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{{redirect|Heavy machinery|other uses|Heavy machinery (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Heavy machinery|other uses|Heavy machinery (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Earthmover|other uses|Earthmover (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Earthmover|other uses|Earthmover (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Tzama02.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Heavy equipment vehicles of various types parked near a highway construction site]]
{{Further|Equipment}}
[[File:Tzama02.jpg|thumb|300px|Heavy equipment vehicles of various types parked near a highway construction site]]


'''Heavy equipment''', '''heavy machinery''', '''earthmovers''', '''construction vehicles''', or '''construction equipment''', refers to [[Heavy-duty vehicle|heavy-duty vehicles]] specially designed to execute [[construction]] tasks, most frequently involving [[Earthworks (engineering)|earthwork operations]] or other large construction tasks. ''Heavy equipment'' usually comprises five equipment systems: the [[Heavy_equipment#Implements_and_hydromechanical_work_tools|implement]], [[Traction (engineering)|traction]], structure, [[power train]], and control/information.
'''Heavy equipment''', '''heavy machinery''', '''earthmovers''', '''construction vehicles''', or '''construction equipment''', refers to [[Heavy-duty vehicle|heavy-duty vehicles]] specially designed to execute [[construction]] tasks, most frequently involving [[Earthworks (engineering)|earthwork operations]] or other large construction tasks. ''Heavy equipment'' usually comprises five [[equipment]] systems: the [[Heavy_equipment#Implements_and_hydromechanical_work_tools|implement]], [[Traction (engineering)|traction]], structure, [[power train]], and control/information.


Heavy equipment has been used since at least the 1st century BC when the [[Roman engineering|ancient Roman engineer]] [[Vitruvius]] described a [[Roman crane|crane]] in ''[[De architectura]]'' when it was powered via human or animal labor.
Heavy equipment has been used since at least the 1st century BC, when the [[Roman engineering|ancient Roman engineer]] [[Vitruvius]] described a [[Roman crane|crane]] powered by human or animal labor in ''[[De architectura]]''.


Heavy equipment functions through the [[mechanical advantage]] of a [[simple machine]], the [[ratio]] between input force applied and force exerted is multiplied, making tasks which could take hundreds of people and weeks of labor without heavy equipment far less intensive in nature. Some equipment uses [[Hydraulic drive system|hydraulic drives]] as a primary source of motion.
Heavy equipment functions through the [[mechanical advantage]] of a [[simple machine]] that multiplies the [[ratio]] between input force applied and force exerted, easing and speeding tasks which often could otherwise take hundreds of people and many weeks' labor. Some such equipment uses [[Hydraulic drive system|hydraulic drives]] as a primary source of motion.


The word '''plant''', in this context, has come to mean any type of industrial equipment, including mobile equipment (e.g. in the same sense as [[powerplant]]). However, plant originally meant "structure" or "establishment" – usually in the sense of factory or warehouse premises; as such, it was used in contradistinction to movable machinery, e.g. often in the phrase "plant ''and'' equipment".
The word '''plant''', in this context, has come to mean any type of industrial equipment, including mobile equipment (e.g. in the same sense as [[powerplant]]). However, plant originally meant "structure" or "establishment" – usually in the sense of factory or warehouse premises; as such, it was used in contradistinction to movable machinery, often in the phrase "plant and equipment".


==History==
==History==
Line 19: Line 18:


===From horses, through steam and diesel, to electric and robotic===
===From horses, through steam and diesel, to electric and robotic===
[[File:Fresno scrapers Miocene ditch.jpg|thumb|horse-drawn [[Fresno scraper]] digging water-supply ditch]]
[[File:Fresno scrapers Miocene ditch.jpg|thumb|Horse-drawn [[Fresno scraper]] digging water-supply ditch]]
[[File:Steam lokomobile 2 (aka).jpg|thumb|A [[portable engine]]; a precursor to modern engineering vehicles]]
[[File:Steam lokomobile 2 (aka).jpg|thumb|A [[portable engine]]; a precursor to modern engineering vehicles]]
[[File:1903 Tractor.JPG|thumb|An early gasoline-powered tractor]]
[[File:1903 Tractor.JPG|thumb|An early gasoline-powered tractor]]
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The first commercial [[continuous track]] vehicle was the 1901 [[Lombard Steam Log Hauler]]. The use of tracks became popular for [[tank]]s during [[World War I]], and later for civilian machinery like the bulldozer. The largest engineering vehicles and mobile land machines are [[bucket-wheel excavator]]s, built since the 1920s.
The first commercial [[continuous track]] vehicle was the 1901 [[Lombard Steam Log Hauler]]. The use of tracks became popular for [[tank]]s during [[World War I]], and later for civilian machinery like the bulldozer. The largest engineering vehicles and mobile land machines are [[bucket-wheel excavator]]s, built since the 1920s.


"Until almost the twentieth century, one simple tool constituted the primary earthmoving machine: the [[hand shovel]] – moved with animal and human powered, sleds, barges, and wagons. This tool was the principal method by which material was either sidecast or elevated to load a conveyance, usually a [[wheelbarrow]], or a cart or wagon drawn by a [[draft animal]]. In antiquity, an equivalent of the hand shovel or hoe and head basket—and masses of men—were used to move earth to build civil works. Builders have long used the [[inclined plane]], levers, and [[pulley]]s to place solid building materials, but these labor-saving devices did not lend themselves to earthmoving, which required digging, raising, moving, and placing loose materials. The two elements required for mechanized earthmoving, then as now, were an independent power source and off-road mobility, neither of which could be provided by the technology of that time."<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Haycraft | first1 = William R. | year = 2011| title = History of Construction Equipment | doi = 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000374 | journal = Journal of Construction Engineering and Management | volume = 137| issue = 10| pages = 720–723}}</ref>
<blockquote>Until almost the twentieth century, one simple tool constituted the primary earthmoving machine: the [[hand shovel]]—moved with animal and human powered, sleds, barges, and wagons. This tool was the principal method by which material was either sidecast or elevated to load a conveyance, usually a [[wheelbarrow]], or a cart or wagon drawn by a [[draft animal]]. In antiquity, an equivalent of the hand shovel or hoe and head basket—and masses of men—were used to move earth to build civil works. Builders have long used the [[inclined plane]], levers, and [[pulley]]s to place solid building materials, but these labor-saving devices did not lend themselves to earthmoving, which required digging, raising, moving, and placing loose materials. The two elements required for mechanized earthmoving, then as now, were an independent power source and off-road mobility, neither of which could be provided by the technology of that time.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Haycraft | first1 = William R. | year = 2011| title = History of Construction Equipment | doi = 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000374 | journal = Journal of Construction Engineering and Management | volume = 137| issue = 10| pages = 720–723}}</ref></blockquote>


[[Container crane]]s were used from the 1950s and onwards, and made [[containerization]] possible.
[[Container crane]]s were used from the 1950s and onwards, and made [[containerization]] possible.
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Nowadays such is the importance of this machinery, some transport companies have developed specific equipment to transport heavy construction equipment to and from sites.
Nowadays such is the importance of this machinery, some transport companies have developed specific equipment to transport heavy construction equipment to and from sites.


