Concrete Mixer Machine: The Complete Guide

concrete-mixer-machine-cement-truck-and-chute-18728390-min-e1644426614157

 

A concrete mixer machine is an invaluable addition to your construction equipment collection and will assist and speed up any building process. There are many different types of concrete mixers, as well as many different used, and it can all be a bit overwhelming. We have created a comprehensive guide of everything you need to know before you purchase (or rent) a concrete mixer machine, in just 7 minutes reading time.

 

What is a concrete mixer machine:

 

Way before modernisation and the industrial revolution, building techniques were significantly simple, and the construction process took literal years more than it does today. Back then, if you wanted to mix building materials such as cement, they were mixed by hand. Naturally, this process took a long time and the result was usually not very precise or thoroughly mixed.

 

A concrete mixer machine solves this problem, and is a device which can prepare and mix concrete mixtures. These devices can prepare concrete at varying intensity as well as speed. Concrete mixers can be further divided into portable machines, and stationary ones.

 

A portable concrete mixer machine usually has wheels and can be easily transported in the back of a construction vehicle or bakkie. These variations are affective as workers can easily move the mixer around the construction site to mix concrete for walls or bases. Large scale concrete mixers are for large construction sites where you will be requiring a considerable amount of concrete. These are usually built at the physical construction site and then disassembled afterwards.

 

 

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Concrete mixer machine: Types

 

There are many different types of concrete mixers, and while they do differ in terms of features and capacity, they will all primarily be used to complete the same job of mixing concrete. The primary types of concrete mixers are batch mixers and continuous mixers. A batch mixer, like the name suggests, mixes one batch of concrete at a time.

 

Batch mixers will have either a pan or a drum, consisting of blades, which then rotate to mix the concrete mixture. You will be able to control the speed at which the pan/drum rotates, the angle of the blades, as well as the angle of inclination of the drum. Batch mixers are usually portable and are therefore great for small to medium sized construction sites.

 

A drum concrete mixture machine consists of a double conical frustum shaped drum and has either a single set of blades, or multiples sets of blades that will be used to mix and prepare a concrete mixture. There are three types of drum mixers, a tilting drum mixer, a non-tilting drum mixer, and a reversing drum mixer. A tilting drum mixer is able to tilt either upwards or downwards at a certain angle.

 

 

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This is great because it allows the mixer to thoroughly mix in all components of a concrete mixture. These mixers are closed on one end and are best suited for large construction sites or sites that will be constantly mixing concrete. A non-tilting drum rotates rather on a horizontal axis to produce concrete.
Non-tilting drum mixers have openings at both sides and the various concrete ingredients will be fed from end of the machine, and collected by the other. These mixers are not suitable for a large construction site where you will be preparing large aggregates. A reversing drum mixer also has an opening at both ends where the mixture is poured into the machine from one ends and is then collected from the other.

 

The differentiating factor between non-tilting drum mixers and reversing drum mixers is that reversing drum mixers have two sets of blades. One blade set facilitates the mixing process while the drum rotates in a set direction, and the other blade facilitates the output process of the mixture while the drum is rotating in the opposite direction. Reversing drum mixtures are best for mixing and preparing dry concrete mixtures.
A pan mixer makes use of a cylindrical pan instead a of a drum. Pan mixers usually have star shaped blades which facilitate the concrete mixing process. The blades also have scarpers attached to them which help to avoid mortar sticking to the surface of the pan.

 

Pan mixers have to main modes of operation. Firsty, pan mixer whereby the pan is fixed is a certain position and then the blades then rotate in a vertical axis. Or secondly, whereby the blades remain still and the pan is the one that rotates on the vertical axis.
At BS Power, we understand that your personal concrete needs may not be identical to the concrete needs of your next door neighbour. You may have different budgets, capacities and plans for the concrete mixer machine.

 

Finally, a continuous mixer. A continuous mixer is a concrete mixer machine that works without any interruption, continuously and constantly preparing concrete for however long work is going on. Continuous mixers are constantly fed raw materials and then the concrete mixture is discharged. Continuous mixers are usually set up on the construction site itself.

