National Plant & Equipment- The 7 biggest LNG projects in the world

 At National Plant & Equipment, we’re always interested in seeing the latest statistics surrounding the oil and gas industry. So when we came across an infographic showing the seven largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects on Earth, by Mirage Machines, we knew we had to share it.

Mining machinery is perfectly placed for a move towards LNG because the vast majority of haul trucks use diesel engines with electric traction drives.

With these seven projects worth an estimated combined total of over US$190 billion, the importance of LNG to the global oil and gas industry is plain to see.

Fulfilling Infrastructure Dreams across Australia through National Plant and Equipment

From home building to large scale commercial and civil projects, heavy equipment is necessary for construction projects of almost any size. The range of earthmoving equipment is broad – including machines that can excavate and grade soil and rock, along with other things. The heavy machinery helps to speed not only earthwork but also material handling, construction, and demolition. Construction equipment designed for multiple functions makes them indispensable at job sites.

Founded and headed by Mark Ackroyd, National Plant and Equipment is a guaranteed solution for all the heavy machinery services required for a construction project. With a specialization in the provision of heavy earthmoving machinery to the mining and civil construction sectors, you can get your hands on anything and everything. The best solution that comes with great fleet and services; they cater to the needs of Australia’s largest and reputed companies.

Tailored Solutions: The requirement of every construction project depends on the size and capacity of it. With the goal being to satisfy customer needs, NPE offers tailored solutions to best suit their project needs.

Guaranteed Prices:

Uncertain prices and additional costs sometimes exhaust the budget of the project. But unlike any other machine hire companies, NPE provides a fixed monthly price without the hidden or additional costs. They assure the clients that the cost of the equipment will be exactly as much mentioned, throughout the life of the contract.

Experienced Technicians:

Handling and maintaining heavy, earthmoving machinery is no child’s play. It requires a lot of experience, precision and expertise. NPE includes a team of experienced local technicians who are licensed to service and maintain the largest and the complex fleet of machinery. They are also efficient in carrying out the required maintenance repairs and scheduled services of the fleet.

24/7 Support:

When it comes to heavy machinery, support and service team may be required constantly, especially in cases where the project is constructed in a remote area. Known as the ‘remote service specialists,’ NPE is backed by the 24/7 support and maintenance service team. They also have ease of access to the remotest areas of Australia for service and clients can benefit from enhanced efficiency, minimal downtime, and increased productivity and thereby profitability.

NPE also offers expertise and services in Dry and Wet Hire, Long and Short Term Rental, flexible maintenance solutions, hire-to-buy options, ancillary products, sourcing and support, and tailored commercial contracts on the comprehensive fleet. This ensures that the clients who have hassle-free transactions can solely concentrate on their construction projects without worrying about the paperwork.

Machinery:

With over 250 units of earthmoving machinery, NPE has a fleet-wide availability of over 90% and offers its clients up to 700 hours of operation, per unit, per month.

The fleet of heavy, earth moving equipment in NPE’s catalog includes:

Excavators: Used for material handling, excavating trenches, holes, and foundations, brush cutting with hydraulic attachments, demolitions, rough grading, heavy lifting, and pipe installation, mining, and river dredging.

Dump trucks, dozers, graders, loaders, compactors, water trucks, service trucks, and floats also make up the enormous fleet.

Under the able guidance of Mark Ackroyd, National Plant and Equipment has been a trusted service provider of heavy machinery across Australia to fulfill numerous infrastructure dreams.

Considerations While Renting Construction Equipment from National Plant & Equipment

Any construction project is incomplete without the right equipment and machines. They make the process easier and enhance the productivity and efficiency of labour. While earlier, most businesses used to believe that they need to buy all the equipment, now renting has made it easier. It has reduced the financial burden from the businesses, and it also comes with several other benefits. 

The National Plant & Equipment is one of the best renting companies that offer well maintained and latest machines for boosting the efficiency of your real estate projects. According to Mark Ackroyd, renting the equipment makes it easy to access the latest machines. Even small businesses can gain that benefit and competitive edge over biggies in the industry.

