Truck mounted concrete mixer drum

Types of truck-mounted concrete mixer drums

A truck mounted concrete mixer drum is a construction vehicle responsible for transporting mixed concrete from the batching plant to the construction site, ensuring uniformity. These truck-mounted concrete mixers are usually mounted on a truck chassis and equipped with a rotating drum to mix and transport concrete.

The following are the main types of truck-mounted concrete mixer drums:

• Forward Discharge Concrete Mixers

  Forward-discharge concrete mixer trucks are designed to transport and distribute concrete in the same direction as the driver's forward motion. In forward-discharge mixers, the drum rotation during the transportation of concrete serves to mix the concrete continually, ensuring that it remains homogenous and that the materials do not separate. Once at the destination, the drum's forward rotation is used to gently pour the concrete out in the same direction as the truck is facing. The operator can easily control and place the concrete precisely where needed on the construction site by reversing the truck's direction and adjusting the drum's rotation. Forward-discharge concrete mixer trucks are commonly used in various construction projects, such as residential, commercial, and infrastructure development, where the precise delivery and placement of concrete are required.

• Reverse Discharge Cement Mixers

  Reverse discharge in a concrete mixer truck refers to the way concrete is delivered or poured out during the mixing process. Reverse Discharge Concrete Mixer Trucks have the drum motor aided by an electric or hydraulic drive, and when the drum rotates in the reverse direction, the mixed concrete is discharged. In Reverse Discharge Mixers, the drum is rotated in a reverse manner to discharge the concrete. This rotation also aids in preventing the setting of concrete in the drum after mixing. Reverse discharge cement trucks are often used in large-scale construction projects where high volumes of concrete are needed, such as road construction, bridge building, and industrial facility development.

• Volumetric Concrete Mixers

  Volumetric concrete trucks differ from traditional truck-mounted mixers. They are designed to transport and mix concrete on-site in specified volumes. These trucks have separate compartments for cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures. They also have a fully automated mixing system controlled by a computer. This system allows for the precise measurement, mixing, and delivery of concrete according to the specific requirements of the project. What also sets them apart is that they can produce different types of concrete, including colored or high-strength mixes, and can be easily cleaned and switched to other mix designs. Volumetric concrete trucks offer flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency, making them ideal for projects that require custom concrete solutions. They are also suitable for minimizing waste, as only the required amount of concrete is produced and delivered, reducing the need for excess to be brought back to the plant.

Specifications and maintenance of truck-mounted concrete mixer drums

Specifications

The following table gives some specifications about the truck mixer concrete:

• Drum volume: The volume of an Amazon concrete truck mixerdrum truck generally ranges from 3,000 to 20,000 litres (3m3 to 20m3).
• Drum diameter and length: For the CTM-710 concrete drum, the diameter is 2,000 mm and the length is 5,500 mm. The diameter and length of the drum will vary according to the actual model of the truck mixer.
• Drum speed: The drum of the concrete mixing truck has two rotation speeds: mixing and discharging. The speed during mixing is higher than during discharging. For a truck mixer with a 240 kW engine power, the mixing speed will reach about 8-14 r/min and the discharging speed will reach about 4-8 r/min.
• Power source: Truck mixers can be powered by a variety of sources, including diesel engines, electric motors, pneumatic motors, and others. Generally, truck mixers are powered by diesel engines.

Maintenance

The maintenance of the truck mixer concrete is as follows.

• The oil level should be checked regularly and the lubricating oil should be added to ensure that the oil level is within the standard range. The lubricating oil used should be applicable to the lubricating oil for concrete mixer trucks as well as the machine. Fueling should be done annually or as per the usage.
• The sandblasting and spraying of the whole machine should be carried out once every six months after use, which can prevent the corrosion of the drum by concrete soil and water loss.
• For external hardware, fasteners and seals on the mixing drum, it is important to check their tightness and sealing as well as the wear and tear of the seal to ensure that the sealing is good and there will be no leakage or loosening.
• The repair and maintenance of the truck concrete mixer is mainly to eliminate the friction and wear of parts and the damage of the seal, so it is necessary to replace the lubricating oil and seals, to clean the mixing drum and the lubricating oil applied to the seals and to apply lubricating oil to the seals.
• Truck mixers need to be cleaned out every day they are used. In the case of no concrete being brought, water should at least be added to prevent concrete from solidifying in the drum, making it more difficult to handle and clean up later on.

