10 Important Heavy Equipment for Construction Projects in the Philippines
March 6, 2018
What are important pieces of heavy equipment used for construction projects in the Philippines?
- Crane – easily hoists and lowers heavy cargo on the site.
- Forklift – lifts and transports cargo between short distances.
- Excavator – used to dig through the earth.
- Loader – designed to transport materials around the job site.
- Dump Truck – efficiently loads and unloads materials.
- Bulldozer – used for pushing and moving earth at a job site.
- Concrete Mixer – used to mix cement, water, and other materials to make concrete.
- Trencher – used for digging ditches or trenches at the construction site.
- Grader – used for moving around a considerable amount of earth.
- Scrapers – used to seamlessly move dirt and other materials.
There never seems to be an end to construction projects in the Philippines, where you’ll often see forklifts, wheel loaders, and tons of other equipment lining up the roads or scattered in construction sites.
This rings especially true if you live in the heart of the city or in an industrial area, where these engineering projects are in extreme abundance.
At one point, you might be confused about the equipment present in these places, and they’ll just start to blur into one another and you won’t be able to enumerate their names.
So, whether you’re a seasoned professional in this discipline who need a refresher, or whether you’re a beginner and thus need some enlightenment, then you’ve come to the right place. This post will explore some of the most important heavy equipment in construction projects.
The next time you find yourself in an engineering site, or when the time comes and you’ll be planning which equipment your projects might require, then you’ll know exactly which is which!
Crane
A crane is a lifting equipment that is equipped with a pulley, ropes, and chains. It can easily hoist and lower heavy cargo around the job site. Some cranes have arms that can be expanded to different lengths.
There are two major kinds of cranes available out there: fixed and mobile cranes. These two are further divided into several types.
Forklift
A forklift is a medium-sized truck that is being used to lift and transport cargo for short distances.
As expected, there are various kinds of forklifts available in the Philippines. They come in different styles and sizes, and serve their own unique purpose.
Excavator
An excavator is a massive construction equipment that comes with wheels or tracks. It has a bucket arm attached to its front. This arm can freely rotate to 360 degrees.
It is typically used to dig through the earth or to hoist heavy materials.
Loader
Loaders are designed to transport materials around the job site. The usual materials being hauled are asphalt, rock, debris, and construction waste. There’s also gravel, wood, and sand—when these raw materials already come in a substantial amount, they will also require a loader for easier transportation.
There are various types of loaders available out there, and choosing the best loader can be extremely invaluable for any construction project. It can definitely make your task quicker and more efficient.
Here are some of the common types of loaders:
- Wheel Loader
- Track Loader
- Skid Steer Loader
- Backhoe Loader
Dump Truck
A dump truck can be seen in almost every construction site. It has become so indispensable that it has already been labeled a heavy equipment.
Like several other types of equipment, a dump truck also comes in varying sizes; and the key for an efficient loading and unloading of materials lies in choosing the variety that best suits your construction project.
Bulldozer
A bulldozer is mainly used for pushing and moving earth at a job site. It is also considered a crawler because of how their tracks are fashioned—these tracks allow the bulldozer to remain stable.
A ripper is fastened on its backside. This serves to loosen up the earth (such as soil and rock).
Bulldozers are robust machines that can operate even in rough terrains.
Concrete Mixer
A concrete mixer, as the name suggests, is used to mix cement, water, and other materials (such as sand and gravel) to form concrete.
Trencher
Trenchers are used for digging ditches or trenches at the construction site. They bear some resemblance with excavators, and the only difference is that they are specifically designed to dig ditches. As you might expect, trenchers are vital in piping projects.
If you want something that can hasten the installation of wastewater or drainage piping, then trenchers are your best bet.
Grader
This is more commonly known as a road grader or a motor grader. They’re used for moving around a considerable amount of earth and ensuring that the surface is level, flat, and sufficiently smooth. A grader is especially essential in architectural and civil engineering projects (such as road work).
Similar to a bulldozer, a grader is also furnished with blades (which allow them to smoothen surfaces adequately and more precisely).
Scraper
A scraper is used to seamlessly move dirt and other materials. However, they are not suitable for all construction sites and are more appropriate in vast and open areas where they can move around more swiftly.
Key Takeaway
Construction projects are everywhere nowadays. In the Philippines, aside from forklifts and wheel loaders, there are multitudes of other equipment that are found in these undertakings. So, if you belong to this field or plan on dabbling in it, then it’s vital that you familiarize yourself with the most common heavy equipment in construction projects. This knowledge will aid you in making better decisions, especially in choosing which equipment you’ll be needing.