In recent years, the mini equipment market (diggers / loaders) has exploded as a result of the versatility, ease of use and transportation of the equipment, and is one of the fastest growing market segments for the hire and rental industry.

According to Steve Ashendon, National Sales Manager for Dingo Mini Diggers, the mini digger/loader market is now estimated to be worth $20 million per year.

“The mini digger/loader market is a huge and growing market in terms of sales and has been steadily growing for Dingo at a rate of 50% pa for the past five years,” Mr Ashendon said.

“The hire industry represents about 35% of all Dingo mini digger sales, which is a large segment of our sales,” he said.

Another factor in the increased and growing popularity of mini equipment is in its labour saving capabilities.

“In the past 10 years, workplace practices have changed. Whereas previously building sites may have utilised manual labour, nowadays our machines are replacing manual labour. Now, instead of using a labourer, wheelbarrow and shovel, our mini digger can go in and complete the digging task in a fraction of the time, not to mention cost.

“Changes to WorkCover and Work Care and recent amendments to OH&S stipulations make utilisation of mini equipment a much more attractive option,” Mr Ashendon said.

While mini equipment has been in production since the early 1980s, mini equipment of today is much more powerful and efficient than ever before, and more cost-effective.

“Building sites tend to be a lot smaller these days and feature many tight spaces. Access can also be an issue for larger digging equipment, which is where mini diggers come into their own,” Mr Ashendon said.

“From a hiring perspective, return on investment is quick as a result of the low maintenance requirements which in turn creates a quicker turn around time for equipment hire. Beginners can take a Dingo home on a trailer themselves without need for delivery and pick up, and with minimal instruction and be able to operate the equipment (although licenses are required for use on building sites in NSW).”

According to Mr Ashendon, Dingo mini diggers are in such high market demand because of their robust quality and simplistic design which requires little maintenance.

“Our machines are virtually maintenance free and definitely stand up to the rigours of hire,” Mr Ashendon said.

It is also the Dingo after sales service and support from branches and distributors in every state which make Dingo an attractive mini equipment option.

“We can offer same day parts delivery and support direct from the manufacturer. And to top it off, our machines are the only ones with a twin pump hydraulic system providing two speeds of operation, making it the safest machine on the market,” he said.

As a point of interest, Mr Ashendon pointed out how the industry is commonly called the “mini loader” industry, while Dingo commonly refers to it as the “mini digger” industry.

“This is because Dingo machines are particularly good at digging tasks – excelling at trenching and posthole digging via the best hydraulic power in its class.”

There are different types of construction that can be performed depending on what needs to be fixed or built in society. For instance one major type of construction is heavy construction. Heavy construction is the type of work that occurs when infrastructure is added to an already built up environment, such as building a highway. Those who own heavy construction projects are typically national or local level government agencies that deal with large contracts that last quite a length of time.

Heavy construction projects are usually done in the best interest of the public to service them better. Of course, it is hard to agree with this when you’re stuck in traffic while the roads or the sewers beneath them are being replaced, but indeed the end result has us in mind. That being said, not every heavy construction project is undertaken by the government. Some large, private corporations, such as power companies, harbors, railroads, mines and golf courses, are also involved. These private companies, among others, undertake heavy construction in order to create dams, railways, massive earthwork projects, etc.

Some developments that are considered heavy construction projects include:

- buildings

- parks – playgrounds – apartments – stadiums

- factories – malls

The most important part of heavy construction that makes it successful is the equipment that is used. Heavy construction equipment is essential to the project, because without it, even the basic construction work could never be completed. They are typically quite large, and are created specifically for one or two different uses. The primary equipment used for heavy construction includes but is not limited to: bulldozers, cranes, well drilling machinery, earthmoving equipment, loaders, draglines, cable plows, scrapers, generators, rollers, light towers, etc.

Each piece of heavy construction equipment plays an important role in the project. For instance, as far as groundwork is concerned, heavy rollers are used. Heavy rollers set up the project and find the base. They are then used to raise and drag tons of stones and iron from one place to the next.

