A Guide to Fresh, On-Site Concrete Mixing
Getting the right concrete mix, exactly when you need it, shouldn’t be difficult. For any construction, renovation, or DIY project, success lies in having access to the precise strength and consistency you need, without the delay or waste of traditional drum-mixed concrete.
This is where volumetric concrete mixers are ideal. By operating as a mobile batching plant, they bring the raw materials directly to your site, allowing for a fresh mix to be produced on demand. The top benefits? You only pay for what you pour, and you can tweak the mix design at any point.
As specialists in volumetric concrete for over two decades, the Custom Concrete team has provided this flexible and cost-effective solution to builds throughout Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire. If you’re wondering exactly how does a volumetric concrete mixer work? – you’re in the right place.
What is Volumetric Concrete?
Any concrete that is described as ‘volumetric’ has been mixed on site in a volumetric truck. Volumetric concrete is freshly made for immediate use in batches, according to the specific amount and formulation required for the job. Multiple batches of different mixes for a range of jobs – slabs, paving, footings, for example – can be produced in the order required on site.
A Closer Look at On-Demand Concrete Production
What’s happening inside one of our volumetric mixers when it arrives at your site? It’s a self-contained production unit mounted on a truck chassis. Unlike traditional drum mixers, our trucks contain everything needed to produce concrete from scratch. Here’s the process that takes you from raw materials to fresh concrete ready to pour:
At the heart of the operation is the automated control system. Our operator inputs your chosen mix design, and this digital system manages the entire process by communicating with every other part of the truck to ensure you get the perfect mix.
First, it calls for the aggregates. The truck has large aggregate bins holding different sizes of sand and stone, and a conveyor belt transports the precise blend needed for your mix towards the back. Simultaneously, the cement bin uses a screw conveyor to feed a carefully measured amount of cement powder into the mix.
These dry components then meet the water, which is supplied from a large onboard water tank. The control system manages the flow to the exact litre, ensuring the consistency is perfect. All three ingredients—aggregates, cement, and water—are fed into the mixing auger. This is where the ingredients are blended into a high-quality concrete. And because this happens just seconds before the pour, the concrete is as fresh as it can possibly be.
Finally, the finished product is delivered via the discharge chute. Its flexible, swivelling design allows us to place the concrete with great accuracy. A digital meter on the mixer provides a real-time display of the volume produced, ensuring the process is completely transparent and you only get billed for what you use.
Is Volumetric Concrete Right For Your Site?
We often get asked whether our mixers can handle a specific type of project. The answer is almost always yes. The versatility of volumetric concrete means we can deliver to virtually any site, from a small residential driveway to a large-scale commercial development. It all comes down to access.
Our trucks are 10 metres long, 2.5 metres wide, and 4 metres high, so we need a reasonably firm and smooth surface to approach the pouring location. As long as the access is clear, we can help.
For DIY and Residential Projects – Don’t be put off by the size of our trucks. We frequently deliver to homeowners and self-builders for projects like shed bases, garden patios, driveways, and foundations for extensions. You get the same high-quality, fresh-mix concrete as a major contractor, and no waste.
For Large Construction Sites – Our volumetric mixers have a large capacity, making them the ideal choice for bigger projects that need large volumes of concrete. The Custom Concrete calculator helps you to work out exactly how much you will need for your job. Because we can pour continuously and even change the mix design on the spot, we can efficiently supply concrete for everything from large slabs and footings to power-floated floors.
If access to the specific pour site is tight or awkward, we offer a concrete pump hire service to deliver your fresh mix exactly where it needs to go, cleanly and efficiently.
Making Your Project Easier, From First Call to Final Pour
While the technology that produces volumetric concrete is impressive, it’s our team’s experience that ensures your project runs smoothly. Since 2005, we’ve built our reputation on providing expert support to builders, renovators, and DIYers across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.
Our knowledgeable customer service team is your first point of contact, ready to help you plan your delivery, choose the right mix, and answer any questions you might have.
When our mixer arrives on your site, you’ll be in the hands of a skilled operator. They are there to oversee the mixing process, and they’re excellent problem-solvers. As specialists in mix chemistry and on-site logistics, they can help you get a fresh, high-performance mix that’s perfectly suited to your job. Our goal is to make your volumetric concrete delivery an integral part of your success.
Let’s talk about your project. Contact our friendly team online or call us on 01525 861899 to book your slot.