Category Archives: Construction

Plans of Hyundai for the year 2015

The year 2014 has been a big pain for all the heavy equipment manufacturing companies. They were all left complaining about slow growth rate and decline in the sales volume. Due to unrest in the Middle East and other parts of the globe, customers were reluctant to make further purchases. Another reason that adds to the misery is delay in starting a project. Due to many reasons, projects are unable to take off and that results in decline in the demand for heavy equipment. Therefore, it also does not make any sense to produce innovative machine as it makes no difference in a stagnant market. Like all other companies, Hyundai is also going through the same rough phase and is struggling hard to come out of it. The think tankers are working hard to find a solution to this issue and are also waiting for the market to correct. If the issues in the Middle East are put to rest, then things might start catching speed from there. However, that is just a matter of some time and needs patience. It is therefore important for companies to find an alternative and check other potential markets rather than simply sticking to countries that are of not much importance for the time being.

Having said that, it does not imply that construction equipment manufacturing companies should simply wind up their businesses from such countries. They can reduce their labor force and ensure that they do not end up spending their capital in units that may not yield much to them. If we check the last few years’ performance of Hyundai, we find that there has been a consistent fall in their sales volume. It is simply not picking up. In this way, they are only lowering their performance bar and are expecting that it will get to see some green pasture sooner.

Hyundai is in no mood to continue with its sick units or the units that are not performing. The year 2015 will be the year of corrections for them. They have to identify the units that is not performing and then also need to check the possibility of it remaining in that condition for the next few months. If they are convinced that there are no signs of revival, then it will be prudent to close such units and save the company from incurring further financial loses. The next thing that they can do is lay off few employees from units that are performing but not as per the company’s projections. It makes no sense to have a workforce that is not delivering. Other than this, they can also move their back office staff to sales department or can cross train them to perform duties at various levels.

Cross training people will keep the resources intact and will also enable them to perform various duties at different situations. By following few simple things can bring them back in business. However, for the time being the ground situation is grim and it will bounce back only if corrective actions are taken.

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Buy the best pickup trucks for your construction site

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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.

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Simple steps to boost Construction Equipment Safety

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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.

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Economic scenario affecting heavy equipment and construction industry

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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.

Hire Skid-steer Loader for Appending Labor-saving Gears

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Trade owners, general outworkers and project executives in the construction industry are well aware of the pricey heavy equipment. Therefore they always prefer to employ the heavy equipment on rental basis. Heavy equipment rental companies show all the important documents related to lease to the business possessors so that the deal should be agreed in proper legal manner. Skid-steer loader is engine-powered heavy equipment that is available with elevate arms. This apparatus is used to fasten the labour-saving tools. Some of the renowned manufacturers of this machine are Bobcat, Terex, and Caterpillar etc. It is sensible for the contractors to hire skid steer equipment of these branded companies.
Pertinence of Skid-steer Loader
Skid-steer loader is also recognised as skid loader or skid steer that is generally attainable in four-wheel vehicle. The wheels are automatically locked and have no independent routing device. The loader can move in different motions like slewing, dragging with the help of the paired wheels. Sometimes the loaders are equipped with tracks instead of wheels and at that time the vehicles are known as compact track loader. This loader has the capacity of performing like a backhoe, pallet fork, hydraulic breakers, and auger and so on. Some of its applications are as ensues:
• The skid-steer loaders can dig the hole from the inside the earth just like an excavator.
• It initially burrows the ramp leading to the circumference of the required quarry.
• Then the loader utilises the ramp to take out the material out from the crater.
• It also assists in remodelling the ramp to keep it powerful and longer as the mining process gets deeper.
• Skid loader is used for setting up the parks.
• It is also employed in cleaning stalls in a store.
Benefits of Renting Skid-steer Loader
• Heavy equipment rental firms proffer low-hour and trustworthy skid loaders to the construction companies that are sustained in authoritarian yardsticks. It’s a fact that the rental companies are providing the second-hand heavy equipment to the business owners but these are obtainable in good conditions.
• The heavy apparatus leasing firms cater to the modern technology equipment to the business owners. The construction contractors want to hire the upgraded version of skid-steer loader therefore these rental companies are successful in satisfying them.
• For renting the skid-steer loader, the business owners should go through the standards of Emissions Compliance (EPA). EPA granted machines can be used without any stress.
• Construction equipment rental companies help the contractors to accomplish their project proficiently. Upgraded skid loaders provided by the reputed rental companies assist the contractors to attach the toil-cutback tools flawlessly.
• The construction companies are not required to take the headache of maintenance cost when they hire skid-steer loader from the leasing firms. It is the duty of the hiring service providers to examine the condition of the machine periodically.
Some of the renowned rental companies that offer skid-steer loader are Caterpillar, Ahern Rentals, Power Equipment Company. Several types of skid steers are propounded with additional facilities to grab the attention of a large number of construction industry owners.