Uses of truck mounted concrete mixer drums

The truck-mounted concrete mixer has several applications in the construction industry. The primary function of the drum concrete mixer truck is to transport freshly mixed concrete from the batching plant to the construction site. The truck's rotating drum ensures that the concrete remains agitated and prevents it from setting during transit.

The mixing function of the concrete mixer truck also allows for the uniformity of the concrete to be maintained, ensuring that it is of consistent quality when it reaches the construction site. This is especially important for large-scale projects where small variations in concrete strength and workability can have a significant impact on the project's integrity and success.

In addition to transportation and mixing, concrete mixer trucks with separate compartments can also be used to deliver different types of concrete mixes to construction sites. Color-coded mixes, for example, can help construction managers quickly identify and use the right type of concrete for a specific application without any on-site mixing confusion or contamination.

Truck-mounted concrete mixer drums are also used for on-site concrete production, especially in remote areas where access to centralized batching plants may be limited. Mobile mixing trucks can set up at the construction site and produce concrete on-demand, reducing transportation costs and improving construction efficiency.

They are also beneficial for large-scale construction projects such as roads, bridges, dams, residential and commercial buildings, sports facilities, and other infrastructure projects where substantial quantities of concrete are required. The use of concrete mixer trucks helps streamline the construction process, improve productivity, and ensure the timely delivery of high-quality concrete to various construction sites.

How to Choose truck mounted concrete mixer drums

Consider these aspects when selecting a truck-mounted concrete mixer:

• Capacity: When determining the capacity of the cement truck mixer to purchase, the average volume of concrete required for frequent mixing is crucial. The size should balance project demands and transportation constraints.
• Drum Design: Choose a truck mixer with a friction drive drum that rotates on its supporting rollers, a rim-drive drum where the motor is integrated into the rim, or a hybrid model that combines both for improved efficiency and reduced maintenance.
• Material Quality: Quality matters. Mixers with galvanized drums have better corrosion resistance and longer lifespans.
• Power Source: Assess the advantages and disadvantages of electric trucks (lower operating costs but limited range) and diesel trucks (greater flexibility and suitable for remote locations).
• Emissions Standards: Consider the truck's compliance with emissions standards based on its operating environment. For example, a concrete mixer truck in an urban setting must meet Euro 6 emissions standards.
• Payload: Ensure the mixer's payload capacity can accommodate the project's volume without exceeding legal weight limits to prevent fines and ensure safe operation.
• Service Network: Select a truck mixer with an established service network for easy maintenance, spare parts availability, and support.
• Total Cost of Ownership: Consider fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, and expected resale value to assess the mixer truck's overall cost.

Q & A

Q1: How does a truck mounted concrete mixer drum work?

A1: Firstly, the mixer is set up to the right power source. Then, the ingredients of concrete, which are water, agregate, cement, and admixture, are fed into the drum. The drum will start rotating to mix the ingredients together to form a homogenous fluid. After mixing, the drum will rotate in a reverse direction to keep the concrete in place and prevent it from spilling over until it reaches its final destination.

Q2: What are the trends in the concrete mixer truck industry?

A2: The global concrete mixer truck market is expected to grow by USD 899.62 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 5.25% according to a report by technavio.com.

Q3: What is the average lifespan of a concrete mixer truck?

A3: Concrete mixer trucks are usually used for 8 to 10 years.

Q4: What are it’s advantages and disadvantages?

A4: Truck mounted concrete mixer drums provide high-quality concrete production, flexibility and mobility, and efficient transportation and discharge. However, they are typically high-cost equipment; their maintenance cost is also high. They are also limited by the distance they can travel from the batching plant.