Most of the major equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://electrek.co/2019/01/29/caterpillar-electric-excavator-giant-battery-pack/ |title=Caterpillar unveils an all-electric 26-ton excavator with a giant 300 kWh battery pack |last=Lambert |first=Fred |publisher=Wright’s Media |date=January 29, 2019 |website=Electrek |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> Volvo,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.equipmentworld.com/volvo-ce-test-electric-excavator-loader/ |title=Volvo CE gets $2M grant to test electric excavator, loader in California |last=McLoud |first=Don |publisher=Randall-Reilly |date=April 24, 2020 |website=Equipment World |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> Liebherr,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.equipmentworld.com/liebherrs-prototype-battery-powered-lb-16-drilling-rig-has-10-hour-run-time-video/ |title=Liebherr's prototype battery-powered LB 16 drilling rig has 10-hour run time (VIDEO) |last=Gruver Doyle |first=Marcia |publisher=Randall-Reilly |date=November 18, 2019 |website=Equipment World |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> and Bobcat have released or have been developing fully or partially electric-powered heavy equipment. Commercially-available models and R&D models were announced in 2019 and 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/47007-construction-equipment-goes-electric-but-hurdles-remain |title=Construction Equipment Goes Electric, But Hurdles Remain |last=Rubenstone |first=Jeff |publisher=BNP Media |date=June 5, 2019 |website=Engineering News-Record |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref>
Most of the major equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://electrek.co/2019/01/29/caterpillar-electric-excavator-giant-battery-pack/ |title=Caterpillar unveils an all-electric 26-ton excavator with a giant 300 kWh battery pack |last=Lambert |first=Fred |date=January 29, 2019 |publisher=Electrek |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> Volvo,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.equipmentworld.com/volvo-ce-test-electric-excavator-loader/ |title=Volvo CE gets $2M grant to test electric excavator, loader in California |last=McLoud |first=Don |publisher=Randall-Reilly |date=April 24, 2020 |website=Equipment World |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> Liebherr,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.equipmentworld.com/liebherrs-prototype-battery-powered-lb-16-drilling-rig-has-10-hour-run-time-video/ |title=Liebherr's prototype battery-powered LB 16 drilling rig has 10-hour run time (VIDEO) |last=Gruver Doyle |first=Marcia |publisher=Randall-Reilly |date=November 18, 2019 |website=Equipment World |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> and Bobcat have released or have been developing fully or partially electric-powered heavy equipment. Commercially-available models and R&D models were announced in 2019 and 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/47007-construction-equipment-goes-electric-but-hurdles-remain |title=Construction Equipment Goes Electric, But Hurdles Remain |last=Rubenstone |first=Jeff |publisher=BNP Media |date=June 5, 2019 |website=Engineering News-Record |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref>


Robotics and autonomy has been a growing concern for heavy equipment manufacturers with manufacturers beginning research and technology acquisition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cat.com/en_GB/news/machine-press-releases/caterpillar-announces-acquisition-of-robotic-expertise.html |title=Caterpillar Announces Acquisition of Robotic Expertise |date=June 2020 |website=Caterpillar |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> A [[Autonomous_robot#Construction_robots|number of companies]] are currently developing ([[Caterpillar_Inc.|Caterpillar]] and [[Bobcat_Company|Bobcat]]) or have launched ([[Built Robotics]]) commercial solutions to the market.
Robotics and autonomy has been a growing concern for heavy equipment manufacturers with manufacturers beginning research and technology acquisition.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.cat.com/en_GB/news/machine-press-releases/caterpillar-announces-acquisition-of-robotic-expertise.html |title=Caterpillar Announces Acquisition of Robotic Expertise |date=June 2020 |publisher=Caterpillar |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> A [[Autonomous_robot#Construction_robots|number of companies]] are currently developing ([[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] and [[Bobcat_Company|Bobcat]]) or have launched ([[Built Robotics]]) commercial solutions to the market.


==Types==
==Types==
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*[[Bulldozer]] (dozer, track dozer)
*[[Bulldozer]] (dozer, track dozer)
*[[Snowcat]]
*[[Snowcat]]
*[[Snowplow]]
*[[Skidder]]
*[[Skidder]]
*[[Tractor]] (wheel tractor)
*[[Tractor]] (wheel tractor)
*[[Continuous track|Track tractor]]
*[[Continuous track|Track tractor]]
*[[Locomotive]]
*[[Artillery tractor]]
*[[Crawler-transporter]]
*[[Crawler-transporter]]
*[[Military engineering vehicle]]s
*[[Military engineering vehicle]]s
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*[[Backhoe]]
*[[Backhoe]]
*[[Backhoe loader]]
*[[Backhoe loader]]
*[[Backhoe excavator]]


