How Do Volumetric Concrete Mixers Work?
The concrete industry is constantly evolving and growing. Staying up-to-date with the latest technology is key to success in this industry. Volumetric concrete has its advantage to traditional barrel ready-mix. This article we will discuss the capabilities and qualities of volumetric concrete.
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What Is Volumetric Concrete?
Volumetric concrete is mixed by volume of materials as compared to weight. Volumetric concrete mixers hold all required materials for the production of concrete. These mixers mix and pour the concrete on-demand at each job site. In comparison, ready-mix concrete is produced at a batch plant to the desired mix design and then transported to the site with a traditional barrel mixer.
What Are The Benefits Of Volumetric Concrete?
Cost
You pay only for what you use. Volumetric concrete is made on-demand at the job site, meaning you can change the mix design, amount and add-ins suddenly limiting the chance of over or under paying for concrete. In comparison, ready-mix concrete requires quantity and mix designs before delivery, you pay for what you’re given even if you don’t use it all. This also leaves room for downtime. When a ready-mix barrel mixer doesn’t have enough concrete for your project, they have to leave and go back to the batch plant for more. Downtime is money wasted, with volumetric concrete, downtime is eliminated, allowing changes to be made last minute without ever having to leave the jobsite.
Flexibility
Due to the capabilities of volumetric concrete, anything can be added in or changed last minute to align with the project’s needs. Volumetric concrete mixers have the capabilities to have add-ons to their trucks allowing versatile mix-ins. Cemen Tech C60’s have the ability to have a liquid color component that can be added on to the mixers allowing for colored concrete. Fiber choppers are also an option to give added strength to concrete where rebar is absent or can be substituted. Volumetric concrete’s flexibility in comparison to ready-mix is its ability to change on-demand without ever having to leave the jobsite.
Waste
Because only the amount needed for the job is mixed, excess waste is eliminated. With traditional barrel mixers you have to pay for the full truck load, no matter the size of the project or changes needed even if you don’t use it. Mix designs can be changed at any given time with volumetric concrete trucks, meaning no unnecessary wasted concrete. Oftentimes with traditional barrel mixers, the load will begin to mix in transit from the batch plant to the jobsite. This can cause various issues with the quality of the mix. If the mix arrives on the jobsite and is not good to use, it is thrown out and the process has to start over again.
Where Can You Use Volumetric Concrete?
Volumetric concrete is suitable for both small and large projects. Limited to no waste with volumetric concrete means you still only pay for what you use, even on the smallest of projects. For larger projects downtime is eliminated without the need to run back to a batch plant for more materials.
Volumetric concrete can be used for both residential and commercial concrete. Commercial applications can be found in construction projects, utility work, or parking lots and roadways. Whereas residential can be found in basement foundations, patios and even pools.
How Does A Volumetric Concrete Mixer Work?
Material Storage
(1) Sand and stone bins. (2) Cement is stored in a watertight bin. (3) Water provided in an auxiliary tank. (4) Admixture tanks are integrated into the system
Concrete Production
Operator selects the correct mix design and (5) sand and stone gates adjust to position, admixture and water rates are set. (6) Press button to start operation. (7) Sand and stone exits bins, pass under “strike off gates” then pass under the cement bin and fall into the mixing auger. (8) Cement bin meters the correct amount of cement into the mix. (9) All materials simultaneously enter the continuous mixer. (10) The homogeneous concrete mixture is carried to discharge chute.
For more information about volumetric concrete and volumetric concrete mixers, contact a Cemen Tech concrete solutions specialist or call (800) 247-2464 today.
