Market growth, innovations in construction machinery

by Cecile de Veyra (Managing Editor)

Image source: Getty

After slowing down in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, construction activities resumed and new ones begin in the following year, restarting postponed purchases for heavy equipment. From $176.2 billion in 2020, the construction equipment market is forecast to increase to $273.5 billion by 2030 at 4.4 percent CAGR from 2021, according to Allied Market Research. An upward trend in the used machinery sector is also expected, which had a value of $109 billion in 2021 and will be $152 billion by 2027 according to Mordor Intelligence’s projection.

There is a wide range of construction machinery, categorized into four main types: earth-moving, material-handling, and construction equipment and vehicles.

In the earth-moving group are excavators, graders, loaders, skid loaders, crawler loaders, backhoes, bulldozers, trenchers, scrapers and wheeled loading shovels. For moving, lifting and lowering materials, there are cranes, conveyors, hoists and forklifts, while construction equipment include concrete mixers, compactors, pavers and road rollers, and those specific to tunneling such as road headers and tunnel boring machines. Dump trucks, boom trucks and mobile cranes are examples of construction vehicles, as well as many wheeled versions of earth-moving equipment. But the most commonly used in various building sites are excavators, backhoes, bulldozers, dump trucks, loaders, compactors and cranes.

Green & electric future

While most heavy equipment is still running on diesel engines, there are alternatives that may, hopefully, bring the building industry to a greener future. Switching to all-electric technology will help reduce carbon emissions, lessen noise pollution and lower project costs, according to Big Rentz, a US-based equipment rental company with an online marketplace. “Electric construction equipment isn’t a new concept. Hybrid electric machines have been available for years, and all-electric models of excavators, loaders, forklifts and other heavy machinery are currently available to rent or buy all over the world,” the company says. One example is Volvo CE’s ECR25, an electric excavator with a built-in charger that can charge up to 80 percent in less than six hours and an optional fast charger that can do the same in an hour.

Elsewhere in the industry, other innovations have been introduced, with many more expected to follow. They include semiautonomous excavators from Caterpillar that can provide real-time payload estimates without having to swing and prevent over- and underloading trucks. Komatsu’s bulldozers are another example, being equipped with automatic functions such as tilt steering control and fill material spreading.

“New models will feature a variety of innovative technologies, such as advanced sensors, electric engines, and sophisticated data collection capabilities,” according to Research and Markets.

35-ton maximum lifting capacity

The QY35K5 from Oriemac Machinery & Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd is a truck with a crane, single luffing cylinder, double winches, torque limiter with a color LCD and spacious cab with a large and wide view. This boom truck, with a manual and mechanical control system, has a maximum rated total lifting capacity of 35 tons and maximum lifting torque         of 1,200kN.m. Its maximum travel speed is 75kph, minimum turning diameter 19.5m and minimum ground clearance 260mm. The boom is 39.6m when fully extended and 54.6m including the jib. An order of one set has a lead time of three to 15 days.

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130kN bucket digging force

This wheel loader from Evangel Industrial (Shanghai) Co. Ltd has a 2,600mm wheelbase for enhanced mobility and flexibility on all kinds of work sites. The LW300FN’s rated operating load is 3,000kg and standard bucket capacity 1.8 cubic meters. Its bucket digging force is 130kN, boom lifting time 5.5sec and total cycling time 10sec. Operating weight is 10,600±200kg. This heavy equipment complies with China II emission standards. An order of one unit has a seven- to 10-day lead time.

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With magnetic sucker

Quanzhou Jingli Engineering & Machinery Co. Ltd offers the JG75S-9 hydraulic excavator with a magnetic sucker. Its boom and arm are 3,000mm and 1,850mm in length. At maximum, digging reach is 6,240mm, depth 3,200mm, force 45kN, height 6,970mm, dumping height 4,950mm and backend radius of gyration 1,980mm. This excavator can be equipped with a breaker hammer, grip, auger bit and other assistive attachments. It can be shipped in 15 to 45 days.

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Carbon steel

Liyang Hengyu Machining Co. Ltd manufactures construction machinery parts such as the Machining 2014-0035-5606. Made of carbon steel, this product is laser-cut, sandblasted and plated with zinc. For a minimum of 50 pieces, orders can be shipped in 20 to 25 days.

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Customizable

Hebei Shangning Trading Co. Ltd’s grapple, the JX-09-7904, is made of carbon steel, Q345B steel or NM400E material. Custom designs are accepted. An order of two pieces is required and has a lead time of seven to 30 days.

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14in rim

From Xuzhou Full Ocean Tyre Ltd, the 20.5-25 L5 Solid Tire for heavy equipment has a 14in rim, 1,490mm overall diameter, 520mm section width and 495mm tread cap width. Maximum load is 11,500kg. An order of one piece is accepted and has a lead time of 20 to 30 days.

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