'''Timber'''
'''Timber'''
*[[Feller buncher]]
*[[Feller buncher]]
*[[harvester (forestry)|Harvester]]
*[[Harvester (forestry)|Harvester]]
*[[Forwarder]]
*[[Skidder]]
*[[Skidder]]
*[[Saw|Power saw]]
*[[Track harvester]]
*[[Track harvester]]
*[[forwarder|Wheel forwarder]]
*[[Forwarder|Wheel forwarder]]
*[[skidder|Wheel skidder]]
*[[Skidder|Wheel skidder]]


'''Pipelayer'''
'''Pipelayer'''
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*[[Dumper]]
*[[Dumper]]
*[[Dump truck]]
*[[Dump truck]]
*[[Dump dozer]]
*[[Haul truck]]
*[[Haul truck]]
*[[Mining|Mining equipment]]
*[[Mining|Mining equipment]]
'''Articulated'''
'''Articulated'''
*[[Articulated hauler]]
*[[Articulated hauler]]
*[[Dump truck#Articulated hauler|Articulated truck]]


'''Compactor'''
'''Compactor'''
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*[[Travel lift]]
*[[Travel lift]]
*[[Forklift]]
*[[Forklift]]
*[[Garbage truck]]
*[[Grapple truck]], [[Crane (machine)#Loader|Knuckleboom loader (trailer mount)]]
*[[Grapple truck]], [[Crane (machine)#Loader|Knuckleboom loader (trailer mount)]]
*[[Straddle carrier]]
*[[Straddle carrier]]
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*[[Reach stacker]]
*[[Reach stacker]]
*[[Telescopic handlers]]
*[[Telescopic handlers]]
*[[Tow truck]]


'''Paving'''
'''Paving'''
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*[[Excavator attachments|Attachment]]s
*[[Excavator attachments|Attachment]]s
*[[Drilling rig]]
*[[Drilling rig]]
*[[Horizontal directional drilling]]
*[[Earth auger]]
*[[Earth auger]]
*[[Pile driver]]
*[[Pile driver]]
*[[Post pounder]]
*[[Rotary tiller]] (rototiller, rotovator)
*[[Rotary tiller]] (rototiller, rotovator)


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*[[Ballast tractor]]
*[[Ballast tractor]]
*[[Pushback (aviation)|Pushback tractor]]
*[[Pushback (aviation)|Pushback tractor]]
*[[Railcar mover]]
*[[dump truck#Standard dump truck|Highway 10 yard rear dump]]
*[[dump truck#Standard dump truck|Highway 10 yard rear dump]]
*[[dump truck#Semi trailer bottom dump truck|Highway bottom dump (stiff)]], [[dump truck#Truck and pup|pup (belly train)]], [[dump truck#Double and triple trailer bottom dump truck|triple]]
*[[dump truck#Semi trailer bottom dump truck|Highway bottom dump (stiff)]], [[dump truck#Truck and pup|pup (belly train)]], [[dump truck#Double and triple trailer bottom dump truck|triple]]
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|width=33%|
|width=33%|
*F.O.G.
*F.O.G.
**[[fuel]]
**[[Fuel]]
**[[lubricants]], [[lube oil]]s, [[oil filter|filters (oil, air, fuel, hydraulic)]], and [[grease (lubricant)|grease]]
**Oil: [[lubricants]], [[lube oil]]s, [[oil filter|filters (oil, air, fuel, hydraulic)]]
**[[grease (lubricant)|Grease]]
|width=33%|
|width=33%|
*[[repairs]]
*[[repairs]]
Line 331: Line 338:


