Author Archives: Kevin

Laying proper strategy can change the face of your company

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The one who can lay down concrete strategy and can walk on it will be able to reach the pinnacle. Setting up concrete strategies by foreseeing the obstacles and opportunities is an art that not many can master but the one who can anticipate and work accordingly can reach new heights. If we see what it took for owners of huge conglomerates to come to the place where they are, they will credit it to the fact that they could envisage things. They were able to foresee the threats the company could encounter and on the basis of that they worked things out. They chalked out plans keep the threats into consideration and made sure that all of them stick to the plan.

This kind of an approach is very important in an industry like construction. People belonging to the construction industry often encounter stiff competition from their business rivals and in such a situation it is quite essential that they anticipate the risks well in advance and take necessary steps to get over them. Now once you have anticipated the risk, the second important step would be to formulate plans that have the potential to mitigate the risk and bail the company out of any misadventure.

Setting up of appropriate plans and success goes hand in hand:-

As long as you do not have the right strategy in place, it is very difficult to find success. You may try every possible thing and work very hard to attain success but it only comes when you have a set plan in front of you. You got to think what should be your next step, what you need to achieve next and keep pursuing it unless and until you get it through. Success comes to those who have a set vision and have laid concrete plans to get what they want. It absolutely goes hand in hand with a real tangible strategy.

It boosts the confidence of the investors:-

Construction industry is heavily dependent on investors. You can’t take a big project alone and finance it completely on your own. You need people to fund you at regular intervals. Investors are a big requirement as far as the construction industry is concerned and you have their attention only if you have a tangible strategy in place. You can discuss your plans with the investors and see how they feel about it. It is not necessary that they will always appreciate your plan. It may have certain loopholes that you may have probably missed. Do not get dejected in case your plan is not liked. Try to customize your strategy based on the likings of the investors but make sure that they go in sync with the business requirements. You do not have to compromise to please people to fund you. Ideally if your strategy makes sense, it will definitely boost the confidence of the investors in investing their money in your project. Once they taste success, they will trust you way forward.

Excavator Track Repair

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Repairing of heavy equipment can turn out to be an expensive affair as some parts of the machine may need to be replaced and they must be costing very high which can become unaffordable for many in the construction business. However, when it comes to the repair of equipment that are of utmost importance to the project and without which you will not be able to proceed any further then you are left with no other choice but to get it replaced or repaired. One of the most critical parts of the heavy machinery is the undercarriage. It is primarily that part which carries the entire load of the machine and if that has any issues working, then there is a possibility that the machine might take a halt. So whenever you come across any problem that is related to the undercarriage of the machine, you got to ensure that you fixed it as soon as you can before things move out of your control.

We will be discussing how important it is to make sure that the track of the excavator is well in place and in case if it has problems how to get it repaired.

The track of an excavator is considered to be one of the strongest parts of the machine. It has to go through unaccountable frictions on a daily basis. The excavator works in a muddy ditch as well as on snow. It has to work on rough terrain most of the times which is why the chances of its tracks getting ruined are much higher. Well, what one needs to do is pay good enough attention to the tracks whenever they seem to experience things are not good down on the tracks. Due to the horrendous friction that it goes through, there are chances that the rubber of the track will tear off.

There are numerous companies that have come out with repair kit that can be applied on excavator tracks repairing the tear that has been caused due to friction. If there is any major cut injuries on the body of the track that can be dealt with the help of this rubber kit. You have to first loosen up the nut on the front end of the undercarriage. That will in turn loosen the track rubber out of its place and you can then pull it out. Take help of the rubber kit and fix the part that had trouble and then put it back in place.

The rubber kits are not at all expensive and one can easily find it within his budget. Ideally most of the operators are trained in fixing the excavator’s track. So just in case you do not know how to do it, you have someone to do it for you. Moreover, it is no rocket science that you can’t learn to repair the excavator track. You can pretty well watch the guy doing it and try your hands. This is probably the best way you’ll learn to do things.

