Amongst heavy machines, the excavator is undoubtedly one of the most important machines that the entire construction industry is dependent on. Most people affiliated with the construction industry deem excavators as the workhorses of the industry due to the excavator’s extensive and versatile use within the arena of construction.
The latest excavator models are used for more than just moving earth and excavating owed to the advances in hydraulic technology that enable small excavator rentals to not just dig and move earth, but also drill holes using auger attachments, break concrete using hydraulic hammers, compact earth, clear land using grapplers and even demolish structures.
The excavator compared to all other heavy machines, could be said to have come full circle. The latest excavator models that are offered for hire by rental companies generally come with sophisticated tech such as on-board GPS systems, grade assist and even load sensors which enable even inexperienced excavator operators to grade and excavate with high precision.
The introduction of GPS systems to the modern excavator has enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of tasks as these systems provide the operator with real-time positioning which allow them to dig and grade with precision and this eliminates the need for rework and material waste.
In essence, the GPS system provides the operator with real-time feedback that tells the operator the excavator’s exact location, depth, and angle which enable the operator to make necessary adjustments and avoid errors. Apart from that, excavators with GPS systems assist asset tracking and security functions as they offer real-time monitoring and are capable of sending alerts in the event that there is any unauthorized movement of the machine.
Another technological feature that has been introduced to the modern excavator is the load sensor. Load sensors (also sometimes referred to as load cells or pressure sensors) monitor forces acting upon the excavator mainly during digging and lifting tasks which is critical towards ensuring safety at the project site and also improve efficiency.
Generally, the load sensors tell the operator when overloading occurs which is the frequent cause of accidents involving excavators as excavators may tip over when overloaded and also damage the hydraulic system. With load sensors operators are alerted when safe limits are arrived at and this extends the lifespan of the machine’s hydraulic components significantly.
For those intending to take excavators for hire for a project, it is advisable to rake machines that have these technological features as they increase productivity significantly. Cost is also reduced as the requirement for scarce experienced operators is reduced as even novice operators would be able to handle complex project tasks with the assistance of these state-of-the-art technological features.
The latest excavator models produced by leading manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Kubota and Komatsu for instance have these technologies as a standard feature in their machines.
Excavator technology has indeed come a long way since their development decades ago and due to this, these machines have become fundamental to any given construction project.