Prepare proper UCC Filings for Heavy Equipment and handle transactions smoothly

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When you are going to run your own business then it is very important to arrange every essential thing that helps you to maintain your business properly. UCC filing is very important to for construction or heavy equipment business as it helps to maintain the commercial transaction properly.

UCC is the short form of Uniform Commercial Code. It represents the law of the state related to commercial transactions through general revision. Through this facility you can get to know the uniform and important rules of commercial transactions for modern business conditions and requirement. Actually the main purpose of this system is to clarify the law or the rules that are controlling the commercial transactions.  Therefore, you should always maintain UCC filling for your heavy equipment.

As you are going to run your own business thereby, it is very important to take care of your trade account and all other financial background. Business credit examines the companies properly and orders them to pay trade accounts within time. Along with this they also check the public records like liens, suits and other things to take care of the company’s credit rating. You also have to show the UCC filings of the company. There are many potential lenders who deal with equipment. They always research huge on the borrowing history of the company so it is very essential to make the proper UCC filing. It helps to decide the credit status of the company. Whether you are a startup company or an experienced platform you should always prepare the UCC filing for your company.

Well, UCC filing can help you to enjoy a smooth transaction. So you can make it at the starting of your business without waiting for the last minutes. Generally, people file a UCC when they involve in some commercial transaction that include a secured party and a debtor. It is a very essential part of a business. Therefore, people who are going to launch their new business or already invest huge amount of money in business should always file an UCC and enjoy the facilities. It is a very common interest especially for the secured party who can file a UCC financing statement in order to save their interest.

In case of construction business you need to purchase much heavy equipment because those are the most important part of the business. They help to run a construction business successfully. So, in such cases, you have to manage many commercial transactions. So, if you can manage to make the proper UCC filing then you can definitely able to handle such transactions very smoothly and easily. as you know that the heavy equipment are expensive so, it is not good to take any risk when you are dealing with such machines.

 

Best practice of lubrication procedure

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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.

 

 

What are some heavy equipment safety warnings?

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When dealing with heavy equipment all construction project owners need follow certain health and safety guidelines to ensure safety to their workers as well as other people around the site. Faulty heavy equipment need to be repaired or replaced immediately as they can lead to fatal disasters and cause loss of monetary funds and lives of employees around the construction sites. A large number of accidents are reported every year that happen due to negligence of workers or awry equipments and lack of maintenance of proper safety warnings around the area.

The basic procedure that needs to be fulfilled with production of safety warnings in all construction sites and to be circulated through all employees, subcontractors and applicants, is mentioned here. The objective of these warning signs is to ensure that all workers follow these safety precautions when at work with heavy machinery so as to minimize the possibility of disasters taking place.

To ensure proper protection in the working area all employees must be handed with a copy of these health and safety rules at the time of their employment. And it is important that all the workers sign and submit the acknowledgement forms after reviewing the safety rules and clarifying all pertinent questions in these matters. The safety and health guidelines also need to be occasionally reviewed and updated to ensure they are current and applicable.

Enforcement measures are also necessary and employees should be subjected to disciplinary actions in case found to be violating these rules. Employees shall be afforded educational counseling and/or informative training to assure they have a clear understanding of the breach consequences and the importance of proper conduct under organizational rules. Nonetheless, nothing in the guidelines of this safety agenda will prohibit the management from terminating an employee for a safety violation. This is not progressive disciplinary system and any safety violation may lead to an employee’s termination without prior order or warning.  Management reserves all right to impose whatever disciplinary action it deems to be appropriate:

The measures can be anyone or more of the following mentioned points depending on the severity of the violation done.

  1. Verbal warning with recorded documentation in the personnel file of the employee in question.
  2. Written warning with mentioning of the details of the violation and also documentation of the offence in the personnel file of the worker.
  3. Termination if the severity of the violations seems to be too great.

The management personnel and supervisors will be deemed to appropriate disciplinary actions, if needed under certain circumstances as mentioned below:

  • Failure to provide adequate training to prospective employees before assigning them to the job.
  • Consistent safety guidelines violation incidents done by the employees under their supervision.
  • Not reporting accidents successfully or failing to provide proper medical assistance to any injured employee at work.
  • If precise cleanliness and housekeeping standards not being maintained as required which can prove to be a safety hazard.
  • Not being able to control or prevent unsafe working practices or conditions under their supervision.

