Frequently Asked Questions About Concrete Plants

A concrete plant is a machine that makes concrete.

No. A concrete plant is a machine that makes concrete wet like you might have delivered to your home in a truck; or some concrete plants are used by factories that make things out of concrete, like support beams, sign bases, and other stuff.

A concrete plant is loaded with all of the ingredients used to make the exact mixture you're after. The concrete plant then dispenses each material needed in the portions requested by the concrete plant operator. Normally each material is weighed out in a large scale, then fed on a conveyor or dropped into a mixer or truck that will mix the ingredients into wet concrete ready to be used.

No. Most concrete plants weigh each material, but some use the volume of material. Some concrete plants drop materials into a scale until the weight is correct, while another type of concrete plant will dispense material from a scale until the weight is right. Some concrete plants have all the materials stored above the point of discharge and other plants convey materials using conveyors, augers or another method to the point of discharge. There are lots of different types of concrete plants.

The short answer is sand, rock, water and cement. The long answer is it depends on the properties you expect the concrete to have. For example, some concrete needs to be very strong and harden very fast, while other concrete needs to stay soft longer because it needs to be trucked a long way, or maybe the concrete needs to be able to be pumped into a wall or high in the air. Not only does each type of concrete use its own specific type and size of materials, most concrete plant owners have their own specific blend of materials.

Usually with a front end loader. Some people will build a tall ramp to fill their concrete plant directly with the front-end loader and other will use a feed system to feed the concrete plant. Normally if a concrete plant has a feed system they will still have a front end loader filling the feed systems, but some plants use a drive over grizzlies and trucks delivered directly into a pit where the material can be conveyed to the concrete plant automatically without the need for a front end loader.

Ready-mix companies operate a concrete plant exclusively for the purpose of selling their concrete for profit to people and companies that need it. Construction companies buy concrete plants to save money and get better delivery than offered by the companies that sell concrete in their areas. Precast companies buy concrete plants because they use concrete every day and it is cheaper and more efficient to make the concrete they need with a concrete plant than try to do it by hand or buy it from another company.

If you are considering purchasing a concrete plant or starting a business please contact us.

The terms “cement” and “concrete” are commonly used as though they are the same thing, but there's a difference. Cement is an ingredient of concrete, while concrete is mixture of aggregates (usually stones and sand) and a paste made from water and cement. Most concrete mixes contain about 10 to 15% cement.

We often hear people say "cement mixer," which although inaccurate has become a commonplace term for "concrete mixer."

Advanced control systems are standard to modern concrete plants and increase safety from moving parts, falling objects, exposure to harmful materials and more. Safety interlocks and emergency stop features can prevent potentially dangerous accidents in case of operator error or system malfunction.

Yes, concrete plants can produce specialty mixes. Concrete plants offer versatile mixing capabilities and allow for precise control over ingredient proportions to meet specific project requirements.

Some states require concrete plant operator certification. Research the qualifications in your state. Certificate training programs ensure competency in mixing concrete and the ability to operate, maintain, and repair mixing equipment.

JEL Manufacturing manufacturers ready mix, precast, and central mix concrete batch plants. Whether you need high-capacity production or portability, we have a model to fit your project needs. Contact us to find the perfect plant for your needs.

Concrete batch plants feature advanced batching and mixing controls, along with automated monitoring systems to ensure consistent, high-quality concrete every time.

When choosing the right concrete plant, first consider your production needs, project types, and site conditions. Reach out to our team for expert guidance in selecting the perfect plant for your specific requirements.