What is Scalping?
Definition of Scalping in Construction
The process of screening earth and or stone to create various size products. A scalper is a piece of construction equipment that consists of various size screens coupled with conveyor belts. Each screen allows a different size material to pass through the screening. If a small 1/2″ stone is required, then the screen will allow only those pieces of product that are 1/2″ to pass through, however this product will then accumulate on a smaller screen that will let only the smaller product ( less than 1/2″ ) through.
A scalper is a series of conveyor belts, designed to accept the screened materials in various sizes and stockpile these materials off the ends of the belts. A scalper can be a very profitable operation on a large construction project.
In addition to producing product that can be used on the construction project, the excess material can be trucked and old off the project. Stone, sand, etc. are very expensive products if the contractor is forced to purchase these materials. However, if the contractor can produce the material in lieu of buying it, the profit margin is expanded. A real positive scenario is that if the contractor is intelligent enough to anticipate the needs of a project and their ability to produce material required by scalping, the actual bid value of the project can be much less than a competitor that does not have the same capability.
The proper use of a scalper, to manufacture site work products, is a very valuable enterprise, allowing the bid to be less than competition due to the ability to make product in house, the use of the product, in lieu of purchase on the job ,as well as the possibility of resale to other site work subs all the excess product manufactured by the scalper.