How Much Does It Cost to Produce Concrete On Site in Australia?
Concrete supply is one of the largest cost drivers on any construction job. Yet many contractors don’t fully understand the true cost of producing concrete in Australia – especially when comparing ready-mix to on-site production.
If you’re working across multiple sites, on sub-scale jobs, or in remote/regional locations, the true cost of your concrete can be significant.
Breaking down the cost
When assessing the cost of producing concrete in Australia, you need to look beyond the line item price per m3.
Other direct costs of concrete include:
- Charges for delivery and travel time
- Waiting time charges
- After hours and weekend charges
- Minimum load penalties
- Fuel levies
- Premium charges for alternative mix designs
- Premium charges for priority delivery
- Disposal and waste fees
Then there are the additional ‘hidden’ costs:
- Planning and coordination challenges
- Scheduling inefficiencies
- Labour inefficiencies
- Inconsistent concrete quality, influenced by delivery times and weather conditions
- Overall, reduced project control
Together, these costs accumulate quickly, particularly on jobs that, for example:
- Are sub-scale
- Require specialised mix designs (e.g. fast setting)
- Have unique concrete requirements (e.g. decorative)
- Have strict project delivery schedules
- Are located in remote areas, or areas not serviced by batching plants
For a broader industry overview of construction costs, the Australian Bureau of Statistics provides useful data on input cost trends.
The true cost of delivered concrete
Consequently, delivered concrete cost is not simply the per m3 rate of the base material. Real-life project conditions influence the true cost of concrete. Contractor margins are impacted by items including:
- Wasted concrete due to over-ordering
- Delays waiting for trucks
- Labour inefficiency when crews are idle
- Quality risk in adverse weather conditions
- Complications with aligning project schedules to ready-mix delivery
- Project inefficiency from a ‘stop-start’ requirement
This is why many contractors now assess cost to produce concrete in Australia using a per-job or per-day model rather than per m³ alone.
On-site production: a different model
Volumetric Concrete Mixers are changing this equation for contractors, eliminating many of the hidden costs of producing concrete in Australia.
Using a volumetric mixer allows you to:
- Produce only what you need
- Produce specialised mixes and adjust mix design in real time
- Eliminate waste
- Reduce reliance on external supply chains
- Keep crews utilised
- Control quality
Take control and improve profit
The result for contractors is more control over the performance of their business and more flexibility in their operations. Volumetric mixers are turning what was previously a significant project cost into a profit centre, all while improving utilisation of staff.
Volumetric mixers allow you to control your concrete, control your job, and control your profit.
Is it right for your business?
The team at CGS Equipment are ready to provide you with advice and guidance on how a volumetric mixer can benefit your business.