Ready Mix Concrete Process

Ready-Mix Concrete is a major part of any concrete construction project. It is a convenient and efficient tool for building. The concrete is delivered to the site mixed and ready to be cast which saves time and money.

There are two types of ready-mix plants :

  • A central mixing plant uses a stationary mixer to mix the concrete. The concrete is then transferred into the transportation vehicle.
  • A truck mixing plant places all unmixed dry materials into a truck mixer. Water is added and mixing is then done in the truck.

Many central mix plants have the ability to bypass the stationary mixer, thus making them a hybrid of the two types.

  • Besides a few small exceptions, all mixing plants have the same basic layout. The plants consist of aggregate storage, cement/pozzolan storage, batchers (aggregate batching, cement batching, water and admixture batching), dust collection system, feed system, and some sort of mixer (truck mixer or stationary mixer). Due to modern technology, the ready-mix plant can be operated from a remote location. A batch operator uses video equipment and computer systems to control the crucial areas of the plant.
 
  • The process of producing concrete in measured batches is called batching. Every ready-mix concrete plant uses this process to produce their concrete. Weigh Batching uses a hopper and a scale to batch all of the dry materials. The scale gives a readout of the weight of material in the hopper. Due to its consistent nature, water can be batched by weigh batching or volumetric batching.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SMC & RMC

PARTICULARS

SITE MIX CONCRETE (SMC)

READY MIX CONCRETE (RMC)

Raw Material

Near Mixer at Site

At Batching Plant

Weighing

Manual

Computerised

Moisture Control

Approximate

Lab Controlled

W/C ratio

Manual(Approx)

Computerised

Dosing Of Admixtures

Manual(Approx)

Computerised

Mixing

Tilting Mixer

Non Tilting Single Shaft Mixer

Discharge

Platform

Transit Mixer / Pump

Rate

6 Cmt. Per. Hr.

30 Cmt. Per. Hr.

Degree Of Control

Fair

Excellent

Yield

Varaible

Consistent

Testing Of Fresh Concrete

Once in 25 Batches

Every Batch

Selection / Sourcing

Depending On Availability

Pre Determined Sources

Testing

Random

Regular

Storage

Multi Location

Single Point

Storage Space Requirement

Large

Limited & Compact

Mode

Manual

Transit Mixer

Mode

Manual / Hoist / Crane

Concrete Pump

Rate

5 Cmt. Per Hr.

30 Cmt. Per. Hr.

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