Category Archives: Business

Make Your Heavy Equipment More Fuel Efficient- Ways to Achieve This

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Fuel efficiency, off late has become one of the widely discussed issues around the world. Almost every second automobile that we come across claims itself to be fuel-efficient. But the question that arises here, why is fuel efficiency such a concern among people all over today?

Well, there are a number of reasons as to why fuel efficiency has become the norm of the day. For one, a fuel-efficient automobile makes sure that you save all those bucks that go into the fuel expenses of the vehicle.  With the expenses of fuel rocketing sky-high, it is not really surprising that most of the automobile owning population are now looking for a system that helps them save money. And fuel-efficient equipment is definitely one of the best ways of going about the entire process.

The second reason for opting for fuel-efficient automobile is the environment. The fast depletion of natural resources has led the global population to look for ways in which the remaining of it can be saved and thus, the advent of fuel-efficient systems.

Making Your Heavy Equipment More Fuel Efficient

It is a widely known and accepted fact that the construction industry requires a huge sum of money in order to get things going smoothly. And the heavy equipment being such an important part of the entire industry, adds quite a lot to the entire expense. And in such a situation, it is important for the people of the construction industry to come up with certain measures that help them reduce this expense and push up the profit scale. And it is in this regard that the construction industry is now making use of fuel-efficient heavy equipment. There are a number of strategies that they have adopted in this direction.

  • Anti-idling policies

The idle time that every heavy equipment goes through contributes significantly to the entire fuel expense. It has been seen that the average 40% idle time that the heavy equipment goes through, besides being completely impotent also contributes significantly to the fuel expense. Hence, going for anti-idling policy can be a good way of reducing the fuel expense.

  • Making use of clean fuel

Construction authorities should also consider making use of clean fuel in their heavy equipment. Not only will this contribute to lowering the fuel expenditure, but will also make sure that the engine of the heavy equipment stays completely clean.

  • Making use of improved hydraulic steering mechanism

A recent research conducted by the Purdue College of Engineering showed that the use of efficient hydraulic steering mechanism developed by them helped reduce fuel expenses to a large extent. With the new improved mechanism, a significant 14.5% reduction in fuel consumption along with 43.5% improved fuel efficiency was seen in the heavy equipment.

Hence, one could safely conclude that the use of fuel-efficient heavy equipment not only helps in raising the productivity level of the heavy equipment, but also makes sure that the fuel that you put in is used optimally.

 

JCB sees 2015 as the year of improvement and possibilities

With the overall economic slowdown, not many heavy equipment manufacturing companies are optimistic about any positive opportunities in the year 2015. They feel that the economic slowdown has to do more with the unrest in the middle east, rise in oil price, government norms which are not so business friendly etc. that has led to a decline in the demand of heavy equipment. Even the equipment that is required for agriculture is also seeing a downward trend as far as its sales is concerned. Therefore, this suggests that the entire market is suffering because of the economic downturn.

If we see how it is going to be in US, the picture is not so pleasant. US economy is not in good order and it requires lot of work to put it back on track. Other than that, many government policies are not so business friendly. So there is a need for the government to ponder on such matters. Overall, not many believe that the year 2015 will bring any significant change in the current situation and things will more or less remain the way it is. However, there are few companies that shares slightly different opinion. Out of these companies, JCB is one. JCB being an UK company sees 2015 as the year of improvement and opportunities. They see hopes of possibilities that will flow in somewhere from the mid of this year. They feel that their company will welcome the New Year with a bang by launching the entry-level backhoe loader. According to JCB sources, they are launching the 3CXG backhoe loader in the Middle East and they also believe that this machine will save a lot on operational costs for its customers. The letter “G” in 3CXG means global which means that the company is looking to cater international markets and especially markets that have huge potential. Though there are problems in the Middle East but that does not stop them for entering the market with the entry-level loader. This clearly suggests that JCB is pretty determined to make it big in the year 2015.

If we talk about JCB 3CX, we get to know that the machine has a very good reputation providing great quality service to customers all over the globe. The chief innovation officer of JCB, Mr. Tim Burnhope says that the company is determined to offer solutions to different customer requirements and JCB works very hard to attain that reputation. According to him, the backhoe loader has been specifically designed to cater to emerging economies. It is a tough machine and can work under tremendous arduous conditions.

Most of the Middle East region is hard to dig area and it requires something stronger to penetrate the ground. Therefore, a machine like JCB 3CXG will be fairly compatible and can get the desired work done. The phenomenal part is that they have stuck to the basics and this is why they feel that they can sustain the horrendous tide that has made living difficult for other companies.