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The right way to repo heavy equipment

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Heavy equipment are usually expensive materials and not many can afford to buy them by paying hard cash. The small contractors or small construction companies usually find it very difficult to arrange money to buy equipment but if they have no other option they approach a bank or some financial institution that lends them the money to buy the stuff. Now that they have possessed the machine, the next difficult task for them is to keep on with the monthly payments and any defaults with the payments may cost them the machine. Well, the loan system works this way. You borrow money from the lender and promise to pay the entire sum along with interest at regular intervals. Till the time you do not clear off the debt, the lender holds lien on the equipment. This means that if you fail to pay money to the bank, then it has complete right and authority to take possession of your equipment.

This really sounds harsh but people all across the United States have to go through this phase in some or the other time in their lives. Having said that, no lender ever wants to repo heavy equipment and they use this as the last resort. Lenders simply want their money back with the interest amount that the borrower has committed to pay. Just in case, if they find the borrower is unable to pay the installments they try to establish contact with the borrower to check if he is going through any financial turbulence. They try to sort things out with the borrower and if they find that he is unable or just unwilling to pay then they go for the repo; which means they send the guys to tow the machine from the borrower’s place so that it can be sold a dirt cheap price to someone else and in this process they can get their money back.

The process is quite simple. If the borrower is unable or unwilling to pay the loan, the lender brings the repo guys in the picture and then they got everything to do from there. They will track the item give the notice to the borrower where it will clearly state that they are taking away the machine since he was not able to pay the debts in time and after repeated reminders when he failed to show up with the money, the lender which has the first lien on the item is finally forced to take it back. The repo guys get some money based on the kind of stuff they would be towing. For instance, if they tow heavy equipment, then they get their fee based on the weight of the machine.

Before the repo guys can tow the machine, they got to be careful that they are towing the right equipment and not the one that belongs to somebody else’s. They need to check the Serial Number and accordingly tow the machine. They also need to inform the local police so that if the owner of the machine gives a call to the police, the authorities could explain him the matter. Once they repo the equipment, they keep the stuff in their storage facility or simply hand it over to their clients.

 

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Do not let winter eat away your heavy equipment

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Winter is a major cause of concern for both heavy equipment manufacturing companies as well as construction companies. Once it starts snowing, things become very difficult for them to carry on. The ongoing projects come to a standstill and there are high chances that the construction companies may not be able to deliver the work in time and due to this they may incur heavy losses. No business would ever like to make losses just because the weather condition is hostile and it did not allow the men to work. Other than that, the construction companies are also at risk as far as their equipment are concerned. Most of the equipment during winters just do not want to start. So the operators also face a tough time in getting the equipment started. A lot needs to be done to take care of the machine during the winters. Heavy equipment are at their worst during this chill season and if proper care is not taken then there may be lot of complications which will ultimately result in a bigger mess.

Check if the engine oil is in order:-

We tend to remain so busy with our work that we fail to give the required attention to the machines. Changing the engine oil at least once in 2 months should be done without fail. However especially winters, they should be checked more frequently and made sure that the engine oil is in good shape. In case, if the oil becomes thick then it is time to change the oil. Any delay in that situation will only cause problem to the machine reducing its longevity.

Get the equipment serviced by an expert mechanic:-

Just when the winter is knocking the door, it is advisable to get the equipment serviced by an expert mechanic. It would be prudent if you do not get the machine serviced by anybody other than an expert. Just when the winter is at the corner, a lot of things need to be checked in the machine which may often get skipped by a routine mechanic but may hardly skip the eye of an expert.

Painting the machine will be a good alternative:-

If you have an old machine and it needs urgent attention of the mechanic, get it checked first and then get it paint for once. Painting the machine will give a new look to the machine. You can also put some stickers or logos especially in areas where it is slightly dented and has scratch marks on it. Painting the equipment may also protect it from getting rusted during the chilled season. It acts as a good alternative when you are short of money.

Get the faulty parts replaced:-

Just in case if any part of the machine (attachable or not) goes faulty, it should be replaced as soon as possible. Just in case, if it is not replaced in time then severe cold may cause further problem which may become irreparable.

