VOLUMETRIC CONCRETE VS READY MIX CONCRETE

Main Highlights:

1. Volumetric concrete allows on-site mix adjustments and reduces waste, ideal for any project size.
2. Ready mix concrete is pre-mixed, fitting smaller, less flexible projects.
3. Volumetric offers higher capacity and eliminates waste, while ready mix might lead to excess.
4. Volumetric is cost-effective for larger projects, ready mix suits smaller efforts with potential for unused cost.

Before you decide what type of concrete you are going to use for your project, it’s important to weigh up your options. While ready mix concrete has its uses, particularly for smaller sites, the ingenuity of volumetric concrete makes it a fantastic choice for projects of all sizes and requirements.

To unpack this idea further, let’s look at the differences in detail.

CAPACITY

Volumetric: Volumetric concrete has a truck capacity of around 10m³. However, due to the fact that concrete can be mixed on the fly in a concrete mixer, the theoretical ceiling of this capacity is a lot greater.

Ready mix: A barrel mixer storing ready mix concrete can hold about half the amount of a volumetric mixer, and doesn’t have the capacity to generate any more concrete than the initial order.

WASTE

Volumetric: Only the concrete that’s needed is mixed, eliminating the potential for any waste materials.

Ready mix: Once batched, ready mix concrete must be dispatched as it is. This means there is a potential for waste if the needs of a project change.

FLEXIBILITY

Volumetric: As volumetric mixers store the necessary components for a concrete mix in separate compartments, the size and specification of a mix can be changed on the fly during a project.

Ready mix: Given that the specification of a ready mix order must be finalised before it’s batched, there isn’t any room for on-the-spot changes or additives.

TIME LIMITATIONS

Volumetric: Unlike ready mix concrete, there is no timeframe within which the concrete must be used after arriving on site.

Ready mix: While ready mix concrete is great when time is of the essence, you will only have a couple of hours to use the concrete once it’s been mixed at the plant.

PROJECT SIZE

Volumetric: Volumetric concrete is ideal for larger projects given the large truck capacity and the ability to scale the mix up even further.

Ready mix: Ready mix concrete is better suited to smaller projects due to the size of the mixers and fixed nature of the mix.

COST

Volumetric: Given that volumetric concrete is very economical, it’s easy to keep costs down.

Ready mix: With ready mix concrete, anything that isn’t used will be returned for disposal, which will almost always incur an additional cost.

BENEFITS OF VOLUMETRIC CONCRETE

• Concrete can be mixed on-site, with no risk of over ordering
• The individual ingredients that make up the concrete mix are stored in separate compartments, allowing the mix to be tailored to on-site requirements or altered due to changing weather conditions
• Only what’s needed is mixed, meaning no waste of materials
• Volumetric mixers can store up to 10m3 – almost double the amount of traditional drum mixers
• No money is wasted, only the amount required is paid for
• Drum mixed concrete has a limited time frame for use between mixing at the plant and arriving at your site – volumetric mixing eradicates this problem

EasyMix Concrete operate a modern fleet of volumetric mixing trucks, meaning we can deliver concrete on-tap anytime, anyplace and of any mix combination, with a prompt and reliable service that’s always on time.

So never over order again – call EasyMix Concrete today for more information.