With so many new infrastructure projects, the need for more workers is an apparent issue that the Western Australian civil construction industry needs to solve. Of the thousands of workers required, the most significant shortage is plant operators who are experts at utilising heavy machinery, like paving equipment, excavators, loaders, dump trucks, graders, roller or fuel trucks. Other shortages also include plant mechanics, civil engineers, concrete workers, and more.

What is the takeaway here? Demand is much more than supply. The same can be said about equipment needs, where equipment shortages lead to slow-downs or even halts in construction projects. Fortunately, with help from companies like KEE Group, skilled workers and equipment shortages can be tackled. However, one shouldn’t blindly pick any company to work with. Some time and effort are needed to choose the right company to gain the equipment required for projects.

In this article, we’ll share what you can do to access the equipment you need for your civil and construction projects:

1. Talk about Support

One factor many civil and construction companies tend to think about is the support they will get. When a rented machine breaks, you’d want to ensure that the company offers around-the-clock professional support services or field-support mechanics who can come to the site to fix the problem quickly. Lousy support will only lead to terrible service, and ultimately a redundant machine.

In other words, apart from looking at what the company has to offer, it is crucial also to understand what kind of support you are getting. After-sales support is vital, and good support means you have peace of mind knowing if you need help, they are ready to assist!

2. Know Delivery Time

When talking about equipment, one crucial factor is the time it takes to deliver the equipment you need for the project—when the company dispatches it and when it will reach you. With these factors in mind, you can carefully plan your projects to complete them on time.

Keep in mind that some companies may prioritise your shipment with a little more money and offer a next-day delivery service. If this is what you need, then discuss whether or not this is possible. Or, if you choose a company like KEE Group which has its own transport arm, you can probably get a good deal for hire of machinery plus transport to the site.

3. Discuss Equipment Age

Apart from the dispatch date and the estimated time of arrival of the equipment, another factor to consider is the age of the equipment. This is important because you would not want to be handling equipment that is too old. A good rule of thumb is that if the machine is older than two or three years old, that’s generally too old already.

As such, your task would be to look for machines that are under three years old. Also, make sure that the machine is still under insurance so that if you run into any problems using their machines, they have the insurance to get it fixed.

Conclusion

By doing your research and understanding these factors when looking for any construction support service, you stand a much better chance of working with a reliable partner that can deliver on their promises, ensuring you stay on top of your projects. That said, know that different support services offer different solutions, so take the time to see if they meet your needs. If they cannot, move on. It is far better to spend the extra time finding the right partner than to make sacrifices picking a sub-par partner who can hurt your construction project’s results.

KEE Group is Australia’s most effective and unique civil and mining support service, offering machine hire, road surfacing, fuel to site, machine transport, and 24/7 field service to meet any needs. If you require advanced equipment, contact us today!

In most modern construction projects and high-rise buildings, there’s one piece of equipment that’s been increasing in popularity and use. Telescopic boom lifts, also called straight mast boom lifts, are great tools for a variety of different tasks, which makes them a preferred piece of project equipment by many contractors and landscapers.

However, not all telescopic boom lifts are created equal. If you’re working on a project, the right telescopic boom lift height is essential for the safety and efficiency of your workers. But how can you choose the right boom lift height and specifications for a project? The following are some factors you should consider in the selection process:

Determine the Weight Capacity

Make sure the telescopic boom lift you choose can support enough weight for the task at hand. Whether it needs to carry one or two people, or maybe a couple of pieces of heavy equipment or materials, your telescopic boom weight should be steady and sturdy enough to carry the load.

You should also think about the weight of a fully-loaded machine. If your equipment becomes too heavy, it could get stuck or damage the concrete or flooring. If you’re working on a project that requires you to have different weight capacities for your equipment, renting out may be a better option. That way, you can just hire equipment that has the proper specifications you need on a particular project. By renting instead of buying, you can also avoid paying for maintenance or storing large equipment that you’re not currently using.

Calculating the Boom Lift Height and Range

Telescopic boom lifts extend a straight, unjointed lifting arm and provide easy access to aerial working locations both vertically and horizontally. They have an even greater reach than an articulated boom lift, with the largest models reaching heights of up to 19 stories.