The biggest distinction from a cost standpoint is if a repair is classified as a ''major repair'' or a ''minor repair''. A major repair can change the depreciable equipment value due to an extension in [[service life]], while a minor repair is normal [[maintenance, repair and operations|maintenance]]. How a firm chooses to cost major and minor repairs vary from firm to firm depending on the costing strategies being used. Some firms will charge only major repairs to the equipment while minor repairs are costed to a project. Another common costing strategy is to cost all repairs to the equipment and only frequently replaced wear items are excluded from the equipment cost. Many firms keep their costing structure closely guarded{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} as it can impact the bidding strategies of their competition. In a company with multiple semi-independent divisions, the equipment department often wants to classify all repairs as "minor" and charge the work to a job – therefore improving their 'profit' from the equipment.
The biggest distinction from a cost standpoint is if a repair is classified as a ''major repair'' or a ''minor repair''. A major repair can change the depreciable equipment value due to an extension in [[service life]], while a minor repair is normal [[maintenance, repair and operations|maintenance]]. How a firm chooses to cost major and minor repairs vary from firm to firm depending on the costing strategies being used. Some firms will charge only major repairs to the equipment while minor repairs are costed to a project. Another common costing strategy is to cost all repairs to the equipment and only frequently replaced wear items are excluded from the equipment cost. Many firms keep their costing structure closely guarded{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} as it can impact the bidding strategies of their competition. In a company with multiple semi-independent divisions, the equipment department often wants to classify all repairs as "minor" and charge the work to a job – therefore improving their 'profit' from the equipment.



==Models==
==Models==
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==Notable manufacturers==
==Notable manufacturers==
The largest 10 construction equipment manufacturers in 2020 <sub>based on revenue data of top 50 manufacturers published by KHL Group</sub> <ref name=khl>{{cite web|title="World's top 50 OEMs ranked". ''International Construction'' May 2020: page 22.|url=https://www.khl.com/Files/Download/yellowtable_46147.pdf}}</ref>
The largest 10 heavy equipment manufacturers in 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Construction equipment manufacturers: world equipment sales |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/280343/leading-construction-machinery-manufacturers-worldwide-based-on-sales/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheads" ;"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheads" ;"
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! scope="col" | Company
! scope="col" | Company
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | CE sales (million USD)
! scope="col" | Sales (billion USD)
! scope="col" | Share of total
! scope="col" | Share of total


|-
|-
| 1 || [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] ||{{flagcountry|USA}} || 32,882 || 16.2%
| 1 || [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] ||{{flagcountry|USA}} || 37,5 || 16.3%
|-
|-
| 2 || [[Komatsu Limited|Komatsu]] ||{{flagcountry|Japan}} || 23,298 || 11.5%
| 2 || [[Komatsu Limited|Komatsu]] ||{{flagcountry|Japan}} || 24,7 || 10.7%
|-
|-
| 3 || [[John Deere]] ||{{flagcountry|USA}} || 11,220 || 5.5%
| 3 || [[XCMG]]||{{flagcountry|China}}|| 13,4 || 5.8%
|-
|-
| 4 || [[XCMG]] ||{{flagcountry|China}} || 11,162 || 5.5%
| 4 || [[John Deere]]||{{flagcountry|USA}}|| 12,5 || 5.4%
|-
|-
| 5 || [[Sany]] ||{{flagcountry|China}} || 10,956 || 5.4%
| 5 || [[Sany]] ||{{flagcountry|China}} || 11,9 || 5.2%
|-
|-
| 6 || [[Volvo Construction Equipment]] ||{{flagcountry|Sweden}} || 9,381 || 4.6%
| 6 || [[Volvo Construction Equipment]] ||{{flagcountry|Sweden}} || 9,9 || 4.3%
|-
|-
| 7 || [[Hitachi Construction Machinery]] ||{{flagcountry|Japan}} || 8,989 || 4.4%
| 7 || [[Liebherr]]||{{flagcountry|Switzerland}}|| 9,9 || 4.3%
|-
|-
| 8 || [[Liebherr Group|Liebherr]] ||{{flagcountry|Switzerland}} || 8,565 || 4.2%
| 8 || [[Hitachi Construction Machinery]]||{{flagcountry|Japan}}|| 9,2 || 4.0%
|-
|-
| 9 || [[Doosan Infracore]] ||{{flagcountry|South Korea}} || 6,689 || 3.3%
| 9 ||[[Sandvik]]|| {{flagcountry|Sweden}}|| 7,8
|3.4%
|-
|-
| 10 || [[Zoomlion]] ||{{flagcountry|China}} || 6,270 || 3.1%
| 10 || [[JCB (heavy equipment manufacturer)|JCB]]||{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}|| 7,0 || 3.0%
|}
|}