However, before renting the machinery, you must consider certain points to make an informed decision:

Project site

You must take note of the type of project which should consist of the details such as whether it is an indoor or outdoor project, if the site is flat or rocky, along with other details of the job site. This will help the rental company to suggest the best piece of equipment. Some machines have different models for meeting the needs of various environments. 

List of machines

The next thing to do is make a list of the equipment that you wish to rent. You need not make it complex by adding specifications at this point. You must only focus on the function of the machine and what you need to do with it. There are various types of equipment available for rent. All you need to do is communicate what you need the machine to do.

Size of the equipment

After deciding the type of machine, it is time to determine the size. Some questions that you need to address are how much earth you want to move, the weight that needs to be lifted, what height it needs to be lifted, and a lot more. Depending on your job, the size of the machine will be chosen.

Duration of the project

The next consideration is the duration of the project. You may not be able to mention the accurate length of the project, but the estimated duration will also be fine. Make sure you hire the machine for the required duration from national plant & equipment, but it should not sit ideal as it will only lead to wastage of space and money. 

Delivery

Another consideration to make as per Mark Ackroyd is the delivery of the equipment. If you have no means of transportation and the rental company is good, they may offer a delivery service to your project location. Make sure you enquire with companies if they offer delivery and pick up services.

Operator training

Good rental companies offer the additional service of training the operator for handling the machinery. If you wish to benefit from that, discuss the training aspect in advance.

Keeping the above-mentioned points in mind can help in having a great experience with rental equipment. 

What are the Benefits of Hiring Construction Equipment from National Plant & Equipment?

During any construction process, the machinery and equipment play a crucial role. The availability of the latest and up-to-date equipment can make the construction job easier and quicker. However, the pertinent question that arises is whether a company should buy all the equipment or rent them as per needs. Though both the options have their pros and cons, these days, many companies rent the equipment because of several underlying benefits.

If you are looking for hiring construction equipment, National Plant & Equipment is one of the best places. They are available 24*7 for repairs and are one of the renowned and trusted brands. They make sure that there is minimum downtime, and your work does not get affected. 

According to Mark Ackroyd, these are some benefits of hiring the construction equipment on rent:

Better Management of Finances

It goes without saying that construction machinery comes with a hefty price tag. You have to pay a fortune to house all the required machines for various real estate projects. However, when you hire them on rent, you have to pay a relatively marginal amount for getting the services of the machines. The same money can be used elsewhere in the business. You can make a better investment from finances.

Repair and Maintenance

Just like any other machinery, construction machines need maintenance and repairs. The more machines you own, the more time and money you need for repair and maintenance. When you hire machines, there is no hassle of maintenance. You get up-to-date equipment for your construction projects, which allow you to accomplish the task efficiently.

Storage

The huge machines used for construction need bigger space for storage. Hiring these machines will free you from the worry of storage. You can get only specific machines on the site of the project and return others.

Use Based on a Specific Project

Apart from some basic machinery, you may not require all kinds of machines for every project of yours. This means that you may get a lower ROI on these machines as they have lesser utility. Thus, renting allows you to rent only those machines which are required for your specific project.

Ease of Access

Yet another reason to hire the construction equipment is that these companies are accessible, and you don’t have to travel a long distance for sourcing the machines.

Reliability

According to Mark Ackroyd, the rental companies are reliable, and you can put faith in them. The companies such as National Plant & Equipment have earned the trust of clients over the years and are one of the leading construction machine rental services. The fleet of machines is up-to-date and well maintained. You can also find the latest machinery.

Cost-Effective

It has been observed that renting equipment is a cost-effective option for most companies. The rentals are affordable, and they can invest their finances at better places for excellent ROI.

National Plant & Equipment is reliable as well as easily accessible. Also, they have a proven track record of exceeding client’s expectations.

5 Maintaining Tips of Earthmoving Equipment from National Plant & Equipment

Earthmoving equipment is complicated and costly. Maintaining such equipment is necessary for preventing major problems in the future. The last issue you want on a construction or mining site is non-working equipment. 

