Concreting Equipment
a. Concrete Mixers
- Purpose: To mix the ingredients of concrete uniformly.
- Types:
- Batch Mixers: Mix the ingredients in batches. Commonly used in construction projects.
- Drum Mixers: A rotating drum mixes the ingredients. Most widely used in small to medium projects.
- Tilting Drum Mixers: Allow the drum to tilt for easier discharge of the concrete.
- Continuous Mixers: The materials are continuously fed into the mixer, and the concrete is discharged without stopping the mixer.
- Batch Mixers: Mix the ingredients in batches. Commonly used in construction projects.
- Transit Mixers: Concrete is mixed during transportation and kept in motion until used at the site.
b. Concrete Pumps
- Purpose: To transport concrete from the mixer to the pouring location, especially in areas difficult to reach.
- Types:
- Boom Pumps: A truck-mounted pump with a long, articulated arm for reaching high or distant locations.
- Line Pumps: Smaller pumps that require a flexible hose for concrete placement, ideal for ground-level applications.
c. Vibrators for Compaction
- Purpose: To remove air pockets and ensure dense concrete.
- Types:
- Internal (Poker) Vibrators: Inserted into the concrete mass for compaction.
- Surface Vibrators: Used on the surface of concrete slabs.
- Form Vibrators: Attached to the formwork to vibrate the concrete.
d. Concrete Batching Plants
- Purpose: To mix large quantities of concrete for big projects.
- Components:
- Aggregate Bins: Store sand and aggregates.
- Conveyors: Transport materials to the mixing unit.
- Weigh Batching System: Measures precise quantities of materials.
- Mixing Unit: Mixes the measured materials into concrete.
e. Concrete Screed Machines
- Purpose: To level freshly placed concrete for a smooth finish.
- Types:
- Manual Screeds: Handheld tools like straightedges.
- Powered Screeds: Mechanized screeds powered by electric or fuel motors.
f. Concrete Vibratory Screeds
- Purpose: For vibrating and leveling concrete slabs, ensuring compaction while leveling.
- Types:
- Hand Vibratory Screeds: Manually operated for small-scale use.
- Laser-guided Screeds: Advanced, automatic leveling using lasers for large slabs.