Right, so you’re in the market for concrete mixers, and making that well-informed decision is making your head spin? Well, at BS Power, we are happy to help. Making the best decision can actually mean the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that leads to costly setbacks for your project and business.

 

Selecting the right mixer from a market of concrete mixers won’t only improve your job efficiency but will also ensure consistency in the quality of concrete batches mixed, and ultimately can accelerate your ROI (return on investment). So, whether you’re a small jobs contractor, a larger contractor in charge of an urban job, a farmer getting ready for a rural job, or simply someone who loves DIY, the choice you make in buying a concrete mixer truly matters.

 

Now, mixing concrete might seem pretty straightforward to most, but every detail, no matter how small, everything from the type of mixer, the drum capacity, and power source, portability, maintenance and future expansion can affect performance and the outcome of your projects. Making a poor choice can lead to job delays, uneven mixes, and even equipment breakdowns that will only further drive up your operational costs and cause delays in your timelines.

 

It is for these reasons that knowing what to look for and who to trust when making a purchase is so vital. Here in South Africa, where everything from remote job sites to loadshedding and rugged terrain can affect your output, petrol-powered mixers are without a doubt the true workhorse of the construction industry.

 

At BS Power, we are a leading supplier in SA and we’re proud to offer our clients a curated range of petrol mixers that are backed by our top-tier after-sales support, our technical prowess, and nationwide delivery.

 

Our core mission at BS Power is to match every one of our customers with a reliable piece of equipment that aligns with their specific needs. So, in this BS Power guide, we will take you through absolutely everything you need to know about concrete mixers, think everything from size calculations, power systems, durability, and more.

 

The Type of Mixer and Its Capacity

 

Okay, now this section of our guide might be glaringly obvious to some of you, but for those who don’t know, you will be surprised at just how many contractors get this wrong. Many people out there actually opt for a concrete mixer based on the type of engine it has, or even on how portable it is. This is wrong. The first thing you should consider when considering mixers is the size of the mixing drum.

 

Now, you might assume that getting the concrete mixer with the largest drum is the way to go, but this is not the case. You should choose a concrete mixer based on drum size and the average amount of concrete you will mix daily. Maybe you’re a small jobs contractor and don’t work on larger-scale jobs? If this is the case, you won’t need a large drum mixer.

 

It’s also worth noting that if the drum capacity is 360L, this does not mean that you’re going to get 360L of mixed concrete; in fact, the usable amount will only amount to half of that. Why? Well, the drum needs space for the paddles to mix the concrete within the drum, so if you choose a mixing drum of 360L, you will only yield 180L at maximum.

 

 

For Small Jobs Like Patios, Garden Walls and Paving Repairs:

 

For smaller projects like your patio jobs, garden walls or paving, a concrete mixer with a 200L or 300L drum capacity is ideal. These more compact, smaller mixers are way easier to handle, thanks to the drum being smaller, but don’t worry, this size will get the right amount of concrete you’ll need.

 

For Mid-Scale Commercial Jobs Like Foundations, Walls and Pavement Installations:

 

If you’re going to be building new walls or laying a new foundation for a property, you’re going to need a lot more concrete. We recommend opting for a mixer with a 300L or even 360L capacity, as this size is still easily transportable on the back of your bakkie or trailer, and it produces large batches of concrete easily.

 

For Larger Scale Batching Like Commercial Slabs, Warehouse Flooring and Rural Schools and Clinics:

 

Naturally, larger-scale jobs like commercial slab jobs, setting warehouse flooring, and rural schools and clinics require much more concrete. Basically, if you’re laying out more than 5 cubic metres per day, you will need a mixer with a drum capacity of 400L and up.

 

But the amount of concrete you will need on a daily basis for your jobs should not be the only aspect you consider. You also need to think of how many people you will have on site every day, as if you don’t have enough contractors to handle the amount of concrete you need to mix, you will waste resources, and this will cost you in the long run.

 

Portable, Stationary and Volumetric Mixers

 

When it comes to the industry of mixers, there are a number of options you need to consider. In this section, we will paint a light as to the three main kinds of mixers you might find on job sites in the country.

 

The Portable Drum Mixer – Made to Be Flexible

 

If you are working on smaller jobs, then portable mixers will serve you fine. You’ll be able to move them with ease from job to job, and just because these mobile mixers are easy to move, doesn’t in any way mean that they are not of good quality. In fact, these mixers are commonly equipped with petrol engines and pneumatic wheels that can handle any terrain, as well as robust steel frames.

