Underground Infrastructure - February 2023 - 25

growing backlog of jobs, contractors are
looking for ways to get more done with
the same amount of time and workers.
However, some worry that learning
new technology may result in lost time.
That's where equipment attachments
come into play.
Attachments provide a realistic, effective
solution by utilizing equipment
that contractors are already familiar
with. By changing workflow, minimizing
maintenance, lowering equipment
cost, allowing for smarter labor and
increasing ROI, these new attachments
are changing the foundational methods
of utility construction. Here's how.
A New Method
Utility construction tasks, such as backfilling
trenches, have typically been
viewed as a four-step process. Materials
are piled up, scraped into place, compacted,
and then crews sweep and clean
what remains.
Although larger machines and added
crew members can help complete
projects, another way is to minimize the
number of steps in the process, with the
use of material placement attachments.
Also reducing labor, these attachments
provide safety and efficiency by easily
maneuvering around obstacles such as
power poles, signs and guardrails.
Material placement attachments take
the complex four-step process using
expensive equipment and simplify it. A
single operator connects the skid steer,
loader or other common host machine
to the attachment and loads material
into the hopper at the top. The operator
drives alongside the road as material
feeds down the hopper onto a conveyor
that carries the material to the edge of
the attachment, dispensing it through
an adjustable width opening exactly
where it's needed.
Some attachments can even dispense
up to 20 tons of aggregate in under 10
minutes, with all machine adjustments
made by a single crewmember from inside
the host machine via a remote control.
To further increase the efficiency of
material placement attachments, some
Some material placement attachments can even dispense up to 20 tons of aggregate in under 10
minutes, with all machine adjustments made by a single crewmember from inside the host machine
via remote control. (Image courtesy of Road Widener)
manufacturers offer dual and single, left
or right side, dispensing configurations
to take on numerous projects around
the world.
Streamlining the process saves money
and makes money. Crews not only
can do more work in a day but do more
with their budget, by cutting out steps
without adding more equipment or
workers. And those savings continue
into the future, with a drastically lower
cost of ownership compared to self-propelled
machines.
Traditional self-propelled machines
see most of their maintenance downtime
and costs from engine, transmission
and associated parts repairs.
However, attachment efficiency truly
shines when considering these profits
lost to maintenance.
In an effort to reduce maintenance,
material placement attachments can
connect to the engine and hydraulics of
common, proven workhorses, like skid
steers and loaders (wheel and tracked).
If a host machine needs to be serviced,
crews can quickly and easily hook up
the attachment to another machine.
Without an engine or transmission of
their own to upkeep, these attachments
have the power to reduce maintenance
by up to 90 percent, with just a few
grease fittings to look after.
When considering this type of
equipment, look for manufacturers that
offer an optional universal mounting
plate and easy hydraulic connections
for their attachments. Also, you want it
to be able to connect to any host machine
in a fleet.
An advantage of choosing an attachment
with a compact design is less parts
to keep track of, and fewer transportation
requirements and job-site clutter.
Another benefit is the ability to conveniently
fit the attachments on the same
trailer as the host machine, to be transported
to and from job sites.
Reducing maintenance reduces
downtime, ultimately providing crews
with opportunities to take on more
jobs and save money. Saving money
during the process pays back an owner
throughout the season, but what about
out-the-door?
Savings from the get-go
Engines,
transmissions and driveshafts.
These high-maintenance parts are
expensive, but necessary, for job sites.
The addition of material placement
attachments helps combat expenses by
UndergroundInfrastructure.com | FEBRUARY 2023 25

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Underground Infrastructure - February 2023

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