Mobile vs. Traditional: Which Batch Plant Should I Choose?
Mobile Batch Plants
A mobile batch plant, or volumetric mixer, is a unit that can be taken to job sites and used to produce concrete as needed to meet any specification. The units are largely truck or trailer mounted for ease of movement around the job site and beyond.
Easy Mix Adjustments For Concrete On-The-Go
Mobile batch plants are capable of making any type of concrete desired by adjusting the mix materials and can change mix designs as needed. There’s little waste using these mixers as a batch plant as they only produce the specified amount of concrete needed for the task. This helps to alleviate the environmental issues of leftover concrete. At large job sites, volumetric mixers can be continually loaded for a steady flow of concrete. As long as there’s material in the mixer, it can mix and pour as needed.
Reduced Environmental Impact
Mobile batch plants also produce less emissions than drum trucks. While drum trucks must continuously run to prevent setting, volumetric mixers create concrete on site, saving gas, the environment, and money. But, this doesn’t result in a smaller carrying capacity. A volumetric mixer can store around 9.5 m³ while a standard mobile batch plant will produce around 60 cubic yards per hour. Larger and smaller production plants are available to meet a range of concrete production needs.
Traditional Batch Plants
A traditional batch plant is generally located in a fixed location, usually not near job sites. This doesn’t offer much flexibility for the load leaving the batch plant as the clock has started and the load should be poured within 90 minutes.
One Batch One Or Two Ways
When the concrete is batched, drum trucks then deliver the concrete to the desired location. Traditional batch plants are usually either:
- Central batched: Concrete mixes in a large drum and then transfers into a truck for delivery.
- Transit mixed: The materials are weighed, loaded into the truck, and mixed in route.
Leftover Concrete, Unplanned Expense
It’s typically the contractor’s responsibility to dispose of any leftover concrete at the end of the pour. Disposal more often than not comes with a haul off fee. On average, a traditional batch plant produces 150 cubic yards to 200 cubic yards per hour. However, the number of trucks available for delivery often limits the delivery capabilities.
Want to learn more about how to use volumetric mixers as batch plants? Contact a Cemen Tech Concrete Solutions Specialist or call (800) 247-2464.