Now, to calculate the exact height and range that you need for a project, you need to use an ultrasonic distance meter. The smallest models are 40 feet tall, while the largest telescopic boom lifts can go as high as 180 feet tall. If you’re aiming for a 40-foot machine, it typically has a maximum range or horizontal reach of about 34 feet, while a 120-foot machine has a range of more or less 75 feet. Based on those measurements, you can determine just what kind of telescopic boom lift you need for your project.

Assessing the Size of the Platform

When loading equipment or materials on a telescopic boom lift, it’s recommended that you avoid putting anything larger than its platform, even if the load is relatively light. That’s why it’s important to choose a boom lift with a platform big enough to fit all the items you need on it. For example, a 120-foot lift will have a platform measuring 96 inches long and 36 inches wide.

Wider platforms generally have lower weight capacities because they’re heavier. The shape also affects the telescopic boom lift’s centre of gravity, so make sure you choose the right size and shape of the platform.

Conclusion

When it comes to working on stable platforms at great heights, telescopic boom lifts are the best. However, to make sure they work and function properly, you need to find the right specifications to serve your needs. This guide should help you get an idea of how to choose the right telescopic boom lift for the completion of your project.

KEE Group is a multi-faceted company offering civil support services with an exceptional track record. Our equipment hiring division travels around the world to source the most technologically advanced machinery and equipment. If you ever need construction or mining equipment for hire, or maybe you need a hand with transporting your boom lift, we are the company of choice. Contact us today to get started!

In any project, hiring additional equipment to speed up its completion is essential. You can either opt for dry hire equipment (machine only) or wet hire equipment (machine and operator), depending on your budget and needs. While dry hire is the cheaper option, you do need to consider how you will take care of the equipment during its use in the project.

If you want to make sure you return the project equipment properly, consider following this checklist we’ve made for you.

Checklist for Returning Dry Hire Equipment

Hiring specialised equipment like rollers, wheel loaders, excavators, dozers, and dump trucks requires extra respect and consideration. It would be prudent to make sure that you only let people with proven skills and experience to handle the machines. Failing to do this means you risk damaging the equipment in the hands of someone unfamiliar with the machinery. To avoid getting charged for additional repair and maintenance fees, use this checklist:

1. Check All Documentation

Each equipment hire usually comes with a document pouch where you can find all the necessary paperwork to run it. Included in the paperwork will be registration papers, risk assessments, do’s and don’ts before use, and service history. It’s important to read and understand these documents before operating the equipment. They should also be returned in their document pouch when you return the equipment to the owner.

2. Perform a Final Inspection

When you hire a machine in good condition, it’s only logical and respectful to return it in the same condition as before. Doing a thorough inspection before, during, and after using the machine is important and wise. As an added measure, it’s best to give it a final go-over before returning it. Follow this checklist to make sure you checked everything:

• Make sure that the machine is secured, including all the nuts and tyres. Everything should be tightly secured and the tyres should be at the correct pressure.
• Check if all the lights are functioning properly.
• The engine should be in good shape and working properly, exactly as when you first used the machine.
• When inspecting the tyres, make sure that they do not have splits or punctures, and that all bolts are still visible on each wheel.
• The brakes should be working perfectly.
• Checking the bucket teeth or other accessories (if included) for any cracks or damage is also important.
• Make sure to refill the fuel tank unless the owner specified otherwise.
• The machine’s cabin should also be clean without any traces of debris or rubbish from the worksite. All controls should also work, and no signs of internal damage should be spotted.

3. Clean the Equipment First

Whenever you hire equipment, it’s considered good etiquette to clean or wash the equipment thoroughly immediately after using it. This prevents dirt build-up and can even protect the equipment from being damaged while at work. Worksites are expected to be muddy and full of debris, so it’s best to give the equipment a good wash when appropriate. The owner will also appreciate seeing their equipment looking as clean as it was when it was hired out, and will be more inclined to hire machinery to you again in the future.

Conclusion

The benefits of dry hiring are that it’s a relatively more cost-effective solution, but it has more responsibilities in handling the machines. If you’ve done your maths and decided dry-hiring is the best option for your particular project, you must consider how to keep the equipment in good working condition until you return it to the owner. By following this checklist, you won’t have to worry about returning your dry hire equipment.

KEE Group has been Australia’s most effective unique civil and mining support service for over a decade. Not only can we transport the machinery to the site, but we can also supply it, fuel it, service it and operate it. Take advantage of our excellent service whenever and wherever you need it. Contact us if you need transport equipment for hire on your next project.