The demand for more specialized tasks in construction means that the range of heavy equipment available today is constantly expanding. Of course, heavy equipment such as backhoes, excavators trucks and bulldozers are still required, but now units are available with more specialized functions to deal with specific construction tasks. So, you have to keep up to date with what heavy equipment is available if you aim to be efficient and profitable within the construction industry.

Here's some of the more common specialized heavy equipment that is available today.

Cranes
The crane is probably the most useful workhorse piece of heavy equipment within a construction site. Cranes are essential for lifting and the placing of materials within the job site. In its basic form it is simply a boom arm that lifts and transports using pulleys and a cable system. The crucial design considerations for cranes are its lifting capability and stability.

Within the construction site cranes can be a temporary structure, and their use comes to an end once all the heavy and large quantity materials have been lifted and shifted to where they will be used. Occassionally, tower cranes are secured to the ground for extra stability when moving very heavy loads.

Only a short while ago, crane operators controlled the machine from a cab high up on the boom arm of the crane. But today, the crane is more commonly controlled with wired controls or by radio. Cranes can typically be found on large construction projects, within mining, forestry, and the materials handling industries.

Skid loaders
A skid loader is a very versatile stiff frame machine. Its functionality can be transformed by adding attachment tools to the bare unit - a sweeper, backhoe, hydraulic breaker, snow blower, pallet fork, stump grinder, tree spade, mower, trencher, wheel saw - are just some of its many possible functions.

There are two types of skid loaders: a 4-wheel drive system or a rubber track version. You would use a 4-wheel drive type if you needed greater maneuverability. When site conditions are rough because of mud and sand, the track type offers better grip.

Then there are skid steel loaders which are used for digging and moving landscape materials. They are also used for grading and loading trucks.

Compared to other heavy equipment, their relatively small size makes them  perfect for working in tight spaces. They are also easy to maneuver and can turn in their own tracks due to the independance of the right and left drive wheels. Another major benefit of skid loaders is they can be towed by trucks because they are relatively lightweight.

Excavators
Excavators are used extensively in road building, construction, and within the mining industry. At the beginning of a building project, these large machines are usually used first for cutting ground and burrowing.

The operation of an excavator is not unlike a human arm, consisting of a bucket scoop (like a cupped hand), attached to a jointed boom arm which is similar in operation to your forearm, elbow and shoulder. An excavator consists of four essential components: hydraulic cylinders, boom, arm and bucket. The excavator assembly is attached to a crawler unit so it can move around the site.

Forklifts
Forklifts are very common on construction sites. Essentially, a forklift is a small tractor unit with lifting forks in front that are used to lift and move around bundled material such as a stack of bricks. They are available in a range of models suited for specific tasks depending on their intended purpose.

If the project needs a specialized forklift that is not available, some manufacturers will custom-make a unit just for that specific purpose. Forklifts are commonly used for shifting materials and goods stored on small, transportable platforms called pallets. The forks go under the pallet and are lifted while the machine drives to the intended destination on the site, and then the materials are lowered into place.

Where a greater reach is required to place the materials in the correct position, a telescopic forklift can be used. The placement of materials is more precise with this unit due to its moveable boom.

Others
A large amount of other minor heavy equipment can be found on construction sites. Such equipment as crawlers, concrete mixers and speciality machines founded on designs of more common equipment like backhoes, bulldozers, transport trucks and others.

Construction professionals have to keep themselves updated and be aware of the heavy equipment available to the industry, because the right piece of heavy equipment can make the job more efficient and save time... and time is money.