
process of works created through the
moving or processing of parts of the
earth’s surface involving quantities of soil
and unformed rock in order to prepare the
surface for the erection of designed struc-
tures that contribute to the infrastructure
development of any given economic entity.
Much of this activity involves machine utili-
zation whether for moving millions of cubic
metres of material or lifting structural mate-
rial to great heights.
In today’s rapidly evolving construction and
civil engineering industries that are charac-
terised by continual innovation, companies
are expected to be on the leading edge of
the services they provide to their customers
and the equipment in which they invest.
The company and its equipment operators
will be the most knowledgeable with regard
to the capabilities of a wheel loader or ex-
cavator and the machine’s role in the per-
formance of the required tasks. Ultimately,
however, the company is responsible for
their fleet and its proper operating capa-
bilities. To avoid exceeding the limits of the
machines, they must understand the appli-
cation in which each machine is to operate
and be aware of the potential hazards that
may exist on a particular jobsite. Consider-
ation should be given to the jobsite’s terrain
and how often the machine is being used to
perform multiple high-volume tasks.
Stretching the equipment’s capabilities has
consequences, including more downtime,
higher maintenance costs and increased
total cost of ownership-all of which have a
direct impact on productivity and profitabil-
ity. The more the limits of the machines are
known, the faster the company can respond
to changing jobsite conditions that could
pose a threat to the operator or others and
the greater chance there is of extending the
life of the machine.
Both wheel loaders and excavators can be
used with different attachments which can
double or even triple their capabilities which
can further enhance the business potential
of the contractor.
Owners and operators should give strong
consideration to density of the material a
wheel loader or excavator bucket can move
safely. While the machine may be working
with multiple material densities from sand to
boulders, the bucket specification should be
based on the heaviest material the machine
will handle and include that calculation in
the lifting capacity evaluation.
Evaluating performance specifications for a
crawler excavator should include an analy-
sis of lifting capacity, arm and bucket force
and swing torque, as well as front digging
dimensions such as reach and depth. Top
wheel loader specs should focus on lifting
capacities as well as full-turn, rated oper-
ating capacity, breakout force and dump
height.
Every machine has its limits. The time tak-
en for owners and operators to understand
the capabilities and performance potential of
their equipment, will pay dividends for their
long-term investments.
b
Introduction to
EARTHWORKS AND CIVILS
By Pierre Sanson
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
MARCH 2015
6