Compact Construction Equipment

Compact construction is a term that is used in the construction industry – it refers to smaller pieces of equipment that are specifically designed to work on commercial and residential sites. These types of equipment are able to perform tasks that could be previously only managed by larger and heavier pieces of machinery, which often incurred great expense and had limited manoeuvrability – even more so in tight places.

What Are the Advantages?

These smaller and more compact pieces of construction equipment are renowned for their versatility.

Superior Navigation & Easy Operation

This type of equipment is built for work sites that are crowded, or difficult to access – the compact size means that these machines can work effectively in confined spaces.

Lightweight

Heavyweight equipment often causes damage to the worksite such as deep tyre marks - whereas compact construction equipment is more lightweight. This is especially useful when working on sites where the appearance of the grounds is important.

Low Cost

Being the compact variety of other types of equipment, it also has the added advantage of a comparatively lower cost.

Greater Productivity

Compact construction equipment enjoys much greater productivity, it can perform a number of functions much faster than if the tasks were carried out by hand, due to the superior speed and power.

Easier Transportation

Another advantage is that this type of machinery is it easier to transport to and around the construction site - the larger the piece of equipment, the more difficult it is to transport to and from the site.

Types of Compact Construction Equipment

There are several different types of compact construction equipment, including but not limited to the following:

Mini Excavator

A mini excavator is a small excavator with a single digging arm at the front and a rotating cab. They are one of the most useful pieces of equipment on the construction site and are generally used for digging, demolition and picking up large, heavy objects. They offer precise control and are ideal for confined spaces on construction sites, domestic worksites and landscaping. There are several different brands of excavators - when choosing a mini excavator, it is important to consider the size of the bucket, the dig depth, lift capacity and engine power.

Compact Skid Steers

Another excellent piece of compact equipment on the construction site; the skid loader or skid steer features a small, rigid frame powered by an engine with lift arms that are able to attach to a wide variety of different types of buckets – they are mainly used for digging and loading on the construction site. This can help to eliminate the need for a number of labour-saving tools - skid steers have either radial or vertical lifts – the latter is designed to access higher, more difficult to reach spaces whereas radial lifts are able to lift more weight.

Compact Track Loaders

Compact track loaders essentially consist of a tracked chassis with a digger for loading and digging material. They are designed to handle a variety of different operations such as digging, loading and clearing land. The track chassis as opposed to tyres means they are good at working on uneven or unstable terrain such as on soft, sandy ground or in the mud – they also have excellent lifting capacities, which makes them perfect for tight, uneven spaces on the construction site. Compact track loaders come in a variety of different sizes - bigger sizes have greater horsepower and lifting capacity can also vary considerably. Therefore, it is important to check what size is most suitable for the task and type of worksite.

How We Can Help

A T Wilde & Son Ltd is a family run business that supplies parts and engines by all leading manufacturers. Our sister company Wildes Plant Hire Ltd offers a full range of machines and parts to the construction and plant hire industries including compact construction equipment. For more information on our products and services, get in touch today.