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{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Anhui Heli]]
*[[Atlas Copco]]
*[[Atlas Copco]]
*[[BEML Limited]]
*[[BEML Limited]]
Line 388: Line 398:
*[[Hyundai Heavy Industries]]
*[[Hyundai Heavy Industries]]
*[[Ingersoll Rand]]
*[[Ingersoll Rand]]
*[[JCB (company)|JCB]]
*[[Kubota Corporation|Kubota]]
*[[Kubota Corporation|Kubota]]
*[[Kobelco Construction Machinery America|Kobelco]]
*[[Kobelco Construction Machinery America|Kobelco]]
Line 411: Line 420:


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Associated Equipment Distributors]], the trade association for heavy equipment distributors
*[[Construction equipment theft]]
* [[Construction equipment theft]]
*[[Non-road engine]]
* [[Non-road engine]]
*[[Associated Equipment Distributors]], the trade association for heavy equipment distributors


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 20:30, 17 November 2024

Heavy equipment vehicles of various types parked near a highway construction site

Heavy equipment, heavy machinery, earthmovers, construction vehicles, or construction equipment, refers to heavy-duty vehicles specially designed to execute construction tasks, most frequently involving earthwork operations or other large construction tasks. Heavy equipment usually comprises five equipment systems: the implement, traction, structure, power train, and control/information.

Heavy equipment has been used since at least the 1st century BC, when the ancient Roman engineer Vitruvius described a crane powered by human or animal labor in De architectura.

Heavy equipment functions through the mechanical advantage of a simple machine that multiplies the ratio between input force applied and force exerted, easing and speeding tasks which often could otherwise take hundreds of people and many weeks' labor. Some such equipment uses hydraulic drives as a primary source of motion.

The word plant, in this context, has come to mean any type of industrial equipment, including mobile equipment (e.g. in the same sense as powerplant). However, plant originally meant "structure" or "establishment" – usually in the sense of factory or warehouse premises; as such, it was used in contradistinction to movable machinery, often in the phrase "plant and equipment".

History

[edit]
Large wheel loader trucks parked
Wheel Loaders and other industrial trucks parked

The use of heavy equipment has a long history; the ancient Roman engineer Vitruvius (1st century BCE) gave descriptions of heavy equipment and cranes in ancient Rome in his treatise De architectura. The pile driver was invented around 1500. The first tunnelling shield was patented by Marc Isambard Brunel in 1818.

From horses, through steam and diesel, to electric and robotic

[edit]
Horse-drawn Fresno scraper digging water-supply ditch
A portable engine; a precursor to modern engineering vehicles
An early gasoline-powered tractor
Heavy equipment circa 1922

Until the 19th century and into the early 20th century heavy machines were drawn under human or animal power. With the advent of portable steam-powered engines the drawn machine precursors were reconfigured with the new engines, such as the combine harvester. The design of a core tractor evolved around the new steam power source into a new machine core traction engine, that can be configured as the steam tractor and the steamroller. During the 20th century, internal-combustion engines became the major power source of heavy equipment. Kerosene and ethanol engines were used, but today diesel engines are dominant. Mechanical transmission was in many cases replaced by hydraulic machinery. The early 20th century also saw new electric-powered machines such as the forklift. Caterpillar Inc. is a present-day brand from these days, starting out as the Holt Manufacturing Company. The first mass-produced heavy machine was the Fordson tractor in 1917.