Related articles across the web

Lending Money From A Financial Institution Can Solve Most Your Financial Worries

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

To make money, we need money. In today’s time, we all suffer from scarcity of money as we have to take care of other financial responsibilities and end up with almost nothing at the end of the week or month. Savings becomes a huge task in such kind of a situation. We have often seen families struggling to meet their ends meet, paying their credit card bills and all other bills that one can think of. Now in mid of all these, if you aspire to set up a business, you may find it to be an impossible dream. Undoubtedly, setting up a new business requires good chunk of money and especially where people are suffering from scarcity of funds, it is futile to think of any influx of funds for your business. You can reach out to your friends or relatives to lend you some money but that really won’t be sufficient to give you a start. Alternatively, they have their own problems to sort. So, it becomes hard for them to lend you a helping hand. In this situation, you are left with one good option. Borrow money from a financial institution at a lower rate of interest and give a start to your business aspirations.

Few things that you need to be aware of before you approach a bank or any financial institution for money.

Your business plan should be concrete:-  The day you aspire to set up a business of your own, you start working to chalk out a plan. Include all the ups and downs, ifs and buts in your plan and see where it lands you. You can make amendments to your plan and if necessary re-start your plan from the scratch. Just make sure that once you are done with it, you have a sound plan with you. The relevance of a sound plan will help you fetch a loan from a bank. A bank will not take interest in what you say as long as you don’t have any concrete plan to show to them. Only when you come up with something which sounds good to the bank and they can put their faith on your plan, they will help you sanctioning the loan.

Get government sanctions:-  There are some businesses which require government sanctions. So by the time, you are in discussion with the bank for the loan, also intimate them that you are also talking with the government authorities to give you the authority to conduct your business in the desired location. That will give confidence to the bank that you are seriously into it and lending money to you will cause no harm to them.

Be ready to give collateral:- If you intend to borrow a huge sum from the bank, you should be ready to keep something as mortgage with the bank. The bank shall not sanction the loan if they do not have the collateral with them. You may keep your house as a mortgage or some other investments. You should therefore be very sure that you have set everything the right way before you take the final leap.

Top 10 Models Wheel Tractor Scraper

Wheel tractor scraper is a construction machine which is very large in size and finds its application in earthmoving, mining and construction industry. Over the years it has become very important heavy equipment due to increase in construction and mining projects. Here are top 10 models of Wheel Tractor Scraper.

627G-627G is a unique model of wheel tractor scraper has engines that are electronically operated and automatic transmission that are combined electronically to supply highest power facility. Its exceptional speed and capability to carry great weight are some of its unique features. It is also very durable and since it is controlled by electronic means it lends it greater problem-solving abilities.

621H-In the model of 621H we find innovation at its best. It has a superior wheel tractor scraper in terms of productivity. It also ensures comfort to the users. They are controlled electronically.

651E-This model is fuel-efficient as it has eight-speed power conduction. It has an accumulator minimises road accidents and also prevents loping despite operating at high speed in the roads. It is long lasting and has low operating costs if maintained properly.

637G-This model is a great innovation as it has many unique features such as articulated routing and steering. It has clear windows with a comfortable cabin inside the vehicle. It is controlled by an ejector which helps it moving up and down.

657G-This is another model of wheel tractor Scraper which has great travelling speed and ability to put load quickly. It is extremely durable and fuel-efficient. It also has the potentiality to high efficiency at low cost.

623H-623H gives greater productivity to the operators due to better-quality wheel tractor. It is also user friendly and comfortable to the users. It does not operate manually and needs to be controlled electronically. The synchronisation done on the tractor engine helps it to operate smoothly and for longer duration. Its structure has a non-metallic hood, better hydraulics and cushion hitch

 627H-Another innovative model of wheel tractor scraper which is automatic and is extremely durable. It has a robust and good quality structural design which increases its reliability. It is controlled by a Sequence Assist which makes its use less complicated. The use of implements are reduced by the use of control lever which uses cylinders that can sense position and assimilating computer software which assists  the operator to perform task like loading and dumping .

631G– This model is especially manufactured to operate at the point of combustion to maximise the performance of the engine and to lessen exhaust emissions. It comprises of power shift transmissions and torque converter which contributes to its efficiency and reliability.

CAT 611-It is a very fuel-efficient model of wheel tractor scraper. It is comfortable, long lasting and gives higher productivity. It has a flexible mounted engine to reduce the effects of sound and vibration. All the tools are warranted against breakage. Other features of this model are great speed, ability to take loads, consistency in terms of performance and productivity and easy maintenance.

