30/03/2026
A century of motor grader development shows how far construction engineering has advanced since the 1920s.
Machines from 1925 were basic, often tractor-towed or early self-propelled units with mechanical linkages and limited blade control.
Operators relied on physical strength and experience, with no hydraulics, no cab protection and minimal precision.
The introduction of hydraulic systems in the mid-20th century transformed control, allowing smoother blade articulation and improved grading accuracy.
By the 1960s and 1970s, enclosed cabs, better visibility and more powerful diesel engines improved productivity and operator comfort.
The real shift came with electronics, as GPS grading and onboard diagnostics entered the field in the late 1990s and 2000s.
Modern graders now integrate automated blade control, telematics and emissions-compliant engines producing well over 530 horsepower (just like this Caterpillar 24).
What began as a manually intensive machine has become a precision earthmoving platform, shaped by a century of mechanical, hydraulic and digital innovation.
Fascinating!
-