 

Keep an Open Mind to Be Ahead In the Race in the Construction Industry

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Change- that is the only thing that has, that is and that will always be permanent. Whether it is the healthcare industry, education industry, politics or construction, change can be said to be a common characteristic for all. And this change makes it important for people to be on the constant lookout for keeping them updated on the latest events of a particular industry. If you are a professional of the construction industry, keeping yourself updated on the various aspects of the industry is quite important for your business.

Continuing To Learn- The Benefits

Being constantly on the lookout for the latest happenings in the construction industry is beneficial. If you are involved in the construction industry, it is best if you keep a lookout for the latest trends and developments. Here is taking a look at the benefits that being updated has.

  • Constant studying the trends of the construction industry will give you an idea of the way your competitors approach the entire business. And this definitely contributes significantly to you becoming a successful construction big shot.
  • By keeping the window of knowledge of open in the construction arena, you will also be aware of the various rules, regulations and amendments to the rules of the arena. This means that you will always stay on the legal side of things.
  • Continuing the education whilst you are in the construction arena also lets you gain knowledge on the various technological developments on the block. An application of these technologies to your construction business can definitely prove to be fruitful.
  • Constantly remaining updated also enhances your decision making power. You will be able to take better decisions about your construction organisation if you keep your mind open and continue to build on the recent developments going on in the area.

It can, therefore be concluded that keeping an open mind in the construction area works wonders on your business. Not only will you be able to handle the construction projects more efficiently, you can also be sure of raise in the status quo of your company.

Gaining the Knowledge- The Possible Sources

All being said and done, people might wonder as to where will they get information of the changes taking place in the industry.

  • The World Wide Web can be said to be a virtual trove of information.  All the information that you seek can be availed from the various blogs, updates posted on the social networking sites, online construction journals, construction forums and the like.
  • You could also try gathering information from your mentor, the construction union, various seminars and conferences and the like.

Success in the construction industry is directly proportional to your knowledge of the area. It goes without saying that staying updated on this fore is quite crucial for your construction business. Keeping an open mind, therefore, can be said to be one of the mantras to succeed in the industry.

How training helps one to use heavy equipment?

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To use a heavy equipment, the user should know what he is going to do with it. Heavy equipment does the task efficiently and quickly. Its use can be dangerous in novice’s hands. This is the reason which compels many youths to go for a proper training to ensure their safety while handling construction equipment. In most of the cases, training is needed to operate a specific machine, or at best approved by the workers.

For the job hunters, it’s a harsh fact that the industry of construction itself is damn sturdy. No one can deny the fact that it is the world’s one of the fastest growing industries. Those who can handle the constructional jobs with the use of heavy pieces of equipment are in much demand nowadays. They can easily get themselves employed in government sectors, private industries and even can set up a business of construction machines. A systematic training will definitely open the door to the youths with a wide-range of options and fat-salaried jobs.

This field provides great opportunities to all the potential workers. Those who have not yet made up his mind to settle down themselves to achieve their goals or switch to the choices which bring about a job that can lead them to a prosperous life always prefer to go in this realm.

The duration of training related with heavy equipment varies depending on the school which the person has picked up. A person can avoid all the accidents only if he knows exactly how to deal with these pieces of heavy equipment. As its operation is not just a child’s play, it’s always better to get the training at first.

Importance of heavy equipment training

If the reader is interested to know more about the importance of training, he/she should flip through the following article:

  • A construction site deals with different kinds of heavy equipment. During the training, the student will come to know every detail of the various machines involved in the job. He will also be able to applaud the signification of the different kinds of machines.
  • While going through a good training schedule, the student will get acquainted with the safety measures that are necessary to take when he will operate the machines himself. Even a plain forklift can cause hazardous accidents if not handled with care.
  • To get a good job in this domain, the person should develop his skill regarding the use of the equipment which is possible only with an effective training.
  • Training from an institution which is recognised nationally often provides the trainee with the assistance of job-placements which can be extended to some longer period even after graduation. That’s why, if the trainee needs a job in an entirely new location, the school will aid the person to find one.
  • Operation of heavy equipment provides a great path to drive along to those who want to show their skills in the construction field. All these machines have their own subtleties which should be mastered before considering it as safe in the handler’s couch.

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