The history of scrapers dates back hundreds of years. In the 18th century, horse-drawn scrapers were introduced, where a bucket was dragged along the ground by horses, typically over distances of 15 to 50 meters. By 1883, the first all-metal wheeled scraper was developed, marking a significant advancement in construction machinery. In 1910, the United States introduced a specialized scraper designed for tractor use, and after the 1920s, the Soviet Union began mass-producing tire-mounted drag scrapers.
In 1938, the U.S. launched its first self-propelled scraper, which represented a major leap in efficiency and mobility. The 1940s saw the introduction of twin-engine models, while the 1960s brought about innovations such as chain-loaded scrapers, further improving performance and versatility. Today, the largest scraper available has a bucket capacity of up to 200 cubic meters, showcasing the evolution of this essential construction tool.
Compared to the first-generation self-propelled scrapers, the CL7 model marked a qualitative improvement in product quality and functionality, ushering in a new era for Chinese scraper technology. This innovation set a benchmark for domestic construction machinery and demonstrated China’s growing capabilities in engineering design and manufacturing.
China's journey in developing scrapers began in the 1960s. In April 1961, a joint design team composed of the Zhengzhou Construction Machinery Manufacturing Plant, the First Machinery Engineering Machinery Research Institute, and the Xiamen Engineering Machinery Plant (now Yutong Heavy Industry, Tianjin Engineering Machinery Research Institute, and Xiagong Group) was formed. They worked on creating the first self-propelled scraper based on foreign prototypes. The design was completed in August 1961, and the first prototype, C-6106, was manufactured at Zhengzhou Construction Machinery Plant in December 1962.
This early scraper combined both digging and transport functions, making it highly efficient for medium-range transportation—typically between 2 to 120 kilometers. Because of its economic advantages, the development of scrapers received significant attention from national authorities during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1963, under the "Key Control Project of New Products in 1964" initiated by the National Science and Technology Commission, a joint design team was established to develop the CL7 self-propelled scraper.
The CL7 model, which went into production in 1972, was hydraulically driven, with hydraulic cylinders controlling various parts of the bucket. This represented a major technological leap compared to earlier models. The CL7 not only improved performance but also symbolized the highest level of mechanical and electrical engineering in China at the time. It was showcased at an international exhibition in Cologne, Germany, in June 1975, and won the National Science and Technology Conference Award in 1978. Later that year, two CL7 scrapers were used for the first industrial test of construction machinery on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, demonstrating their capability in extreme conditions.
Today, although modern construction methods have largely replaced traditional scrapers with combinations of excavators and dump trucks, the scraper still plays an important role in certain applications. In the U.S., scrapers account for 40% of all earthwork operations, highlighting their continued relevance. Despite being overshadowed by newer technologies, the legacy of the scraper remains strong, carrying forward the mission and honor of its original purpose.
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