637G-The 637G model is a machine marvel which operates to give the users productivity, efficiency, durability and high speed. It has a robust structure with power shift transmissions and torque convertor.

So these are the top 10 models of Wheel Tractor Scraper. All of them are top class equipments and the operators can use them according to their needs.

Related articles across the web

Push Your Profit Margin Higher- Calculate the Life Cycle Cost Of Heavy Construction Equipment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

The capital comprises of a large part of any business. It is not really possible to go on about a business without investing a certain amount of money. The importance of the capital becomes all the more prominent when it is the construction industry in question. Talking of the construction industry one cannot deny the fact that a huge amount of the capital required goes into the purchase and maintenance of heavy construction equipment.

Life Cycle Cost Of Construction Equipment- What Does It Mean?

When the heavy construction equipment forms such an important part of the entire construction industry, it is quite obvious that a lot of thought must go into the purchase of these equipment. The heads of the construction company undergo a lot of consideration when purchasing these equipment and the life cycle cost evaluation of heavy construction equipment forms a major part of these considerations.

So, what exactly is meant by life cycle cost calculation? Well, life cycle cost of construction equipment refers to the total cost that is incurred on particular heavy construction equipment, right from its inception, maintenance to its disposal. In other words it is nothing but the cost estimate of its entire life cycle. The next question that must strike you is why at all would a construction organization need to evaluate construction equipment life cycle cost? The answer to this question is very simple- this evaluation allows the companies to come up with the most cost effective measures of seeing construction equipment through their entire life cycle.

Evaluating the Life Cycle Cost of Your Heavy Construction Equipment

Evaluation of construction equipment life cycle cost has proved to be quite influential on a number of important aspects of a particular construction company, the budget, for instance. The entire calculation process has been divided into five steps- assessment of the cost of acquisition, establishing the depreciation rate, taking fixed costs into account, taking into account the cost of operating the equipment and finally adding up the whole thing. While calculation of the cost of acquisition includes all the associated factors, such as the variables and incentives, the depreciation rate is calculated by means of the straight-line method.

The evaluation of the life cycle cost of the heavy construction depends largely on the mode by which it is acquired. It is a widely known fact that construction equipment may be acquired by a construction company in two different ways- by leasing it or purchasing it. Though purchasing heavy equipment may mean quite a huge investment for a construction company, there remains the fact that you are at an advantageous position with the machine at your disposal. Opting for leased heavy equipment, on the other hand, effectively eliminates the factor of high investment issues. Companies are also spared the need to go through extensive maintenance procedures, thereby, earning greater profit. All the above factors, therefore, need to be considered whenever a company goes for the life cycle cost calculation of heavy equipment.

Related articles across the web

Learning The Tricks Of The Trade Will Help You To Make Money In The Construction Industry

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

You are in whatever business or industry, the first thing that you need to do is learn the work well. You can’t expect yourself to perform or to outperform before having learned the tricks of the trade. For instance, we take up the profession of a doctor. A guy has to study for years in medicine and then invest another good number of years in practicing. Only after that, he can claim himself to be a good doctor. Or let’s put it in this way that after investing so much of time learning his profession, he can become good in his work and that good work of his will be seen by others which will then make him a good doctor. This was just an example of a noble profession, now if we consider a business; it is no different from the first example.

Construction business is a huge business and it may take one his entire lifetime to know about everything, however not completely. It is important to know how to work things out and also how things work in this industry. If you start from the basics of it and then develop your knowledge, you will not miss anything but if you skip the basics and feel that they are not important, you might not understand things as they are all so interconnected with the basics.

We would be discussing few things that are instrumental to grow as a person in this industry.

Develop the curiosity to learn:-  Let’s start this by saying “Keep your eyes and ears open all the time”. You get to learn a lot of things if you simply keep your basic senses to see and to hear wide open. You will come across people who talk about how to complete a particular project or what kind of heavy equipment is needed to get the work done. They may talk about ideas which you have never heard of or felt that can even work in such a situation. You may even want to discuss things with them and show that you are curious enough to know things which will allow them to let you accompany them in critical assignments. Once you become a part of any critical assignment, you will come across multiple chances of developing your knowledge and also learning to deal with different kind of situations.

Take initiatives at different levels:-  This is perhaps the most important characteristic one must possess. Many people simply do their work and leave. They are never in hunt of any opportunities which sort of rusts their capabilities. Therefore, it is important that you take up initiatives to do things which others may find to be difficult or time consuming. Taking initiatives not only prove that you are not afraid of taking additional responsibilities but also display your ability to learn new things pertaining to your domain.

