Types of Heavy Equipment Used in Construction

Constructing different infrastructures such as buildings, bridges, houses, and highways requires the expertise of various professionals. Some of the people that work in construction in the Philippines are engineers, contractors, and architects.

These professionals have the skills and knowledge to ensure that the construction can be finished without running into any problem. However, they still need specialized construction equipment to complete the tasks at the worksite. Some of the most types of heavy equipment you can find on a construction site are:

Excavator

An excavator is a staple in most, if not all, construction projects. This heavy machinery is equipped with a long arm with a digging bucket attached at its end. The main use of a construction excavator is to dig holes and trenches during the first few stages of construction. It can also be used for lifting heavy objects, completing demolition tasks, and cutting trees around the worksite.

There are different kinds of excavators, like mini excavators, crawler excavators, and wheeled excavators, that are made for specific jobs and moving around different types of ground.

Backhoe

Another common piece of equipment that you will see on construction sites is the backhoe. Excavators and backhoes are commonly interchanged with one another. However, the backhoe is best utilized for digging earth and carrying loose soil from one place to another.

Backhoes can also be used to fulfill the following tasks:

Small demolitions
Excavations
Landscaping
Trench digging
Materials loading and unloading

Loader

A loader is a type of heavy equipment essential on a construction site. This machine is used to load different kinds of materials onto dump boxes, dump trucks, and other vehicles or platforms. Civic Merchandising Inc. provides essential heavy equipment, including a range of efficient SLDG and Volvo wheel loaders. These loaders are crucial for enhancing efficiency and safety on construction sites and in industrial applications.

Its bucket is specifically designed to be large enough to carry any material on a construction site. Some of the most common materials that can be carried by a loader include the following:

Soil
Demolition waste
Rocks
Raw materials

Grader

To level and even out the ground on construction sites, professionals use graders. A grader is a type of machinery fitted with a horizontal blade between its front and back wheels. This blade is lowered onto the ground to compact the soil and level it.

Although bulldozers can be used to roughly level the ground on construction sites, graders are still utilized for finish grading. Because a grader’s blade is adjustable, contractors and engineers can achieve excellent precision to ensure that the ground on the worksite is fully leveled.

Paver

In the last few stages of construction, contractors need a piece of pavement laying equipment that will keep the road surface of the project smooth and even. To achieve this, most professionals use wheeled or tracked asphalt pavers.

This piece of equipment is used to distribute asphalt over a surface evenly. Asphalt paver machines can also be used to slightly compact the asphalt after being laid out.

Crane

Cranes are a type of construction machinery that are there to facilitate easier transport of cargo around the site – especially for tall jobs.

Some cranes are equipped on the back of a vehicle allowing them to mobilize around the worksite, while others are like tower cranes are fixed to the ground. All types of cranes will need a professional to maneuver them.

Forklift

Aside from cranes, forklifts also play a crucial role in transporting cargo across worksites. In the Philippines, contractors make use of forklifts of different sizes to complete specialized tasks.

Here are some of the forklift types that they use:

Rough Terrain Forklift
Telescopic Forklift
Heavy Duty Forklift

Bulldozer

Bulldozers can regularly be seen at construction sites during their initial phases. Its heavy-duty build and tires or tracks allow it to effortlessly maneuver through challenging terrains. Due to its build, it’s commonly utilized to move earth, rocks, and debris aside to clear the site in preparation for construction.

A bulldozer can also be utilized to remove the topsoil layer of construction sites, but it can only do so till a certain depth.

Scraper

Flattening surfaces and moving earth around can be done efficiently with a scraper. Scrapers are often used in large construction sites due to their size and turning capabilities.

The horizontal front blade of the scraper allows it to level surfaces. Collected soil is then stored in the hopper until it can be unloaded at a different area.

Trencher

When it comes to making long and narrow ditches or trenches for the installation of drainages, electrical cables, or pipes, the trencher is the perfect equipment for the job. Trenchers come in two types: chain trenchers and wheeled trenchers.

Chain trenchers have a chain that’s attached to a fixed arm. This machine is preferred when working to cut through tough terrain and jobs that require precision. Wheeled trenchers on the other hand have a serrated metal wheel mounted on their arm, which is perfect for a variety of ground-cutting applications.

Concrete Mixer

Concrete mixers are utilized by construction companies to combine aggregates, water, and cement to make concrete. These types of equipment are used by construction companies to speed up their concrete production and complete large tasks on time.

Compactor

Another heavy equipment important in construction sites is compactors. Compactors or road rollers are used to compress the surface to ensure that there are no air pockets. The removal of air pockets prepares the ground to take on heavier weights like foundations.

There are different types of compactors available on the market. Each type is best used for a different application. Here are the types of road rollers you’ll want to look into:

Cylindrical Rollers
Grid Rollers
Pneumatic Rollers
Static Rollers (Tandem or Three-Wheeled)
Vibratory Rollers
Tamping Rollers

Telehandler

Telescopic lifts or telehandlers are used by construction teams that need to transport materials, personnel, and equipment to higher elevations. These telehandlers can also function as a work platform for workers to safely complete tasks at greater heights.

Pile Driving Machine

This heavy equipment is used to drive piles into the ground. The pile driving machine holds the pile in position and hammers it into the ground as well.

Pile driving machines can often be found during the initial construction stages as it helps set the foundation support for the project.

Pile Boring Machine

Pile boring machines are used to dig holes in construction areas for the installation of piles.

Feller Bunchers

Finally, feller bunchers are utilized by construction companies to remove large flora from the work site. The feller buncher can easily harvest a tree and move it to a loader for a quick clearing operation.

Acquire High-Quality Construction Equipment for Your Project

Make sure that you have all the equipment you need to complete your construction project. In the Philippines, there’s only one company that you can trust to address all your heavy machinery needs – Civic Merchandising Inc.

We will provide you with high-quality equipment that will help you complete the tasks required for your project. You can also rely on us to offer exceptional after-sales services for the maintenance of your machinery.

Reach out to us today to get a consult for your construction needs.