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Gold mining heavy equipment is a must in a mining site

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Like the construction industry, mining industry is an equally profit making industry with people making good money being employees of a mining company. Especially, when the mining company is in to extracting gold from the earth you do not require any special heavy equipment to do so. The one which is been used in a construction site like an excavator or a backhoe loader can also be used in a gold mining site. However in addition to this, it may require few specific components but overall it has no major difference as far as the equipment are concerned. Though gold mining is one of the most profitable businesses in the entire mining sector but it needs precision while you get to the bottom of the metal. Other than that, one also needs to consider the safety measures while you are into the mining sector. There are many accidents that have been reported due to mere negligence or for not following very simple safety rules. One has to always follow the fundamentals of the safety structures or else it can become really dangerous for the people involved in it.

The role of an excavator in the gold mining industry is immense. Along with the excavator equipment like Jaw Crusher and Hammermill are equally important. Some of the equipment may be a part of small sized machines but have a huge role to play in the gold mining industry. There are people who believe in making heavy equipment for gold mining on their own but it requires great deal of training and learning in order to become capable of making those equipment on your own. Therefore, it is advisable that if you like to see your career taking shape in the gold mining industry, first try to work for a mining industry and learn how exactly one gets to the metal and then you start playing with things and take rational decisions on heavy equipment. If you don’t have much knowledge about equipment needed in the gold mining sector, it is better that you stick to the basics and try to avail some information from the website.

Buying of heavy equipment should not be a problem as you can make good use of websites that sells heavy equipment online. There you can get all sorts of equipment depending upon the nature of your business. For instance, companies that are huge in size can go for big machines and the ones that are not so big can go for equipment that suit their purpose. Overall, the websites has everything for everyone. Most of the heavy equipment manufacturing companies also list their items on the website but that is not so often. Ideally, it is the dealers who list the items on the site. You should check if they have any offers for you. Normally, offers are mentioned in the listing but still if you feel like checking it out directly with the person selling it online, you have the liberty to do so.

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Construction workers are more prone to risk during extreme cold conditions

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Incidents of accidents have become very common in a construction site and in spite of taking corrective measures by the higher department, these incidents are simply not willing to cease. At some time, it is the workers fault as they skip to follow the safety parameters and go to do work without the safety accessories, thus putting their life at extreme risk. At other times, it is sheer negligence that needs to be blamed for such accidents. The sad part is after experiencing so many unfortunate incidents, the construction workers and the higher management has still not found a way to tackle the menace. Ideally, one can’t adopt a mechanism that will alert them about a possible danger other than being cautious about it. It has been seen that most of the times, construction workers tend to work carefree and gets themselves hurt or killed.

During winters, the situation is worse. Workers have to work on icy roads where there are high risks of slipping while working and this may lead to major accidents. They may also not be able to foresee a possible danger and may go straight into it. Overall, winter is a big pain for both the construction companies as well as for the workers with no real solution around. There are few tips that one can follow to minimize the incidences of accidents happening in a construction site during winters.

Educate the workers about safety parameters:-

In order to save the valuable lives of workers, they should be educated about the safety parameters that are followed by the company. Not many workers may know how to use the devices when there is an emergency. You can’t expect them to know everything right from the very beginning. They need to be trained and should be explained about the various safety rules that one should follow. Concurrently, they should also be trained in how to save one’s life by giving mouth to mouth resuscitation, providing first aid to a fellow worker, emergency numbers to call etc. Once all the workers are trained in this, the number of casualties may decline.

Prevention is better than cure:-

There are workers who unknowingly risk their life to complete a given task. They skip to follow the basic rules of safety and in this process hurt themselves. We all know the saying “Prevention is better than cure”. However, we hardly walk on what we know. This is something that should be stopped. When a worker is given a dangerous task, he should be equipped with all the safety amenities so that in case he falls off the machine, he has something to save his life.

Very cautious while working in the snow:-

While you are working in the snow, there are high chances that you can get deceived by seeing everything white around you. You may fail to see a danger and if you are in a hurry, you may invite trouble. Therefore, you should always work in ease on the snow and take utmost care of your as well as your colleague’s safety.