 

 

The Stationary Mixer – Large Scale Efficiency

 

So you’re after a mixer that can handle large amounts and stay put in one place? Well, then naturally, a stationary mixer is for you. Maybe you have a contractor yard where the output of concrete is non-stop, or maybe you even oversee a precast facility? Well, stationary mixers are commonly useful for concrete mixing of high capacities.

 

These mixers come with much larger drums and are also reinforced with much sturdier and heavier frames than portable concrete mixers. Once you’ve set it up, it becomes sort of a central batching hub for construction teams taking on formwork, casting slabs, or several different pours on one site. These mixers are, however, powered by electricity, which obviously means that they need a reliable power source on the job site.

 

The Volumetric and Truck Mounter Mixer

 

Next up, you’ve got the volumetric mixer, which is commonly mounted on a truck. These amazing machines can mix high volumes of concrete and are perfect for larger-scale projects like roads, highways and bridges. What makes them even more amazing is that they can adjust mix ratios on-site and take on all additives without breaking a sweat.

 

Of course, these are not petrol-powered and at BS Power we don’t offer them, but it always helps to be aware of the different kinds of mixers used in our industry.

 

Mixers and Their Powertrains

 

Another aspect you need to consider when looking at concrete mixers is the powertrain. The powertrain can make dramatic differences in how well the mixer works, how reliable it is and ultimately how efficient it is overall.

 

The Petrol Mixer

 

Here in South Africa, the petrol-powered concrete mixer is widely seen as the number one go-to option for many reasons. They come with reliable petrol engines, and consistently deliver even during heavier batch cycles, and yes, even some of the harshest heat, or dusty, off-the-beaten-track environments where electric mixes just won’t do the trick.

 

Electric Mixers: Quiet & Limited

 

Of course, electric mixers are much quieter and produce far fewer emissions, but they also sorely lack the necessary torque for mixing larger and more dense concrete batches. They also rely on a reliable power source, which makes them pretty useless in areas affected by loadshedding or locales that are remote.

 

The Diesel and The Hybrid Mixer

 

There are also diesel concrete mixers, which are commonly used in jobs that require heavy industrial mixing. That being said, these are becoming increasingly less common in portable mixes because they cost much more and they weigh more, too.

 

There are also hybrid mixers, which essentially combine a generator with an electric motor, but these are still relatively new to the industry and have not really taken off in terms of adoption here in SA.

 

Durability and Quality of Build

 

When you decide to invest in a concrete mixer, remember that toughness counts. From daily wear and tear to unsavoury, rough terrain, your concrete mixer needs to be able to withstand the many demands of a construction job site. And it’s for this very reason that build quality, especially the materials that are used to create the drum and frame, should be at the top of your list in terms of priorities.

 

Steel VS Plastic Drums

 

We always recommend that you opt for a mixer that has a steel-reinforced drum as opposed to a plastic counterpart. Steel is built to take on heavy use and mixes that are abrasive, and it can truly resist wear and tear, survive dents and doesn’t crack as easily as plastic.

 

The Components and Heavy-Duty Frames

 

Before making a purchase, we advise that you take a close look at the mixer’s structure. Be on the lookout for steel frames that are angled and reinforced with clean welds and a drum collar that is welded on. Also, look out for features like centre-balanced drums and oil-sealed bearings, as these only go further in terms of how well they mix and their overall lifespan.

 

 

BS Power’s Top Concrete Mixers

 

Let’s break down our staff choices at BS Power and why:

 

The Husqvarna 400 L Petrol Concrete Mixer

 

First up, our favourite large-scale mixer is the Husqvarna Petrol Concrete Mixer. This mixer has a drum capacity of 400L, which is ideal for heavy-duty commercial usage. It’s powerful and tough thanks to its reliable Honda engine, and boasts a sturdy and rugged steel frame and also comes with pneumatic wheels for extra easy mobility.

 

The Baumax 360L Petrol Concrete Mixer

 

Our fave mid-size mixer is the Baumax 360L mixer, which has been optimised for better versatility and manoeuvrability on any job site. It features a high-torque engine that consistently mixes good batches and is compact and sturdy enough for both rural and urban sites.

 

Get Your Concrete with BS Power Today

 

So we’ve come to the end of another BS power guide, and we hope that now you’ll be able to make a proper, informed decision on purchasing one of our concrete mixers. To learn more or to contact us, be sure to visit our site here!