Choosing the right concrete mixer

A concrete mixer is composed of a motor, a rotating tank, a dump wheel or tipping handle (on the side) that allows the tank to be tilted and a rigid frame. The tank is equipped with fixed helical blades that mix the materials to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The motor can be electric, combustion or, less frequently, hydraulic.

In order to choose the right concrete mixer for your job, you must first determine the volume of concrete you will need. It is important to know that a tank can be filled to a maximum of 80%. When a manufacturer talks about mixing volume, it is therefore 80% of the volume of the tank: don’t confuse these two volumes.

In your selection criteria, you will also have to take into account the concrete mixer’s frequency of use.

• Occasional use (small worksites). If you need a concrete mixer for a single worksite, a 60-liter tank might be sufficient. Favor an electric concrete mixer for this purpose.
• Frequent use (medium worksites). Here, the 120-liter concrete mixer is generally sufficient. Depending on the size of the job, you can increase the volume to 160 or 190 liters.

  If you work on sites where access to electricity is guaranteed

  , favor an electric concrete mixer.
• Regular or intensive use (large worksites, professional worksites). If you need concrete non-stop, every day, you will have to opt for a larger tank, at least 250 liters (to be calculated according to your needs). For this purpose, use a model with a combustion engine to avoid problems related to power supply.