The biggest problem that often occurs with heavy construction is the cost of building. Heavy equipment is quite expensive, and the people needed to work these machines and tools need to have the skill and experience in order to handle them. That being the case, many companies make the decision to rent or lease heavy equipment, sometimes even with or without the operators.

Unfortunately, because operators need to have both the skill and knowledge to work the equipment, they have become practically as indispensable as the heavy equipment. This can sometimes cause problems for companies who require heavy construction projects. To beat this problem, some companies hire people and then pay for their training, as opposed to trying to find someone who already has the training and is therefore going to request a much higher salary.

Despite certain problems, and expenses, most heavy construction projects are completed. The result of a heavy construction project is usually something that many people can benefit from and enjoy.

Wholesale construction equipment is a great way to save money for any one who is planning to run a successful construction work. Basically, this equipment is cheaper than that available in the local retail market, because wholesalers sell their stock at a price lower than the marked market price. Packaging and transportation are very cost effective when wholesale purchases are made. Both heavy construction equipment and light construction equipment can be purchased in wholesale.

Construction equipment encompass cranes, bulldozers, well drilling machinery, cable plows, generators, loaders, earthmoving equipment, scrapers, draglines, rollers, and light towers. Wholesale construction equipment is resale goods to retailers, professional business, and other related services. Wholesalers purchase goods directly from the manufacturers. Depending on the type of merchandise, they buy the equipment in large quantities and sell them to retailers or other customers.

Wholesale construction equipment is in large demand around the world. It is sold in such a way that it supports effective competition at the retail level and can bring in much larger profits. When buying wholesale construction equipment, customers have the benefits of purchasing new merchandise with full manufacturer’s warranty. For the retailers, it reduces the cost of product introductions and promotions. They also get huge discounts on bulk purchases.

Wholesalers of construction equipment assemble, sort, and grade goods in large lots; then repack and redistribute them in smaller lots. They provide full details about the products including price, model, and quality. In addition to the sale of goods, they provide marketing and support services such as packaging and labeling, inventory management, and shipping. They also engage in the sales promotion, equipment training, and handling of warranty claims.

Wholesale construction equipment is distributed to many local and regional retailers for value-added processing and is a dependable asset for retail shop owners. To make construction equipment an attractive business item, one needs a quality wholesale supplier. Internet is a safe way to find consistent wholesale construction equipment suppliers.

Today backhoes are commonly found on almost every construction job. It is hard to imagine any dirt moving job without some backhoe work.Backhoes are compact and easy to maneuver. One of the reasons they are so popular is the ability to quickly do small jobs otherwise done by hand. Rubber tires give it mobility to handle material and load out unused spoil from excavations. They can also work around obstructions and in tight areas.

The commonly seen tractor with a front bucket and a rear mounted backhoe was first built in 1953 by a British company known as JCB. In fact, for years a backhoe tractor was known as a JCB no matter who built them. In 1957, Case Tractor Company bought out the original manufacturer. With the acquisition by Case came many improvements to the original design.After the acquisition was complete, Case engineer Elton Long and his team brought in resources from throughout the company to finish development of an integrated loader/backhoe under a very tight deadline. By early spring, Case had successfully merged technologies to create the Case 320, the first fully integrated loader/backhoe made and warranted by one company.

Many people think the term back hoe refers to the fact that the digging attachment is located on the rear of the tractor. However, the term originally referred to the action of the bucket. The digging operation is carried out by using hydraulic power to pull the bucket back towards the tractor.Now, the backhoe can be even more versatile with a backhoe attachment for your Bobcat or other skid steer loader. Industrial Products and Equipment has now made arrangements with the manufacturer to market a simple yet very efficient dirt moving machine.

The skid loader backhoe attachment, quickly converts the skid steer into a excavator or trencher. With the addition of a thumb, your loader can also be used to carry and place heavy and bulky items. If you need to transport, the dirt from a trenching operation, the bucket can be quickly swapped using the loaders quick attach feature.While a traditional tractor style backhoe is highly maneuverable, nothing beats a skid steer loader for getting into small tight places. Having a simple quick connect back hoe will add a great deal of versatility to your machine.