The first commercial continuous track vehicle was the 1901 Lombard Steam Log Hauler. The use of tracks became popular for tanks during World War I, and later for civilian machinery like the bulldozer. The largest engineering vehicles and mobile land machines are bucket-wheel excavators, built since the 1920s.

Until almost the twentieth century, one simple tool constituted the primary earthmoving machine: the hand shovel—moved with animal and human powered, sleds, barges, and wagons. This tool was the principal method by which material was either sidecast or elevated to load a conveyance, usually a wheelbarrow, or a cart or wagon drawn by a draft animal. In antiquity, an equivalent of the hand shovel or hoe and head basket—and masses of men—were used to move earth to build civil works. Builders have long used the inclined plane, levers, and pulleys to place solid building materials, but these labor-saving devices did not lend themselves to earthmoving, which required digging, raising, moving, and placing loose materials. The two elements required for mechanized earthmoving, then as now, were an independent power source and off-road mobility, neither of which could be provided by the technology of that time.[1]

Container cranes were used from the 1950s and onwards, and made containerization possible.

Nowadays such is the importance of this machinery, some transport companies have developed specific equipment to transport heavy construction equipment to and from sites.

Most of the major equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar,[2] Volvo,[3] Liebherr,[4] and Bobcat have released or have been developing fully or partially electric-powered heavy equipment. Commercially-available models and R&D models were announced in 2019 and 2020.[5]

Robotics and autonomy has been a growing concern for heavy equipment manufacturers with manufacturers beginning research and technology acquisition.[6] A number of companies are currently developing (Caterpillar and Bobcat) or have launched (Built Robotics) commercial solutions to the market.

Types

[edit]

These subdivisions, in this order, are the standard heavy equipment categorization.

Tractor

Grader

Excavator

Backhoe

Timber

Pipelayer

Scraper

Mining

Articulated

Compactor

Loader

  • Loader (payloader, front loader, wheel loader, integrated tool carrier)
  • Skip loader (skippy)

Track loader

Skid-steer loader

Material handler

Paving

Underground

Hydromatic tool

Hydraulic machinery

Highway

Images

[edit]

Implements and hydromechanical work tools

[edit]

Traction: Off-the-road tires and tracks

[edit]
Continuous track (circa 1909)
Caterpillar track (circa 2009)

Heavy equipment requires specialized tires for various construction applications. While many types of equipment have continuous tracks applicable to more severe service requirements, tires are used where greater speed or mobility is required. An understanding of what equipment will be used for during the life of the tires is required for proper selection. Tire selection can have a significant impact on production and unit cost. There are three types of off-the-road tires, transport for earthmoving machines, work for slow moving earthmoving machines, and load and carry for transporting as well as digging. Off-highway tires have six categories of service C compactor, E earthmover, G grader, L loader, LS log-skidder and ML mining and logging. Within these service categories are various tread types designed for use on hard-packed surface, soft surface and rock. Tires are a large expense on any construction project, careful consideration should be given to prevent excessive wear or damage.

Heavy equipment operator

[edit]

A heavy equipment operator drives and operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects.[7][8] Typically only skilled workers may operate heavy equipment, and there is specialized training for learning to use heavy equipment.

Much publication about heavy equipment operators focuses on improving safety for such workers. The field of occupational medicine researches and makes recommendations about safety for these and other workers in safety-sensitive positions.

