Excavators and Construction Projects

Multi-function excavators are among the most common types of excavators that large construction projects employ due to the multi ability aspects of these excavators. The multi-functional elements of these excavators are directly attributed to the additional joints that are attached to the arm which enhances the range of possible movements.

The versatility of excavators are critical to construction projects which is the reason as to why they have road-rail versions of excavators that move on rail networks and even amphibious excavators that work with ease on bodies of water. Albeit, it is always important to remember that the primary criteria towards selecting an excavator is the size and power of the machine. Size is characterized by the operational weight of the excavator (excavators range from anywhere between less than a tonne to those that are above 100 tonnes such as the ones that are used for surface mining) and hence choosing the excavator must be based solely on the needs of the project.
For instance, a small multipurpose excavator may not be able to meet the needs of heavy work whereas one that is too large might become cumbersome to handle in small areas and unnecessarily increase the cost of the project simultaneously. What needs to be understood at this juncture is the fact that the weight of an excavator provides a general idea of the machine size and the extent of weights that it can manage. Similarly, the arm reach is also a factor that must be taken into consideration based on the requirement of the project as the bigger the excavator, the longer the arm.

Another aspect of to consider when a company needs to hire an excavator is that must also be given due consideration is power that the engine supplies the entire hydraulic unit as it is the engine that powers the arm and most other tools that are mounted on it. The engine power is generally relative to the size of the machine; however, this is not the rule of the thumb and may vary significantly in some instances. The simple fact is that the more powerful the engine is, the better the potential for the machine to carry out more difficult or heavy jobs.

Most excavators use diesel driven engines, however, in more recent years in view of the issues with pollution and global warming, excavators are becoming more eco-friendly with hybrid diesel/electric engines that are fitted with efficient energy recovery systems. For projects that lean towards 'eco-friendliness' it will only be right to use these types of excavators which in general abide by anti-pollution laws such as the Tier Classification or the European Emission Standards.
By establishing the primary criterion of the project and subsequently the job requirement for the excavator, project managers will be able to definitely define the characteristics of the machine they require. Other consideration that might make the difference between completing projects with their given timeframe and budget include ergonomics for the position of the operator and noise level.

This would be based on the 'comfort factor' as the more comfortable the operator is, the faster will he or she be able to get the job at hand completed.