Inadequate maintenance of earthmoving equipment will cause frequent breakdowns, costly repairs, and short lifespan of the equipment. Also, there may be many accidents and injuries impacting workers operating the equipment. National Plant & Equipment is a company, which makes available well-maintained earthmoving equipment for hire for the construction and mining industry in Australia. 

The CEO of nationalplant.com.au, Mark Ackroyd recommends the following maintenance procedures for heavy earthmoving equipment:

1.Keep equipment well lubricated

If not lubricated properly, all moving parts of the machine will fail ultimately. Lack of lubrication will create friction, which will lead to wear and tear. This will drastically reduce the lifespan of the equipment. Lubrication must be of the optimal amount as too little will result in improper functioning of moving parts, while too much can cause loss of energy, excess grease, and sealing issues. It is always good to follow directions of the manufacturer.

2.Clean equipment properly

Clean all parts of equipment carefully, for maximum safety. Earthmoving machines have to deal with dirt and debris on a daily basis. Dirt and grime will accumulate on the equipment, and it will not function well if it is not cleaned properly. Clean using solutions recommended by the manufacturer.

3.Train employees

In case an untrained worker uses the equipment, it will lead to damage and breakdown. The worker will put himself in danger as well as other workers. For protecting equipment and all workers, all employees must be trained in operating earthmoving equipment. No one must be allowed to operate the equipment without proper training. All workers must know the operating guidelines of machines, and safety measures.

4.Maintain machinery regularly

It is not enough to inspect and repair heavy equipment occasionally to keep it in peak status. It is required to make and keep up a maintenance schedule. This must include notes on how every part of the equipment must be inspected, repaired and maintained generally.

Maintenance must be a thorough and consistent procedure. Seals and gaskets must regularly be inspected such that it is not broken or damaged. Pulleys and belts must be checked whether they are properly aligned. Bolts must be checked for any stretching. Gears must be inspected if they have developed any wear and tear.

5.Avoid injuries

All workers must be trained to identify any possibly dangerous problems, and they must have the capacity to handle any issues that crop up. For example, if they have to traverse a hill, they should know what gear to use.

They are also required to know what angle to drive at, because they can topple over, putting themselves, the equipment, and others in tremendous danger. Workers must also be trained in avoiding falls from heavy earthmoving machinery. Such machinery must be fitted with long-lasting grab rails. Workers not operating the equipment must stand at a safe distance from it.

These are all tips on how to maintain heavy earthmoving equipment. Mark Ackroyd, the CEO of National Plant & Equipment, insists on such procedures to maintain equipment hired from it. 

How to Select Earthmoving Equipment from National Plant & Equipment?

The majority of construction projects need laborious work that must be handled by personnel and equipment designated for the work. It is tough for workers to accomplish jobs on their own, and hence, there arises a requirement for machines, especially construction equipment. One can hire such equipment from reputed companies like National Plant & Equipment. 

For economical and speedy construction in a project, the right selection of equipment is of prime importance for project managers and civil engineers. In the market, there is available a wide range of equipment and Mark Ackroyd has arranged for their hire from National Plant & Equipment, in the role of CEO. Consider the following aspects while selecting the right equipment:

Excavators

They are the synonym for diggers in the world of heavy equipment. Using buckets and booms, they can break or drill rocks or create trenches or massive holes, required for foundations. The big models also suit mining, dredging, material handling, pile driving, and large demolition jobs. The deeper is the hole, the bigger the machine needed.

The equipment of choice, when one needs much power in a tight space, or one needs to do small tasks like stump removal or small demolition is a compact excavator. Some models come in wheels (for smooth surfaces such as asphalt) or tracks (for rough and unstable terrain). For shallow digging on rock-free soil, a scraper is better than an excavator. They not only load and dump but also shave the earth.

Loaders

The function of such machines is to scoop up loose material using a bucket and transfer it to another location. Loaders are able to move gravel, sand, snow, and small items like pipings and bricks, across the jobsite. They have the capacity to navigate well in soft soil. 

