Moving Material to Maximize Profits

By Mark Middendorf, FINN Corp.

Bark blowers are superior time-savers. These units use an airstream to evenly apply mulch, soil, aggregate, compost and other products directly to the installation area. The consistent application can result in savings of 25 percent or more on material cost. Photos Courtesy of FINN Corp.

Today’s world is filled with tools to make everything easier and faster. But when it comes to moving material on a jobsite, many businesses still use a shovel and wheelbarrow, tools that have literally been used for thousands of years. Since today’s economy dictates that we search for ways to improve our efficiency, isn’t it time to look for something better?

Material Transfer Systems

The first solution to minimize the time it takes to load a wheelbarrow is a material transfer system. These are versatile trailers that are light enough to be towed by a pickup. They’re designed to transport various products, such as mulch, soil, aggregate and compost, and unload them via one of the available doors or chutes.

According to the calculations above, $52.50 is saved by moving five cubic yards of mulch with a material transfer system. That’s $10.50 cheaper per cubic yard, so if a business spreads 1,000 cubic yards of mulch per year, it can save $10,500 through reduced labor in just one year.

With a bark blower, a three-person crew may be able to handle projects that once required 10 people using a wheelbarrow and shovel.

Bark Blowers

Bark blowers are the superior time-savers when it comes to material movement. Bark blowers come in various sizes, from small skid-mount and trailer models to large truck-mounted units. Their capacities range from 6.5 cubic feet to 22 cubic yards. A powerful blower shoots the material through a hose at a rate between 8 and 22 cubic yards per hour, depending on the model.

To calculate the cost of spreading mulch with a bark blower, we’ll use a model that is capable of spreading 20 cubic yards per hour. (Remember, there are various sizes of bark blowers.) 3 workers can spread 20 cubic yards of mulch in 1 hour. 3 workers x 1 hour x $15/hour = $45 to complete the mulching job. Labor costs are reduced by 85 percent on this project, and not only does the bark blower save $255, but also seven fewer workers are used.

Working Smarter

A company can truly maximize its profitability by properly managing the time that is saved with its new equipment. For one, the company can charge the same amount of money for doing a mulching job, but complete it in a quarter of the time. Then, since fewer workers are needed for spreading material, they can be assigned to new, more profitable tasks. Instead of loading wheelbarrows, they can build retaining walls or install plants.

Small chutes, often included on each side of a material transfer system, allow the user to fill a wheelbarrow in just a few seconds. Since fewer workers are needed for spreading material, they can be assigned to new tasks. Instead of loading wheelbarrows, they can do other, more profitable, groundskeeping work.

Looking Ahead

Jobs that take three days with a wheelbarrow and shovel may only take one day with a new material transfer system or bark blower. The company that moves 500 cubic yards in a year may be able to increase to 1,000 cubic yards using the same manpower. To decide on an investment, a business should first estimate how quickly it can complete its current job schedule. Then, it should determine how many more bids it can obtain. If it can complete its current workload in two thirds of the normal time, can it fill the extra third of the time with new jobs?