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Heavy equipment rental prices

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Heavy equipment can always fetch you good price irrespective of them being new or old. If you wish to sell it or let it out they always have a value attached and can prove to be a good source of income. Moreover, you will always find takers for your machine. Renting heavy equipment has been a viable option for people who do not want to completely do away with their equipment. They may need the machine later but may not see any temporary use of it and therefore they decide to rent the machine and earn some money in this process. For people who want to rent their machine should be aware of the existing rental price and can’t ask for an amount that sounds to be extravagant. They have to first do a proper research on what others are charging for similar equipment and accordingly he/she can quote his rate.

Knowing the correct rental price has often been a challenge for the giver. Your machine may not be that old and is quite efficient on the jobsite. You are quite unsure of the rental amount that you should put on the machine as you fear that you might either over price the item or may leave it underpriced. In order to know the correct rental price, you can approach few rental houses that work exclusively in this department and gather information to know what price you should be renting the equipment/machinery.

In case you do not wish to take help of any external 3rd party company and want to work it out on your own then the most viable choice would be to check out few websites that deals with renting heavy equipment. However, this process can be quite time consuming and you should do this only if you believe that you can devote your time and energy in gathering all the information required to know the correct rental price. Once you have started browsing the websites of companies that deals with renting heavy equipment, check out the listings of people who have posted their item on the website. Go through the description as that will suggest the quality of their machine and the price they are quoting on it. You will be able to identify if your machine is better than theirs and if you should be quoting a higher price.

It is also important to understand if the takers are ready to take the item at the quoted rental price. There could be many people who must have listed their item without even trying to know the correct rental price. Therefore, check the profile of those members who have successfully rented their equipment. It is only through them that you will get to know the correct rental prices or different sorts of heavy equipment. Once you are sure about the price, you can simultaneously register yourself on that website and post your machine. If you have more than one machine to rent, you can state that on the description so that people who are looking for multiple machines can find you appropriate enough and will go ahead with the deal.

Growth of the construction industry is co-related to the economic prosperity of a country

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The growth of any business is directly related to the amount of effort one puts in his business to make it big. However, it is also co-related to the economy of the country. If the economy is sluggish, you can’t really expect much from the business, no matter how hard you work to develop it. You have to wait for the economy to gather some speed so that things work for you and you start doing well. It has also been witnessed that the economy is doing great. However, it is just few specific industries that are not performing due to certain policies of the governing body. This also plays a vital role when it comes to the development of the business. If you are also a part of the industry that is affected by the policies of the governing body then it may cause harm to your business as well. You may suffer hardships till the time the policies are not amended for the betterment of the industry.

Things are quite similar when it comes down to the construction industry. This industry does really well and favors everybody who is associated with it when the policies are favoring it or when the economy in a whole is doing well. But when we check the flip side of the coin where the policies are against the construction industry or the economy is in a pathetic state, the same industry that was booming and was favoring a whole lot of people can turn upside down for everybody. This however does not imply that one should shut shops when the industry is not doing well. It is also not practically possible to close the construction business at the time when things are not going your way and to pick it up from where you left when things are back in shape.

The recommended option would be to go slow when the tide is against and ask the investors to hold on with their investments for some years (if you are associated with constructing condos). You can also take up small works/projects that come your way. When things are not working out for you, it is better that you stick to projects that do not have a good profit margin. That will at least help you to keep the company floating and you may not have to look for any cost cutting measures.

Just in case, you fall in the category where you are unable to get any business neither big nor small, it is prudent that you cut short on your costs by either renting your heavy equipment or if you feel necessary then selling the one off that you feel you may not need them any longer. If things does not become any better after taking these measures, then the last resort to keep your company floating would be to sack employees who are not so experienced but still have a good package. That will help a bit to cut down the cost and you can expect things to move on for few more months.