But they are not able to go much deep and are therefore are not suitable for digging. In case one requires transporting dirt, many hundred feet over an open area, it is better to opt for a scraper.

Even better is a backhoe loader, which is a multipurpose machine that can do digging, breaking rock, moving materials, and performing light demolition. This machine performs well, especially for small projects.

Bull Dozers

Mark Ackroyd began his huge company from scratch with a single bulldozer. The powerful and heavy duty machine is mostly tracked. Tracks help in distributing the weight of these gigantic machines such that they can traverse muddy and soft ground preventing its sinking. The wheeled version is able to move 3 times faster and has much better manoeuvrability, thus suiting tasks for hauling.

The typical attachment of this tractor is a huge blade that can push big amounts of shrubs, debris, dirt, etc. it also features a ripper at the rear that can tear through soil and rock. It can also fine grade materials like soil.

Heavy equipment is the workhorses of jobs of construction. Without earthmovers, not much can be achieved in the early stages. Select carefully, and construction work can be accomplished safely, saving time and money.

Factors to Choose Equipment from National Plant & Equipment

Tasks of earth engineering or earth moving are of various kinds. Hence, it is tough to identify or use a single, ideal earthmoving system to perform all kinds of tasks of earth engineering. Every system will have its own range of functionalities.

For instance, tasks completed by a wheel tractor scraper will differ from that completed by the articulated truck featuring an excavator. There are many factors impinging on the choice of earthmoving systems. 

With regard to earth engineering, it is all about pushing, scooping, digging, etc. and it takes a different machine to perform each task in the proper fashion. National Plant & Equipment is an Australian company offering earthmoving equipment ranging from excavators to dump trucks. It holds a leading position in the industry, being helmed by its visionary CEO, Mark Ackroyd.

Here are some tips for selecting the right earthmoving equipment:

Type of Material

The material type at the worksite becomes the topmost criteria in choosing an earthmoving system. For instance, consider articulated truck and tractor scraper. Engineers who are experienced and experts recommend using scrapers during the right condition when loading material spreads smoothly and is smooth. Tractor scrapers happen to be ideal for areas which feature loam sandy soil since scrapers are able to pull from this soil with ease and also enable quick loading.

But, in case, the worksite has wet clay or rocky soils, scrapers will not work smoothly. Hence, the articulated truck is more suitable as scrapers find it tough to pull up rocky soil. Thus, the crux is that before selecting any earthmoving system, the type of material must be understood well.

Versatility and Flexibility

Soil conditions can change drastically with alterations in weather conditions. Exceptional heat will cause the soil to toughen, while excessive rain will make it smooth and slippery. Hence, before choosing a system, you should consider its flexibility and versatility. It is good to go in for earthmoving systems, which are versatile to fit the changing conditions of weather.

The best in this class is the articulated hauler which has excellent versatility. Such equipment can operate well under limited traction. In case, the worksite is located in an area with frequent changes in weather; articulated haulers make for a good selection.

Distance of Hauling

This distance will determine the choice of equipment and vehicles. When the hauling distance is less, small vehicles will work fine. But, in case, earth has to be excavated over long distances, then a stronger, bigger vehicle will be needed. In such cases, small vehicles cannot sustain pressure for long, and there is potential for break down. So, you will end up bearing high costs of repair.

The Cut

Choice of equipment for earthmoving is much influenced by the depth and length of cuts. For instance, loading a scraper becomes tough when the length of the cut exceeds 100 feet below. But, with articulated haulers, this is not so. Such systems have the functionality of top-loading, which aids them for being placed conveniently below excavators in highly confined spaces.

But scrapers are better suited to operate in spots where there exists sufficient space for outlining of circuits. Likewise, if the task is to dig a borrow pit on a worksite, the articulated truck is the best choice.

Apart from the above factors, the choice of system depends on towing road condition, operational costs, and skills of operator and features of the system. Care must be taken to choose the right company for hiring equipment like National Plant & Equipment. The latter was built from scratch by CEO, Mark Ackroyd from a single bulldozer to a fleet of cutting-edge equipment serving the construction and mining industry.