Equipment cost

[edit]

Due to the small profit margins on construction projects it is important to maintain accurate records concerning equipment utilization, repairs and maintenance. The two main categories of equipment costs are ownership cost and operating cost.[9]

Ownership cost

[edit]

To classify as an ownership cost an expense must have been incurred regardless of if the equipment is used or not. These costs are as follows:

Depreciation can be calculated several ways, the simplest is the straight-line method. The annual depreciation is constant, reducing the equipment value annually. The following are simple equations paraphrased from the Peurifoy & Schexnayder text:

m = some year in the future

N = equipment useful life (years)

and Dn = Annual depreciation amount

Dn = purchase price / N

Book value (BV) in year m

BVm = purchase price – (m x Dn)

example:

N = 5

purchase price = $350,000

m = 3 years from now

BV3 = $350,000 – ( 3 x $350,000/5) = $140,000

Operating cost

[edit]

For an expense to be classified as an operating cost, it must be incurred through use of the equipment. These costs are as follows:[10]

  • tires
  • 3rd party service contract
  • replacement of high-wear items

The biggest distinction from a cost standpoint is if a repair is classified as a major repair or a minor repair. A major repair can change the depreciable equipment value due to an extension in service life, while a minor repair is normal maintenance. How a firm chooses to cost major and minor repairs vary from firm to firm depending on the costing strategies being used. Some firms will charge only major repairs to the equipment while minor repairs are costed to a project. Another common costing strategy is to cost all repairs to the equipment and only frequently replaced wear items are excluded from the equipment cost. Many firms keep their costing structure closely guarded[citation needed] as it can impact the bidding strategies of their competition. In a company with multiple semi-independent divisions, the equipment department often wants to classify all repairs as "minor" and charge the work to a job – therefore improving their 'profit' from the equipment.


Models

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Die-cast metal promotional scale models of heavy equipment are often produced for each vehicle to give to prospective customers. These are typically in 1:50 scale. The popular manufacturers of these models are Conrad and NZG in Germany, even for US vehicles.

Notable manufacturers

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The largest 10 heavy equipment manufacturers in 2022[12]

No. Company Country Sales (billion USD) Share of total
1 Caterpillar  United States 37,5 16.3%
2 Komatsu  Japan 24,7 10.7%
3 XCMG  China 13,4 5.8%
4 John Deere  United States 12,5 5.4%
5 Sany  China 11,9 5.2%
6 Volvo Construction Equipment  Sweden 9,9 4.3%
7 Liebherr   Switzerland 9,9 4.3%
8 Hitachi Construction Machinery  Japan 9,2 4.0%
9 Sandvik  Sweden 7,8 3.4%
10 JCB  United Kingdom 7,0 3.0%


Other manufacturers include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Haycraft, William R. (2011). "History of Construction Equipment". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 137 (10): 720–723. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000374.
  2. ^ Lambert, Fred (January 29, 2019). "Caterpillar unveils an all-electric 26-ton excavator with a giant 300 kWh battery pack". Electrek. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  3. ^ McLoud, Don (April 24, 2020). "Volvo CE gets $2M grant to test electric excavator, loader in California". Equipment World. Randall-Reilly. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Gruver Doyle, Marcia (November 18, 2019). "Liebherr's prototype battery-powered LB 16 drilling rig has 10-hour run time (VIDEO)". Equipment World. Randall-Reilly. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Rubenstone, Jeff (June 5, 2019). "Construction Equipment Goes Electric, But Hurdles Remain". Engineering News-Record. BNP Media. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Caterpillar Announces Acquisition of Robotic Expertise" (Press release). Caterpillar. June 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ^ U.S. Department of Labor – Occupational Outlook Handbook
  8. ^ V. J. Davies, Ken Tomasin (1996). Construction Safety Handbook. Thomas Telford. ISBN 0-7277-2519-X.
  9. ^ Peurifoy & Schexnayder "Construction Planning Equipment, and Methods" McGraw Hill 6th edition ISBN 0-07-232176-8, 2002.
  10. ^ Bartholomew, S.H. "Estimating and Bidding for Heavy Construction" CSU Chico, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-598327-4, 2000
  11. ^ "Heavy Equipment parts catalog". AGA Parts. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  12. ^ "Construction equipment manufacturers: world equipment sales". Statista. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
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