ADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE CENTRAL MIX VS TRANSIT MIX

February 3, 2015

Concrete Producers will purchase a central mix concrete batch plant to increase the company’s market share. Concrete contractors buy concrete based on #1 quality, #2 service and #3 price. Quality concrete to a concrete contractor means consistent slump and no cement balls.

In our age of multiple additives, sophisticated specifications and tremendous liability the central mix concrete batch plant relies on one individual for maintaining a quality product, the plant operator. Transit mix concrete plants rely on each individual truck driver for quality control.

Cement balling problems will occur when relying on transit mixers to do the mixing. The aggressive mixing action of a central mixer eliminates cement balling.

Transit Mixers are designed for multiple purposes.
Auger the mix into the mixing truck drum.
Mix the ingredients.
Transport the mix to job site.
Auger the mix out of the truck drum into the chutes.
The multiple functions of the transit mixer can compromise the mixing action.

Central Mixers are designed for one purpose.
Mix the ingredients into a finished product with an extremely aggressive mixing action.

Central Concrete Mixers also have the following cost savings advantages; $3.82 / yard of concrete
Reduce transit mix drum wear by 30% to 40%.
10% to 15% reduction in mixer truck fuel consumption.
3. Eliminate driver time at wash rack for slumping.
4. 80% reduction of driver wash down time.
5. Up to 20% reduction of driver yard waiting time.

The cost of a central concrete mixing plant is 2X the cost of a transit mix plant. Typically the cost of a central concrete mixing plant is justified for a plant market of 100,000 yards per year and more. The payback of the extra cost of the central mix plant can be as short as 3 – 5 years.