Learning these little things with time will eventually help you to know much of the things which are absent in others and will make you a better employee or a businessman than the rest.

Related articles across the web

Buy the best pickup trucks for your construction site

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

The construction contractors are very professional, as they like to obtain everything perfect for their company. There are many things that a contractor needs to follow to establish their company. It is very important to run a construction company successfully because if you can manage to do so then you can definitely earn huge profit from this work.  Well, to run a construction business successfully it is very important to purchase heavy equipment. Without proper heavy equipment you cannot maintain this business. Most important equipment for construction site is the pickup trucks. Well, if you are searching for a versatile as well as reliable vehicle that you can use in any occasion then you should go with the pickup trucks. It is the best equipment for your business.

You can use this vehicle in your personal or business purpose and as it is very strong equipment so, you can run it in rural areas and also in cities. There are different types of pickup trucks available in the stores. You will get different models of this equipment and each comes with different features. These different types of features actually make them perfect and well suited for different types of jobs. The pickup trucks are very useful as they can perform any kind of heavy works. But before you start to use this vehicle it is very important to know its proper usages.
When you are planning to buy pickup trucks then you should try to understand that which type of truck will be suitable for your work.   There are many new pickup trucks that are designed perfectly. You need to choose the right truck that can help you in your work and give you many advantages. There are models of two or four doors that is attached with bed and cab sizes. You can buy this vehicle from the reputed firm who can ensure highest safety facility. It is very important to maintain the safety of the vehicle because if anything wrong happens then you have to face it. So always try to maintain the safety and security properly of this vehicle.

Well, you can use this vehicle to move heavy items that you cannot move by your arms. So, it is very important that you should buy a good and reliable pickup truck that helps you to move the extra dirt and heavy loads from one place to other. With the help of this truck you can also do many other works in your construction site. So, the contractors always try to buy this vehicle.

You shouldn’t buy it from any place. Give your 100% attention and try to find out the best firm. You will get detail information on this equipment on internet. So, search the internet properly and try to find out the reputed site that offers this vehicle at cheap price.

Related articles across the web

Simple steps to boost Construction Equipment Safety

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In industrial automation maintaining the safety of the construction equipment is one of the most crucial factors. Safety is the integral part of machine functionality. Safety systems standards include stopping and stand still, speed of the machine and the direction in which the machine rotates.

Principles to be followed by machine manufacturers:-

  • Construction equipment should be constructed or designed in such a way so as to ensure minimum hazards.
  • Take necessary precautions against accidents that cannot be controlled.
  • Inform the users of the risk that can happen despite all possible precautions being taken.

Tips that are mentioned in the Machinery Directive for functional safety

  • Risk reduction through assessment:-It consists of two parts- Risk analysis and Risk reduction.
  • Determining functionality and safety performance steps to either wipe out the risk or to reduce it to a minimum level.
  • Implementing functional safety by designing the equipment safety system functions.
  • Verifying whether functional safety meet the demarcated requirements.
  • Validating functional safety to ensure the system function is successful in minimizing the risks.
  • Documenting functional safety through user documentation.

 

What are the simple steps to boost construction equipment safety?

  • Establishing systematic procedures for identification, assessment and cleaning the equipment after its use.
  • Clear the work area away of any debris, stone chips and trip hazards.
  • Before kick the equipment on, check for loose bolts, nuts and screws.
  • If the machine does not sound properly then switch off the machine and try to find out what is wrong with it.

 

  • Sometimes some dirt particles get inside the machine bearing of the equipment which is generally caused by use of compressed air to clean the machines.
  • Hiring and giving proper training to the technical team to control the storage of the hazardous substances.
  • Equipment idle reduction and control can minimize the amount of diesel used and thus can prolong the life of the equipment.

 

Some industrial companies make use of the custom software to ensure continuity in the implementation of the preventive maintenance procedures. The only administrative expense to detect the consistency in the maintenance program is the labor time to get a record of maintenance requirements.

An effective program to manage the safety of the construction equipment is very essential. To increase equipment efficiency and life of the engine, periodic replacement of fuel and water filter is necessary. One should replace the battery before it fails. Monitoring fuel consumption and oil consumption help to detect problems. Measuring the viscosity of the oil help to find out the chemical changes that the oil undergoes due to its thermal degradation. And finally the person should apply appropriate lubricant and regularly to boost the construction equipment safety.

