Meet Tom Banning
Heavy Equipment Veteran & Founder of Ironworks Insider
Tom Banning has spent over 30 years working with heavy machinery, from operating excavators and bulldozers on large-scale construction sites to managing fleets of equipment for major infrastructure projects. He holds multiple NCCCO certifications for crane and heavy equipment operation and spent 15 years as a site superintendent before launching Ironworks Insider to share his hard-won knowledge with operators, fleet managers, and construction professionals. Tom has worked on projects ranging from highway interchanges to commercial developments, and he brings a no-nonsense, field-tested perspective to every article. He lives in Texas, where he still gets behind the controls of a backhoe whenever he gets the chance.
About IronworksInsider
IronworksInsider was born on the job site. After three decades of operating excavators, managing equipment fleets, and supervising major construction projects, Tom Banning realized that most of the knowledge in this industry gets passed down word-of-mouth — if it gets passed down at all. This site is the manual that never came with the machine.
Our Mission
Heavy equipment is powerful, dangerous, and expensive. One wrong move with an excavator can cost lives or millions in damage. We provide the practical, field-tested knowledge that keeps operators safe, machines running, and projects on schedule. No fluff, no filler — just straight talk from someone who's been in the seat for 30 years.
What We Cover
- Heavy equipment operation and safety guides
- Welding techniques and process comparisons (MIG, TIG, Stick)
- Hydraulic system maintenance and troubleshooting
- Equipment inspection and preventive maintenance
- Metal fabrication tips and project guides
- Load charts, rigging, and crane safety
For Professionals
Deepen your expertise with maintenance schedules, troubleshooting guides, and equipment comparisons written by someone who has actually rebuilt a hydraulic cylinder in the mud at 5 AM.
For Operators & Students
Getting into heavy equipment operation? We cover the fundamentals — from reading load charts to pre-shift inspections — that they don't always teach in certification courses but that every greenhorn needs to know on day one.