 

This is why at BS Power, we cater an entire range of concrete mixers that are tailored to meet your construction needs, keeping in mind differing budgets as well as expectations. All of our concrete mixers have a ring gear cover and an enclosed engine cabin which ensures that the operators are safe at all times. Below are some of the mixers that we offer:

 

 

BAUMAX BS361 360L CONCRETE MIXER MACHINE FITTED WITH BAUMAX RX200 2:1 ENGINE

 

concrete-mixer-machine-Baumax RX200

 

 

 

BAUMAX BS361 CONCRETE MIXER MACHINE FITTED WITH HONDA GX160LX 2:1 ENGINE

 

 

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concrete-mixer-machine-Baumax 361

 

 

BAUMAX BS600 CONCRETE MIXER MACHINE FITTED WITH DIESEL ENGINE

 

concrete-mixer-macine-Baumax BS600

 

 

What type and size concrete mixture should you get?

 

 

You’ve heard the hype but you’re not sure if you really do need a cement mixer machine and if it’s really worth it? The primary question you need to ask yourself is how big is your building project. If you’re doing a small fill repair or only need to prepare a small amount of concrete, then you don’t need to go out and buy a cement mixer.

 

If you are planning a slightly more ambitious building task or will be building on a construction site, then you need to invest in a cement mixer. If it is a simple and generic medium scale construction project, such as building a one bedroom flatlet then you only really need one cement mixer machine.
If you will be building a larger construction project that will require a considerable amount of concrete, then invest in a larger concrete mixer, or even two. If you have two cement mixers that are both portable you will be able to easily whip them through the site to wherever you need concrete poured. This means you will get more done in less time, which is great if you are a contractor who is on a strict deadline.

 

Speaking of contractors, if you have your own building company and are branching out into the construction industry, then you will need your own cement mixer machine. One may think that a cheaper option it to rent out a cement mixer from a large retailer, but in fact this could end up costing you more in the long run and there is red tape involved with renting machinery from hardware wholesalers.

 

 

Tips for buying a cement mixer machine

 

– Online vs in-store: A quick tip when it comes to purchasing a cement mixer machine, is to have a look online too. While in-store shopping does mean that you will be able to see everything first hand and take the product home on the same day, you may miss out on some awesome online deals. Many retailer will host virtual sales and if you shop online you can have multiple tabs open at the same time which means you can compare prices and specifications, all from the comfort of your own home.

 

– If you purchase online this will also usually come with delivery. Choosing to get your concrete mixer delivered to your doorstep saves you the drive to the store and means that you won’t risk damaging the machine or your car.

 

– If you have a strict budget to stick to, then be on the lookout for holiday sales. On some of the big holidays of the year, stores will have crazy sales to either get rid of old stock that hasn’t sold, or to boose their profits before a certain date. This means that you could potentially get thousands off a concrete mixture machine. Days such as July 4th, Father’s Day and Christmas will usually have a few sales, but the ultimate sale date of the year is Black Friday.

 

– Black Friday is usually at the end of November each year and the term was coined in Philadelphia where the day after Thanksgiving was a notoriously busy shopping day with heavy foot traffic and vehicle traffic. Black Friday has become a global phenomenon that many retailers choose to partake in. On Black Friday you could get a concrete mixer for up to 50% off, and other construction equipment pieces could go for even 75% off.

 

 

Safety Guidelines:

 

– It is advised that you/the operator wear safety glasses at all times around the cement mixer. This is so that no pieces of debris that are flung up will go into your eye and damage or irritate it.

 

– You need to wearing the appropriate hearing protection, (Class 5-SLC80>26 dB).

 

– You must wear protective footwear such as sturdy boots or even steel toe boots if you have access. These will protect your feet from any flying debris.

 

– It is advised that all jewellery and rings are removed to ensure that nothing slips off into the mixture itself or into the mechanics of the machine itself.

 

– If you are concerned about inhaling any fumes, then where a mask which will protect you from fumes as well as dust.