From Asphalt to Concrete – A Family Business Grows

For 40 years, RJ Daigle & Sons has been a leading highway construction and site development contractor in South Louisiana. As they grew, their need for quality concrete also grew. But using subcontractors and ready-mix trucks for concrete presented major challenges. The Daigle family looked for a better solution and found it with volumetric concrete mixers. Now, RJ Daigle & Sons uses multiple Cemen Tech C60 mixers.

Ready-Mix Roadblocks

“Most of the projects that we build have curb and gutter and other forms of concrete paving,” explains Nick Daigle, President/CEO of RJ Daigle and Sons. “In the past, we would sub this work out, but the quality of the work and the availability of the subcontractor did not meet our standards.”

The Daigles then tried self-performing the concrete work using ready-mix trucks. This proved equally frustrating. “Getting a ready-mix company to send trucks when we wanted them and keeping enough trucks on our job was the first challenge,” says Nick. “The second was having the concrete at the right slump to meet our needs.”

Taking Control with Volumetric Mixing

RJ Daigle & Sons decided to apply the same principles that made their asphalt business so successful: control over design, production, and transportation. “Our success in the asphalt paving business has been due to our ability to control the asphalt design, production, and transportation,” Nick explains. “We decided to take that same approach in the concrete division. With our Cemen Tech mobile mixers, we control all of our concrete design, production, and transportation.”

Volumetric mixers offered the perfect solution. These mobile mixing plants bring the concrete batching process directly to the job site. RJ Daigle & Sons could now mix the exact amount of concrete they needed, when they needed it, and at the precise slump required.

The impact on RJ Daigle & Sons’ business has been significant. “Cemen Tech mobile mixers have given our concrete division the ability to control their concrete and meet the needs of our paving crew,” says Nick. “The mobile mixers supply as much concrete in a day as the crew needs. The slump can be adjusted to exactly what our paving requirements are without delay or hassle.”

No more waiting around for ready-mix trucks. No more rejected loads of concrete that don’t meet specifications. “Owning our own mobile mixers also gives us more control on their location and the ability to prioritize our own jobs rather than wait for someone else to come to us,” Nick adds.

“Our biggest concern was whether we could supply enough concrete to our paving crew to keep them productive,” Nick admits. “The answer is yes. We can supply enough concrete to keep our crew performing at a very high level. As we become more comfortable with the trucks, our productivity has increased and so has the quality of our product.”

Why Cemen Tech? Service and Support You Can Count On

Choosing the right equipment supplier is crucial. RJ Daigle & Sons did their homework. “We did extensive research in deciding where to invest in a concrete plant or mobile mixers,” says Nick. “Once we decided on mobile mixers, even more research was done to determine what company and truck would fit our needs best.”

Cemen Tech stood out for several reasons. “We chose Cemen Tech because of their extensive service department,” Nick explains. “Being based in the USA was a huge part of that because it meant parts could be shipped same day and not have to go through customs like some of its competitors. When I called customers of Cemen Tech everyone was very pleased with the product, the support, and the resources that Cemen Tech provides to its customers.”

The relationship with Cemen Tech extends beyond the initial purchase. “Cemen Tech has been a very reliable partner to work with,” says Nick. “They provide a fast turnaround on parts. When we call there is always product support on the other line who can help us with any issues or questions.”

Volumetric Mixing – A Better Way for Asphalt Contractors to Manage Concrete

For RJ Daigle & Sons, volumetric mixing has been a significant improvement. Their experience shows how this approach gives asphalt contractors greater control over their concrete supply. From mix design and production to timing and delivery, volumetric mixing eliminates the headaches often associated with ready-mix or subcontractors. This increased control translates to better quality, improved scheduling, and potentially significant cost savings—all crucial for successful asphalt projects.

Solving Concrete Challenges for Asphalt Contractors

See how RJ Daigle & Sons, a leading asphalt contractor, solved their concrete challenges with volumetric mixing. Learn how they improved quality and saved money.

DOWNLOAD CASE STUDY

WORLD OF ASPHALT INTERVIEW

WATCH VIDEO