From waste management to production and manufacturing and encompassing everything in between, heavy machinery and equipment form the center of any business working in the construction industry.

Whether you are considering taking your business to the next level and entering the large-scale field, or are looking for ways and means of increasing productivity, continue reading for a behind-the-scenes look into construction machinery. 

Commonalities Across the Board 

Heavy machinery can vary substantially in size, appearance, and functionality. Still, you may be surprised to learn that there are four key characteristics of construction machinery that remain the same regardless of the individual piece of equipment. 

1. Caterpillar-style treads and/or tires
2. The ability to maneuver on unstable and unpredictable terrain using traction systems
3. The core function of either demolition, transportation, excavation, or remodeling
4. Specific attributes designed to endure extreme working conditions 

Additionally, there are three essential areas in which construction machines must excel in:

1. Following safety, usage, and handling measures specific to the machine type
2. Operation by someone fully trained and authorized to do so
3. Compliance with upkeep and maintenance to a strict schedule

Naturally, whether you yourself are solely responsible for heavy machinery for sale in your local area, or else you are part of the team who source equipment, it is important to weight the pros and cons of rental versus purchase in each individual case.

Machinery Classification 

Universally, construction machinery is classified according to its core purpose and ability and falls into either the heavy, semi-heavy, or light machinery category. 

Light machinery tends to possess incredibly specific and usually one-purpose-only functions and is always smaller and easier to transport, with semi-heavy machinery being essentially a smaller copy of the heavier alternative.

Heavy construction machinery are vehicles of much larger proportions and usually require specific accreditation in order for operation to be legal. 

Underneath each category heading, construction machinery can also be classified by their intended usage, with truck and tower cranes referred to as ‘moving materials’, bins, concrete mixers, and dump trucks as ‘hauling materials and jackhammer and wrecking balls falling under the ‘demolition’ heading. 

Serious, sometimes fatal, accidents occur in the US construction industry on a regular basis. As a result, tighter regulations and rules are moving into place to protect individual operators and companies. 

Sustainability in Construction Machinery 

As it should be, the construction industry is held accountable, just as companies operating in other industries, when it comes to how sustainable and environmentally friendly their core business processes are.

The commitment to carbon neutrality pledged by the US government, alongside many other countries, by 2050 means that leaders in construction need to attempt to reduce the high levels of carbon dioxide emissions their industry is responsible for. 

To achieve this, the industry needs to find ways of reducing the toxic emissions created by machinery, improve the materials used in the manufacturing of equipment, reduce fossil fuel usage to a bare minimum and reuse and recycle parts and resources where possible.