Used excavators: the economical choice in engineering and construction

In all kinds of engineering construction projects, excavator as a key construction equipment, plays a pivotal role. With the development of the market, used excavators are gradually emerging as one of the preferred choices for many engineering practitioners.

First, the current situation of the second-hand excavator market

At present, the used excavator market presents a booming trend. On the one hand, with the continuous promotion of domestic infrastructure construction and all kinds of engineering projects, the demand for excavators is growing. However, the high acquisition cost of brand-new excavators discourages many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individual practitioners, which provides a broad space for the development of the used excavator market. On the other hand, with the continuous updating of excavator technology, some owners in pursuit of higher operational efficiency and performance, will choose to replace the old equipment, these are eliminated from the equipment into the second-hand market, further enriching the market source. Nowadays, in the major construction machinery trading market, used excavator area is always crowded, the transaction is very active.

Second, the advantages of used excavators

1. Significant price advantage: the most attractive place of the second-hand excavator lies in its price. Compared with the new excavator, the price of used equipment is often only half or even lower. Take a common medium-sized excavator as an example, the brand new equipment may need hundreds of thousands of yuan, while the used equipment of the same type may only need more than 100,000 yuan. This is relatively tight for the funds of small engineering companies or individual builders, greatly reducing the cost of equipment purchases, so that they can enter the field of engineering and construction with a low investment.

2. Lower depreciation costs: brand new excavators in the first few years after purchase, the depreciation rate is very fast. The used excavator has already passed the stage of the fastest depreciation after being used by the previous owner. After buying a used excavator, its depreciation cost is relatively low, which to some extent reduces the economic losses in the process of equipment use.

3. Can be quickly put into use: many used excavators before entering the market, have gone through the seller’s simple maintenance and maintenance, part of the equipment is even in good working condition. After purchase, buyers only need to carry out some necessary checks and debugging, can be directly put into the project, saving the time waiting for the production of new equipment, transport and debugging, can quickly create economic benefits.

Third, how to buy quality used excavators

1. Check the appearance of the equipment: first of all, carefully observe the appearance of the excavator. Check whether the body has serious deformation, scratches or repair marks. If you find a large area of repainting, it may mean that the equipment has suffered a serious collision or damage. At the same time, pay attention to check the connecting parts of each component, such as whether the bolts are loose and the welds are cracked.

2. Evaluate the number of working hours: the number of working hours is an important indicator of the degree of use of the used excavator. Generally speaking, the lower the number of working hours, the less wear and tear of the equipment. You can check the working hours through the excavator’s dashboard, but be aware that some unscrupulous sellers may tamper with the dashboard. Therefore, it is also necessary to combine with the actual wear and tear of the equipment, such as the wear and tear of the tracks, the wear and tear of the bucket, etc. to make a comprehensive judgement.

3. Test engine performance: the engine is the core component of the excavator. Start the engine, listen to its running sound is smooth, there is no abnormal knocking sound or murmur. Observe whether the engine starts smoothly and whether the idling speed is stable. In addition, you can also judge whether the combustion of the engine is sufficient by checking its exhaust emissions. If the exhaust gas is black in colour or has a lot of smoke, it may indicate a problem with the engine.

4. Check the hydraulic system: the good or bad of the hydraulic system directly affects the efficiency and performance of the excavator. Check the oil quality and quantity of hydraulic oil, the oil should be clear and transparent, without turbidity or emulsification. Operate the various movements of the excavator, such as boom lifting, bucket rod expansion and contraction, bucket rotation, etc., and observe whether the movement is smooth, with or without the phenomenon of stuttering or slow. At the same time, pay attention to check whether there is oil leakage in the hydraulic pipeline.

5. Understand the source of the equipment and the history of use: try to choose a reliable source of second-hand excavators, such as from the regular construction machinery leasing companies or large construction enterprises to buy. These devices usually have a more complete maintenance records, you can learn about the past use of equipment, including whether often work in harsh environments, whether there has been a major failure. Understanding the use history of the equipment can help determine its potential problems and future reliability.

Used excavators have a broad application prospect in the field of engineering construction by virtue of their price advantage, lower depreciation cost and the fact that they can be put into use quickly. However, when purchasing used excavators, buyers need to have certain professional knowledge and experience, through careful inspection and evaluation, to select the equipment with excellent performance and reliable quality, so as to provide a strong guarantee for the smooth progress of engineering construction projects. With the continuous standardisation and improvement of the market, it is believed that the used excavator market will create more value for the engineering construction industry.