 

Selling construction equipment is tougher than selling any consumer durable item

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Many people consider the profession of a salesman to be one of the most difficult profession and they have valid reasons to counter it. The important question is why anyone would buy anything from a person that they have not seen or have not known before in their lives. It is very difficult for anybody to trust a person they are not familiar with and it becomes all the more difficult if the salesman is trying to sell things whose brand is not a known one.

There is still scope to sell a consumer durable product to a person but if you are dealing with selling heavy equipment your customer horizon gets further contracted. It is not everybody who will require buying heavy equipment. As long as the person is associated with the construction or mining industry, it makes sense for him to give his time listening to the talks of a salesman trying to sell heavy equipment but other than that, it would be a complete waste of time to pitch the product to people who have nothing to do with these industries.

Product knowledge should be up to the mark:-

Remember when you are dealing with heavy equipment, your product knowledge should be real good. People selling consumer durable products need not be that thorough with their product knowledge because just by creating the need for the customer, he can make the sale. Using the same tactic in case you are selling heavy equipment will definitely backfire at you and will never work for you. So, it is prudent that you do your own research about the product that you are trying to sell and gather as much information as you can that can be pervaded to the end user.

Selling is an art and by practice you’ll master it:-

It has never been easy to sell anything to anyone. Selling is an art and it takes time for one to master it. You got to meet as many people as you can and try to sell them your product. As far as selling construction equipment are concerned, your customer market gets contracted to people belonging to the construction segment. You got to reach them and try to make sure that you fix an appointment with them. Meeting them in person can make a lot good to you in learning how to sell stuffs to people. You can also take your senior along with you. Someone who is good in selling heavy equipment. Check his style, his posture and the way he speaks. You may not adopt everything he does but should pay attention on the way he speaks to the customer.

Do not lose heart if you fail to sell:-

You got to be strong mentally especially when you are failing to sell machines to people. Not everybody will need what you are selling at that point in time. They may keep your number with them and may call you when they feel the need. It is important that you always move to the next person and try to pitch the product in a better way.

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The Proper Ways of Preparations for Bad Ground

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The construction industry frequently suffers from various problems that result due to the poor conditions of the grounds that are often overlooked. It goes without mention that the affectivity of all construction equipment will rely heavily on how the condition of the construction grounds are. If you need to drive a heavy machine in the construction ground, it is very important that you make sure that the ground is strong enough to withstand the force and the weight of the machine. At the same time it is very important to put pads or cribbing under your feet so that the load could be spread out while deploying stabilizers or outriggers. This is a very important step as far as the reduction of the bearing pressure of the ground is concerned.

It is to be noted that a lot of problems regarding bad grounds could be avoided with proper planning. Therefore, it would be quite important to have a thorough knowledge of geology as well as soil mechanics. It is important that all the essential information regarding the construction ground are gathered and analyzed. Identification of the exact conditions of the ground is going to play a very important role in this regard. However, there are various other aspects such as the source of the information, verification and legal liabilities that have to be considered as well. It is also very important that the amount of money and time that is to be invested for the investigation of the site so that the ground conditions can be explored. Ill prepared grounds can be very dangerous for construction.

It is highly detrimental to take decisions based on assumptions in the construction industry. It is true that a lot of experience can bring the ability to judge certain situations. However, two situations are hardly the same and so it is important to run the tests on the ground conditions on a more applied level in order to ensure safety. Misinterpretations of assumptions can be simply asking for accidents in construction sites. It is not very unusual for operators with ample experience to be inexperienced or not so familiar with outrigger mats and the science of it. a good guide would know when to pick wood over plastic or why it is better to go with pads that are 100mm thick as compared to 50 mm ones.

It is important to stick to the guidelines so that you can construct with ease and safety. However, it would be not be wise to rely on any source that you find on the internet. Among a few important documents on the subject the following is a trustworthy source: Ground Conditions for Constructing Plant is a practice guide that has been developed by the UK Strategic Forum for Construction. Although it is at a developing stage at the moment, you can get the final version by the end of the current year. Although some of the issues pertaining to legalities are quite specific to the readership of the UK but the guidelines on engineering and physics are universal.

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