When it comes to construction in modern society, the correct machines can define the success of any construction project.
Whether you are constructing a high-rise building or carrying out prolonged underground installations, deciding under what circumstances certain machines are best to use is not just about which machine is the strongest. Instead, it is about the machine in relation to efficiency, value for effort and time, and precision.
In this guide, we explore the 7 best machines for success in complex construction conditions, discuss their applications, and what to look for when hiring or buying machines. Additionally, this guide provides practical guidance on the variable machine costs, the process of equipment hire, and how to choose the correct machine from the provided list of machines and processes for a construction project of varying scale and complexity.
1. Excavators: The workhorse of earthworks
Excavators are still one of the most versatile machines in the field. Often most associated with a backhoe, the hydraulic systems provide operators with the capacity for the machines to dig, lift, and move the excavator itself in powerful and precise movements, whether on urban sites or open ground.
Some key considerations are bucket and excavation reach size and weight. In large civil works, GPS-guided excavators are becoming standard for operators to achieve depth accuracy and prevent material waste.
Industry tip: Hydraulic-powered machines and a digital control unit will increase the equipment cost. However, fuel efficiency and productivity will increase over long periods with these features.
2. Chain Trenchers: The machine to dig straight and level
Chain trenchers are specialised machines that take on projects involving pipelines, cabling, or renewable plant infrastructure, and to be honest, get the job done that standard excavation cannot. Chain trenchers will cut a uniform trench to the depth and width specified in the design. Essential for drainage, utilities, or high-spec civil works.
Three notable and high-performing models in the trenching space include:
Tesmec M5 Chain Trencher
Boasts a tremendous level of digging power at 400 HP for hard, compact ground, specifically focused on major infrastructure and mining applications.
Vermeer T755 Chain Trencher
A dependable all-purpose model with great ability. Efficient for pipes, roads, and cuts at medium depth across various soil types.
Trencor 760HD Chain Trencher
Designed for accuracy where detail matters most, best-suited projects range from energy installations to more complex renewables endeavours.
While all models demonstrate differing functions, the three illustrate how trenching systems have evolved, combining heavy-duty performance with precision control.
When determining the operating costs of trenchers, consider the machine’s market price, the part specifications, and soil conditions. For short to mid-term use of the equipment, the hiring often carries a better value that allows for a more flexible ownership period without the operating costs of the machinery.
3. Bulldozers: Power and Precision
A bulldozer is designed to provide controlled capability for heavier, rougher, or other out-of-the-ordinary conditions. The design features heavy tracks and a defined blade known for its durability. Surface levelling, earth clearing, site preparation or large-scale site preparation is the optimal realm of use for a bulldozer.
Bulldozers have a balanced capability to push large amounts of earth and the agility to re-grade for accuracy. The type of blade (straight blade, universal blade, or combination blade) used will determine how soil or earth moves. The width of tracks determines the stability of the bulldozer; wide tracks provide stability in more complicated areas of work, such as slopes and hills.
Pro tip: If comparing machines with each manufacturer’s capacity, consider the loader and operational performance of the machine. Operator, sightlines, control systems, and tracked design are considered factors affecting machine performance for each task.
4. Wheel Loaders: Speed and Capacity
Wheel Loaders move material efficiently around a construction site. A wheel loader is specifically built to quickly load/unload and move aggregates, soil, and debris.
Choosing the correct loader can significantly reduce cycle times and improve productivity within a site, without needing to increase the amount of labour available. In addition to the bucket size, the lift capacity should be matched to site conditions. This will ensure output is maximised without wasted motion.
If you are reviewing machine prices related to construction, you should consider the service intervals and fuel-efficiency expectations, as both factors can have a significant impact on lifecycle cost.
5. Skid Steer Loaders: Compact Productivity
Skid steers are the most versatile construction machines for sites with limited space. The small frame and quick and responsive control make them excellent machines for urban builds and for landscape works.
Additionally, with the right attachments, skid steers can trench, lift, sweep, and, when required, break concrete, taking one compact unit to the level of a multi-use machine.
For all their ability to perform a wide range of tasks, they are also simple to operate, reducing the time required for training new operators on-site. A simple machine gives you mechanical moves executed seamlessly, reducing delays when you may employ the plant in complex areas of the build, and it also positively impacts daily labour costs.
6. Backhoe Loaders: Versatile and Mobile
A backhoe loader is another machine that combines the ability to excavate and load all into one compact machine. The ability to drive them to and from jobs means that they travel quickly between jobs, making them suitable for when you are conducting regional works and are completing multiple small jobs at a time.
With modern-day digital controls and hydraulic response improvements on backhoes, movement from excavating to loading operations has become seamless. Backhoes are also a great option for the mid-range budget when reviewing equipment prices, as you will get two core work functions out of one machine.
7. Concrete Mixers: Consistency is Everything
Concrete mixers are still a must-have to control the quality of your building works. Even if your construction site consists of multiple floors, consistent batching means you can ensure strength, durability, and long-term structure integrity.
If your construction project is complex, on-site mixing provides improved fluidity and can prevent any issues with time-sensitive transport. Some portable models are more suited to multi-point pours or when the pour site is in a remote location. Planning and sizing the concrete mixer capacity to suit the project scope will help you avoid waste in your project and improve workflow.
Choosing the Right Equipment Strategy
The best construction teams do not simply try to buy or hire machinery. They develop a strategic mix of machinery hire and machinery purchase based on project requirements. Machinery hire can offer access to the highest quality machinery for short-term or specific projects, while acquisition makes sense for core required equipment (for example: excavators, loaders).
When deciding, keep in mind these considerations:
1. Duration of site use and timeframes for projects
2. Expected maintenance and servicing costs
3. Operator skill levels
4. Transport and storage considerations
When comparing equipment prices and machine prices related to construction, consider not only the purchase price quoted but the total cost of being able to operate that asset (fuel, wear parts, downtime and maintenance).
If your equipment hire process is professional, it will remove much uncertainty from the considerations above. Hiring equipment means you have access to machines that have been well-maintained, are ready to work, and have service and support options.
Start Your Next Project the Right Way with Sunstate Pipelines
When executing your next construction project, you will need to have both the right machines and the right team behind them. Sunstate Pipe Lines supplies all types and sizes of expertly maintained trackless trenchers and heavy equipment, built for the tough, complex construction projects.
Whether undertaking large-scale civil works, renewable energy works, or digging deep trenches for gas and water pipelines, our fleet and support processes have been designed to perform safely, precisely and efficiently. Contact Sunstate Pipelines today to discuss your project scope, view the full range of hire equipment available and get started the right way.