Taking the Master Grader to the next level

Master Equipment is designed to make a hard job easier. The Master Equipment team has spent years developing equipment to work smarter. The result is machines that are a pleasure for a skilled operator to use, while still making it possible for a less skilled operator to achieve great results.

Central to the design process of Master Equipment is a focus on continuous improvement. So when the team received some feedback from their customers about the Master Grader, David Smith, Head of Product Development, was excited about the opportunity.

“We originally designed the Master Grader to fix 2 of the big issues that we knew existed with other graders in the market. These were that the mid-mounted blade on other graders was not strong enough and broke the main pivot pin. And that two levers were required to be operated equally together if you wanted to raise the cutting height of the blade.

The Master Grader solved both these problems. It comes with a stronger, more durable blade and for easier height adjustment we added an additional lever that adjusts both left and right lift rams of the blade together. That’s much easier to use while you’re operating the grader and it’s also more straightforward for new operators who don’t have as much experience.”

Customer feedback about the Master Grader was positive and it ticked the boxes for ease of operation and durability. With such strong improvements in the original Master Grader, David was excited by the opportunity to make the machine even better. So when a customer asked if it was possible to get more angle in the blade, David was more than up for the challenge.

“The angle of the blade in the original Master Grader is 23 degrees. We got feedback that although it was doing a good job, the angle wasn’t quite enough to stop the material flow from spilling out to the side of the blade. The best result would be to have a better angle so all the material moves as desired.

We did extensive research and found that the optimum grader blade angle was between 30 and 35 degrees. Then we went back to the workshop to find out what our Master Grader was capable of doing. We had to both adjust the configuration of the hydraulic rams and adjust the framework that holds it.

It took 4 months in the workshop but by the end we’d redesigned the Master Grader to have a blade angle of 33 degrees – a full 10 degree increase. We then took it into the market and conducted user trials for a couple of months to find out if it was delivering the results. The feedback was great, this new design is now in production and we have these new models available to hire now.”

The changes to the blade angle have allowed operators to achieve an even better result when they’re grading a surface. The feedback from customers has been strong and there’s already high demand for the new Master Grader model. Here’s some of the feedback that’s been received by those using it.

Josh Taylor from JT Contracting in Gisborne is a roading subcontractor specialising in stabilising cement. He’s been using the new model of the Master Grader for a while now and it’s a welcome addition to the tools of his trade.

“I like that it has heaps of grunt and it’s not shy at pushing loads. The Master Grader is fitting for our business because it really is just a smaller version of a big one. It’s easy to function and easy to use. I definitely recommend Master Equipment. The ideas you’re creating to develop these machines are beneficial for us – it helps us do business which is great.”

It’s great to see that this latest evolution of the Master Grader has been so well received. Customers describe the Master Grader as “a great little grader, with easy-to-use controls,” and say it has “great turning circle and agility”. The Master Grader definitely has the power its operators need, with another customer saying “the 2 wheel drive with water-filled tyres is plenty enough weight and traction for pushing around loose material prepping driveways/car parks”.

Overall it’s a big thumbs up from those who have tried the new Master Grader and demand is sure to grow going forward. If you’re interested in hiring a Master Grader or want to inquire about the possibility of adding one to your fleet, contact Evan for Hawke’s Bay hires on 06 872 6774 or Jeremy Smith for nationwide hire outside Hawke’s Bay on 021 713 194. Jeremy can offer you a price package that suits your situation.