Top 8 construction news, reviews and features of 2022

Another year has come and gone, and it is time to review some of the best content on our site. 2022 was the year of recovery post pandemic and suffice to say the industry has had a very busy year.

While construction activity has remained fairly strong despite some ebbs and flows this year, one prominent issue the industry faced all year was stock shortage and massive delays in bringing equipment in so contractors and companies can replace or beef up their fleets. However, with stock issues easing, we anticipate more machinery launches and reviews next year.

Our most popular content of the year consists of great advice pieces, some oldies but goodies, as well as some massive new product news, quite literally.

8. Monster Kobelco SK1300DLC now available

Kobelco has made some serious inroads in Australia in the last couple of years and have brought in multiple heavy duty excavator models to cater to the toughest of applications.

With a mammoth 130-tonne operating weight and reach of up to 40m, Kobelco’s new SK1300DLC is the largest OEM-made building demolition machine, according to the company, and it is heading our way.

Whether it's knocking down industrial sites, powerplants, oil rigs or other examples of infrastructure, or clearing areas for urban regeneration, Kobelco says the SK1300DLC has the power to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Kobelco anticipates the first machines to arrive in Australia by mid-2023.

7. Carter CT16-9B Mini Excavator Review

The brand Carter may not ring a bell with earthmoving operators but its range of affordable machines certainly deserve some recognition, according to our machinery expert, Evarn Covich.

Not having heard of or tested any products from the brand before, Evarn kept an open mind when he gave the CT16-9B mini excavator a go and came away rather impressed by how sturdy the machine is despite its compact size.

Read the full review and watch the video.

6. JCB 19C-1E electric mini excavator review

JCB was one of the first OEMs to commercialise its electric machinery range and when it finally arrived in Australia, it naturally caught the attention of organisations big and small as well as independent contractors.

We were lucky enough to be able to have a go in the 19C-1E electric mini excavator with a 1.9-tonne capacity at the company’s HQ in Melborune.

The machine was incredibly quiet and unlike any machine you’ve ever operated before. The lack of emissions and noise makes this the perfect machine to work indoors or in urban areas where noise pollution could pose problems.

5. Largest Kobelco excavator released Down Under

Prior to the announcement of the monster SK1300DLC arriving in Australia, there was the SK850LC weighing 85 tonnes being released here and was Kobelco’s largest production-class excavator.

Since its introduction in 2006, the SK850LC has underwent multiple transformations and improvements over the years to adapt to changing requirements while still providing efficiency and productivity in the 85-tonne market segment.

Kobelco Australia says the latest iteration – the SK850LC-10, has demonstrated that it will be well suited to a variety of work sites across Australia.

“This new SK850LC allows us to participate in quarry, small to medium mine sites and large civil infrastructure applications with a machine that is more productive, more durable and ultimately will make our customers more profitable,” the company said.

4. 8 must-have excavator attachments

Despite its name, excavators aren’t just good for excavating. With a simple change of attachment, they can be used to mow riverbanks, drill holes, grab things, compact roads and more.

While there is a wide array of excavator attachments available, what you need really depends on your field and applications, as some can be very specific and have limited use.

We spoke to some experts to find out what are some of their absolute must-have attachments that are versatile and that one will find useful in any field.

3. Do I need a license to operate earthmoving machinery?

This is a gem advice piece that many have landed on via search to find out just exactly what they need to get working in heavy machinery.

Gist of it is that you do not need a license per se for a range of equipment such as excavators, wheel loaders, backhoes, skid steers and more, but some machinery that are deemed high-risk such as forklifts, cranes and scissor lifts you do need licenses for.

Read the piece to find out more.

2. 5 most popular excavator makes of 2021

Thanks to some readily available in-house data, we were able to look up what people were searching for on the site in 2021 and what makes and models came out on top.

Mini excavators were the most popular, perhaps unsurprisingly, with some midi excavators in the mix.

Here is our new list for 2022.

1. Six construction theme parks around the world

Growing up, a lot of us would have played with little toy diggers and tonka trucks in sandboxes, and happily proclaiming to our parents that we want to be machinery operators when we grow up.

For a lot of us, that didn’t come true and from time to time, we were left wondering what it feels like to actually be in some of these heavy machinery and drive them around or dig holes with them.

Some smart people recognised the opportunity to establish these theme parks with a difference, allowing everybody the chance to live their childhood dreams.

 There is even one of these theme parks in our very own backyard! Read about our experience here.