Related articles across the web

Economic scenario affecting heavy equipment and construction industry

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Every big and small industry is co-related to the economic situation in a country. If the economic situation in a country is favorable for the businesses to flourish, it gives a good time for the people of that country to earn good money. However, if the economic condition is in turmoil then every industry takes a beating. Moreover, if it is the construction industry, it perhaps takes the maximum beating and also industries associated with it. The current scenario is such that market pundits see a modest growth rate in the construction segment. Nothing major can be predicted for the time being. It is better than being slow. However, few heavy equipment manufacturing companies have a different perspective about the current economic scenario. They do not see the market to be modest and feel that it will take more time for the market to improve in order to become modest. This means that the situation is far from being called modest. This shows that there are mixed signals coming from all areas of the heavy equipment manufacturing segment. They are also worried about the overall global situation if not much worried about what is happening inside the country. They ideally look to export their products outside the country and if the overall economy is at its worse, then it becomes very difficult for them to sell their machines worldwide.

Caterpillar being one of the strongest companies in the US has estimated that its total sale in 2014 will be around 55 billion dollars which is somewhat similar to the sales in the previous year. This shows that the heavy equipment market worldwide is indeed appalling and will take time to recover. Industry experts believe that the situation in the year 2015 will be somewhat better but will not show any dramatic upward trend. This means that the industry has to struggle hard for few more years after which it can expect to see a rosy outlook. They see immense opportunities for investment in infrastructure sector in countries like United States, Turkey and India. In addition to this, they also want the government to implement growth oriented policies that could be beneficial to all.

One of the major reasons of slow economic recovery in the global arena is the political conflict and instability. Due to this instability, no proper decisions are getting implemented and investors cannot set up the trust that it has to in order to invest their money. Countries in Africa and in the Middle East are the worst affected countries and they have to do a lot to improve things. Europe may have a different story to tell but it may not be far different. They do not see things to be so negative. However, they also do not see any signs of rapid industrial growth happening anytime soon. A report from CECE reveals that heavy machinery sales in the first half of 2014 increased by 10.24% compared to the first half of 2013. However, the second half was disappointing.

Best practice of lubrication procedure

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

As industries are growing at a rapid rate, plant managers need to develop their lubrication procedures. Best practices of lubrication procedure can boost up equipment reliability, reduce energy consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions and optimize maintenance. In order to increase productivity, top-notch lubrication methods, perfect staff training and high quality lubricants are essential.

Three stages of lubrication strategy

  • Boundary lubrication: – In boundary lubrication, an equipment faces the friction most as it was in its “start –up” phase. During start up, speed is relatively low and the load is high. The lubricant cushion is here only a thin film.
  • Mixed lubrication: – When the speed increases, the lubricant cushion builds and draw more lubricants in between the metals. Though the friction is reduced in mixed lubrication, but it can’t stop metal–to-metal friction at full.
  • Hydrodynamic lubrication: – Continuously increasing speed bring lubrication to its final stage known as “Hydrodynamic Lubrication”. Here friction is reduced to the minimum and the surfaces are properly coated with lubricant to avoid metal-to metal friction.

Tips to accomplish lubrication goals

  • Choosing the right tool for lubrication process is an important part. Pump and system maintenance experts gain an insight into the condition of the lubricant of the machinery with the help of ultrasound technology. Thus the team able to put right amount of lubricant at the correct time at correct place.
  • Identification is another step in which a labelling system is involved. It is used because in large plants various lubricants are applied. The labelling helps to avoid errors of mixing lubes (as lubricants are composed of chemical compositions and hence incompatible) especially in food industry.
  • One of the main reasons of equipment’s early failure is the oil contamination. So, in order to carry out the lubricant safely and clean, one should use fully sealed container and contamination – free containers which means containers that will not generate contaminants.
  • Dispensing equipment should be efficient and user friendly. The containers should be well identified to avoid any kind of mistakes.
  • It is advisable to colour code the grease guns to make sure right lube is used for right application.
  • Controlling the oil contamination in the equipment also plays a vital role. Online and offline filtering system help to clean the oil.
  • Before applying oil in the lubrication strategy, one should undergo a chemical analysis of the oil.
  • As lubricant has the power to pollute the environment, most maintenance strategies work hard to prevent such accidents.
  • The basic training of lubrication personnel should be encouraged to carry on an effective lubrication procedure.

The customers should make their lubrication strategy not under any pressure and their decision to buy lubricant should not falsely guide by the purchasing department. Most of the customers don’t realize that their equipment stop working not due to any mechanical failure, but due to lack of or improper lubrication procedure. There are OEMs which acts as a guideline to choose the right lubricant. Many customers report leakage as a problem. This leakage increases the consumption of lubricant by upto 25% which is not negligible. Some companies specially designed dyes to find out where such leakage is taking place which is really an effective tool to optimize lubrication strategy.