Understanding the Differences Between a Concrete Mixer and Concrete Pump
Concrete construction projects require a range of equipment to ensure the best results. This will likely include the use of both a concrete mixer and concrete pump and while both are essential, they perform distinct roles and offer unique benefits.
The mixer is used to prepare the concrete mixture, and the pump transports it to the exact location where it’s needed. Pumps are especially useful for larger projects or areas that are difficult to access, such as high-rise buildings or areas with restricted entry.
This blog will explain the purpose each fulfils, the differences between them and other considerations such as precision, capacity, speed and versatility.
What is a Concrete Mixer?
A concrete mixer combines cement, water, and aggregates like sand and gravel to produce concrete. Mixers are available in various sizes, from small portable mixers to large stationary units. Some can even be attached to pumping machinery for extra versatility.
Continuous Concrete Mixers
Continuous concrete mixers mix ingredients continuously to efficiently produce a large volume of concrete. Raw materials are continuously fed into the mixer, allowing it to produce a constant stream of concrete output. Although continuous mixers offer high productivity, it can be harder to control the input of raw materials to ensure a continuous output of concrete at the same specification and mix design, so operation requires careful planning.
Batch Concrete Mixers
Batch mixers are mixed and discharge material in one mass or batch, which is repeated in multiple batches to produce the desired output. Examples of batch mixers include drum and pan mixers. Drum mixers use a revolving drum to blend materials and often have features such as tilting or reversing drums. The most common drum mixer is an Agitator Truck which consists of a rotating drum mounted on a cab-mounted chassis. The mixer is loaded with pre-mixed material produced at a batching plant, which is then delivered to site ready to pour.’.
Pan mixers operate in a similar fashion to drum mixers but feature a horizontal, circular pan for mixing. They mix material in-situ and deliver the finished material directly into a pump or the desired transportation equipment.
Volumetric Concrete Mixers
While ready-mix concrete is produced at a batch plant and transported to the site in ready to pour form, a volumetric concrete mixer holds raw materials and mixes them as required to produce the precise amount of concrete desired. A volumetric mixer offers many advantages over an agitator truck including efficiency, flexibility and ease of transportation.
What is a Concrete Pump?
Concrete pumps, on the other hand, are designed to transport and place mixed concrete efficiently across job sites. Whether mounted on trucks, trailers or skids, they are used to transfer concrete over extended horizontal or vertical distances with precision and speed. This makes them key for large projects where reaching certain areas with concrete would otherwise be difficult.
Types of Concrete Pump
Boom Pump
Boom pumps are truck-mounted pumps that consist of an extendable arm (or boom), to place concrete. These pumps are commonly used for projects with multiple levels and in hard to access areas.
Line Pump
Line pumps transport material via hose rather than a boom. They are usually mounted to a trailer to make it easy to manoeuvre and transport between job sites. Ideal for horizontal pumping and working around obstacles, they use a long pipe to offer control and flexibility when delivering concrete over a long distance.
The main difference between line pumps and boom pumps is that line pumps are smaller and more compact, making them ideal for applications where a boom pump isn’t practical.
You can learn more about concrete pumps in our article The Ultimate Guide to Concrete Pumps.
When to Use a Concrete Mixer and a Concrete Pump
Concrete mixers and pumps are two pieces of equipment that are essential for any construction job requiring. They work in conjunction with one another and enable the operator to mix and transport large volumes of concrete with ease, precision and flexibility.
When to use a Concrete Mixer
Concrete mixers are designed to transform raw material into ready to pour concrete. A high quality mixer is a crucial tool for any job and using a mixer on site provides a large degree of flexibility when compared to using batching plants. Their versatility and transportability make them a perfect option for all projects. However, a mixer does not transport or place the finished concrete.
To transport and place the concrete, a concrete pump is required.
When to Use a Concrete Pump
Concrete pumps are crucial in projects where concrete needs to be moved across long distances or hard to reach areas. Although commonly used in larger commercial or industrial projects, they are available to suit any type and size of job. Concrete pumps offer many advantages over manual transportation including power, durability and versatility.
Concrete pumps enhance the speed and efficiency of placement and can be controlled remotely, which reduces the need for manual labour on-site.
While they might come with a higher upfront cost, using a concrete pump drastically simplifies the delivery process and boosts the profitability of a project.
Volumetric concrete mixer trucks can help overcome the problem of transportation over long distances as the raw materials are mixed on-site, and the ability to mix the precise volume required makes them highly suitable for any size of job. Volumetric mixers allow you to mix exactly the amount you need with no waste, delivering significant cost advantages.
Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Project
Concrete mixers and concrete pumps both have their own individual uses and advantages. The decision to invest in a piece of equipment largely depends on the requirements of your business and your project.
Consider the scope of the projects you work on, volume requirements, access constraints, the functionality you require, labour demands and cost-effectiveness as a starting point. For further advice on concrete pumps and mixers, contact the friendly team at CGS.
Shop Your Concrete Equipment Today
From scale to speed, control to flexibility, choosing the appropriate equipment for your job depends on a whole range of factors. No matter what you choose, reliability is key.
CGS Equipment offers durable mixing and pumping solutions as the exclusive distributor of high-quality European and American manufacturers.
Browse our range of concrete pumps, see how our volumetric concrete mixers can benefit your business or call one of our friendly teams on 1300 581 984 today.