How Hydraulics Improve Efficiency in the Construction Industry 

Maximizing efficiency has always been a key goal for businesses in the construction industry. The ability to gain improved output relative to the work being done is a critical factor in the ongoing success of industrial projects. Consequently, savvy managers understand the value of investing in technologies designed to enhance the overall efficiency of their construction projects, with construction hydraulics being among the most powerful and useful of these technologies.

In the following blog post, we’ll discuss all the ways that hydraulic systems can work to improve both productivity and performance on construction sites, leading to faster, more cost-effective processes and a vastly more efficient operation.

Construction Hydraulics: The Basics

Hydraulic systems are ubiquitous in modern society, found everywhere from airplanes to automobiles to dishwashers. Nowhere, however, is this technology more critical than it is in the world of construction, due to its ability to generate incredible power with a relatively small energy input. This makes it a critical component of important construction machinery, such as cranes, forklifts, backhoes, dozers, and many others.

The technology works through the use of a pump, which pressurizes an incompressible hydraulic fluid (usually oil). Thanks to a law of physics known as Pascal’s Principle, any force applied to one area of a liquid is transferred to every other area of the container. When a piston is activated within the system, it generates compounded force that can be used to move larger pistons and, consequently, lift extremely heavy loads.

Hydraulic Systems Mean Precision

A key element of improving efficiency in any construction project is increasing the precision of the machinery. Unwieldy equipment means wasted effort, as workers must spend more time working to achieve their desired results. Thanks to Pascal’s Principle, however, hydraulic systems enable extremely precise control since the power that is input is transferred equally throughout the rest of the system. This means the amount of force generated can be determined perfectly by the user.

This ability to achieve precise control over the movement is key for many industries, but particularly in construction, as the movement of large, heavy loads must be kept within narrow margins. If their movement deviates from these margins, additional effort will be necessary to adjust them. When operated by a skilled user, hydraulic systems reduce the incidence of wasted time due to imprecise movement of materials.

Hydraulics Increase Lifting Capacity

Another major contributor to the efficiency of a construction project is equipment strength: More powerful equipment can get more done in less time. Pascal’s Principle allows a relatively small amount of force to be multiplied, enabling a truly impressive lifting capacity to be achieved—assuming that well-constructed, high-quality equipment is used. The amount of weight that can be lifted by the machinery is directly proportional to the amount of pressure the liquid is under. As the fluid used is incompressible, hydraulic systems are only limited by the amount of pressure the machinery itself can withstand.

For large-scale construction projects, it’s crucial to invest in heavy-duty equipment, with pistons large enough to withstand both the pressure applied to the system and the weight of the materials being moved. Successful construction businesses utilize motion-control systems designed by experts in the field, such as companies like Aberdeen Dynamics, in order to maximize power, efficiency, and safety for major projects.

Construction Hydraulics Reduce Operational Effort …

The precision and power of hydraulic systems translate directly to a reduction in operational effort, meaning that construction projects can be performed much more quickly and effectively than would otherwise be possible. Construction equipment with hydraulic technology allows for an impressive range of motion. Without it, even if the required amount of lifting power could be achieved, it would require an incredible amount of coordination to move a large load into position. With a hydraulic system, however, much of this additional effort can be avoided, as the machinery itself is more than up to the task.

Hydraulics also help to reduce operational effort by way of their amazing versatility. In the world of construction, hydraulics are used not only for lifting but also for pushing, dragging, and pulling heavy loads. Essentially, they allow operators to achieve any type of movement required for the task, eliminating the need for extraneous effort.

… And Minimize Downtime

In the construction business, downtime is a major contributor to reduced efficiency, and hydraulic systems help to reduce this downtime. They can do this largely because of their simplicity. Other types of construction technology are large, complex systems with many elements that are capable of stalling or breaking down. Hydraulics can do what they do using only a pump, some fluid, and a few pistons. As a result, there is less that can go wrong.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that it’s not possible for a hydraulic system to break down or require maintenance. It simply means that whatever maintenance is required tends to be faster and more cost effective than that of other technologies.

Hydraulics Optimize Energy Use

Construction hydraulics also improve efficiency on construction sites by using energy much more effectively. Other types of construction technology require a greater input of power to achieve the same results. However, thanks to Pascal’s Principle, hydraulic systems require only a relatively small amount of energy to generate the strength they need. The fact that they use oil also means that friction—a major contributor to inefficiency in machinery—is dramatically reduced.Businesses interested in maximizing the efficiency of their construction projects should consider investing in hydraulic-powered machinery to significantly improve their output while cutting down on production costs. Seek out a business that specializes in high-end motion control systems to ensure you achieve the best possible results for your business’s particular needs.