🚜 Earthmoving Equipment
Long Reach Excavator Inspection & Certification in Saudi Arabia
Long reach excavators carry an extended boom and stick to clean drainage channels, wadis and canals, dredge ponds and work embankment slopes from a safe distance. The extra reach multiplies the bending loads on the boom and the overturning moment on the machine, so counterweight, ballast and boom welds are far more critical than on a standard digger. Because many are converted from standard excavators, inspection should also confirm that the boom, stick and bucket combination is one the manufacturer has approved.
What we inspect on a long reach excavator
- ✓Extended boom and stick welds, gussets and the boom-to-stick joint, with magnetic particle or dye penetrant testing at high-stress welds where required
- ✓Pins and bushings along the extended boom: wear, retainers, lubrication points and signs of boom sag
- ✓Counterweight and ballast: correct mass for the fitted configuration, mounting bolts and attachment to the superstructure
- ✓Configuration plate or reach chart matching the actual boom, stick and bucket combination, and bucket weight within limits
- ✓Boom cylinder rod condition, hose and pipe routing along the long boom, and hose-burst protection valves
- ✓Slew ring bolts and play, plus the track frame and widened or extended undercarriage for cracks
- ✓Cab: protective structure, falling-object guard, glazing, mirrors or camera, and tilt mechanism where fitted
- ✓Operator aids and alarms: overload or moment warning where fitted, travel and slew alarms, and emergency stop
Common defects we find
- ✓Fatigue cracks at boom and stick joints and weld toes
- ✓Unapproved boom or stick extensions with no manufacturer approval or reach chart
- ✓Worn boom pins and bushings causing sagging and whip at full reach
- ✓Missing, incorrect or loose counterweight for the fitted configuration
- ✓Chafed or poorly clamped hose runs along the long boom leading to leaks
Risks of operating uncertified
- ✓Tip-over when the machine is worked beyond the approved reach, bucket and ground-slope combination
- ✓Structural failure of an extended boom or stick under fatigue loading
- ✓Contact with overhead power lines because of the very large working envelope
Testing, standards & frequency
Load / performance test
Not applicable: long reach excavators are digging machines, not rated lifting appliances. Typical testing is a functional and hydraulic check at full reach with verification that the configuration matches the manufacturer's chart; any permitted lifting use would typically be tested at 100%-125% of rated capacity depending on the client.
Inspection interval
Typically at least annually and after any boom or stick modification or repair, with more frequent re-inspection where client or site rules require.
Standards referenced
- ISO 20474 series (earth-moving machinery safety)
- ISO 10567 (hydraulic excavators, lift capacity)
- ISO 8643 (boom-lowering control devices)
- Manufacturer specifications and load charts
Part of our Heavy Equipment Testing & Inspection service. You receive an inspection report, Certificate of Conformity and inspection tag for passing equipment.
Industries using this equipment
FAQs
Why do long reach excavators need extra structural checks?＋
The longer boom and stick increase bending stress and reduce stability, so fatigue cracks and weld defects develop more readily than on a standard machine. Counterweight and configuration must also match what the manufacturer approved.
Can an ordinary excavator be converted to long reach?＋
It can, but only with an approved boom and stick kit and the correct counterweight, and the machine should carry an updated reach or capacity chart. An inspection can confirm whether the conversion matches the manufacturer's approved configuration.