10 Reasons Why You Should Use A Volumetric Mixer For Curb & Gutter Projects
Though they appear the same, every curb and gutter has minute differences tailored to the climate, topography, and other specific considerations. But, since the crux of each is to help provide a safe driving surface, pouring and forming shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. Here are 10 reasons why your next curb and gutter project should be done with a volumetric concrete mixer.
1. One Project, Multiple Design Mixes
Traditional means of pouring curbs and gutters could need three different mix designs to complete the project. Instead, each mix is pre-loaded into the software and available at any time with the touch of a button. Backed by newfound efficiency, you’ll quickly relish the production flexibility as a result.
2. Flexible Production
A one unit solution eliminates the need for multiple barrel trucks to jockey for space on a project. Or, if the scope of the project changes, you have the peace of mind that designs are in hand, materials accessible, and a mobile concrete mixer has the capability to handle a range of last-minute changes.
3. Opportunity To Change Mix Designs At Any Time
Federal and local standards require curbs and gutters to meet specifications related to controlling water run-off and soil erosion. The specifications can change in a matter of inches, which usually necessitates a new mix design for a specified length. Rather than losing precious time waiting for a new mixer carrying the new design, you’re able to make the switch in the field.
4. Roll & Pour
What if we said it’s possible to pour in one continuous motion? It isn’t mythical but reality with a volumetric mixer. Being able to roll and pour means no work stoppages and your part of a project is complete on schedule because the mobile batch plants come to you.
5. Short Placement Process
By using a volumetric concrete mixer rather than depending on a ready mix truck, you’re able to increase dependability while cutting unnecessary — and unwanted — additional charges. A common example happens when a scheduled truck is tied up for one reason or another and winds up causing a slow delivery.
6. No Waste Or Leftovers
If a job only needs 2 ½ yards but the company says they must deliver 6, and the overage charge is non-negotiable, can your budget handle this cost more than once? Being able to produce an exact amount also means there’s no leftover concrete once your curb or gutter project is done.
7. No Hot Loads
Between Mother Nature and fluctuating traffic flows, a curb or gutter is subjected to a litany of stressors during its functional lifespan. The last thing you want is to pour a hot load and hope it holds up as it’s supposed to. With a mobile concrete mixer, hot loads are non-existent as the specific design mix can be mixed and changed on-site as many times as needed.
8. Save Money By Making Your Own Concrete
When the sheer existence of a business can be justified in every decision — many of which are directly financial — many owners look for ways to save money. A volumetric mixer allows you to create and mix concrete on your schedule, not the schedule of a ready-mix company. The benefits are two-fold; first, the concrete is adequately hydrated and mixed, then secondly, the production costs are limited solely to your materials.
9. Produce High-Quality Concrete
Because the amount of water used in a mix plays a direct role in the final pounds per square inch (PSI), a high-quality concrete is everyone’s goal. By mixing concrete on-site, you know the exact moisture content and are assured it has the appropriate PSI.
10. Fewer Employees Needed For The Same Task
Time is money and the longer employees wait at a job site for the ready-mix truck, the more money your business is losing in the short- and long-run. For traditional methods, multiple employees are needed to deliver and pour the concrete while mobile batch plants only need one experienced employee. Reducing labor costs while maintaining a superior quality product is the goal of many.