Benefits of using concrete pumping machines and their future in construction

In an industry as dynamic as construction, you need to have the best equipment in your arsenal. A concrete pumping machine is one of the best pieces of machinery you can choose for your construction site. The innovative design of the machine allows for high productivity levels in short periods of time, allowing you and your team to keep even large-scale projects on schedule.

Concrete pumping machines are the most efficient option for mixing and pouring concrete. Here's why.

What are the different ways of pouring concrete on a construction site?

Currently, there are three main methods for pouring concrete: direct pouring, concrete carts and pumping. Here is a brief description of each:

• Direct dischargePouring concrete directly at the filling site using a ramp or tailgate. This method works best when there is enough space to park the truck right next to the filling site.
• Concrete trolleysPouring trucks: These are vehicles that transport small loads of concrete from the truck to the pour site. Unlike pouring trucks or pumping machines, they must be towed to the site. They are useful when you have limited space available.
• Concrete pumping machinesConcrete pumping machines come in two forms: boom pumps and line pumps. Both are useful in confined areas. They use hydraulic pressure to draw liquid concrete from the tank and pump through the hose.

What is the difference between the types of pumping machines?

While both types of concrete pumping machines are powerful at pouring, they have different strengths. We recommend that contractors own one of each type to prepare for any situation.

BOOM PUMPS

Boom pumps use flexible arms called booms to extend up to 57 metres into the air. They can be positioned anywhere on a construction site, even on top of a building, and fold up when not in use. As a result, they are easy to transport.

A common use of boom pumps is in skyscraper construction. Before pumps were available, workers transported buckets of concrete to their working level, a time-consuming and labour-intensive process. Concrete boom pumps reduce that time by depositing concrete directly on the working level.

LINE PUMPS

Line pumps are mounted on a trailer or truck. This type of pump connects directly to your hose and allows greater flexibility and control on ground level projects than boom pumps.

Because they have a lower truck capacity than boom pumps, they are better for smaller, more precise projects, such as residential concrete driveways or driveway repairs. They are also ideal for projects that require primarily horizontal pumping.

Benefits of a concrete pumping machine

Here are the top five benefits of using a concrete pumping machine on your construction site.

1. PUMPS OFFER MORE EFFICIENT CONCRETE POURINGSpeed is one of the most significant advantages of pumps over other concrete pouring methods. Because the piston system works to send a steady flow of concrete through the hose, pouring concrete with a concrete pumping machine takes less time and manpower than transport methods such as wheelbarrows or concrete carts. Under optimal conditions, the entire pouring process can take as little as an hour from start to finish.

   The precision of the pumps also saves time. Both boom and line pumps are more accurate at pouring than traditional methods because their flexible extensions allow you to place concrete exactly where you need it. With fewer errors, you can produce a cleaner, faster job and spend less time correcting mistakes.

   In addition, by integrating the mixer truck with the pumping system, concrete pumping machines save you the time you would have spent waiting for the next batches of concrete to be ready.

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2. PUMPED CONCRETE IS STRONGERTo pour concrete across a ramp, you need wetter concrete. The extra water can compromise the strength of the concrete, leading to cracks and shrinkage later on. Ultimately, this means that your final product will not be able to withstand as much pressure as it could if you had used drier concrete.
   Pumped concrete contains less water than ramp-poured concrete. As a result, it can withstand higher amounts of force than ramp-poured concrete and is less susceptible to cracking. Your projects will last longer and require fewer repairs than if you had used a more traditional mixer to ramp method.
3. YOU CAN USE A PUMPING MACHINE IN ANY LOCATIONConcrete pumping machines can easily adapt to any space, whether on the ground or in the air. Boom pumps in particular are ideal for hard-to-reach areas because they can extend over large structures such as homes and landscaping.

   Concrete pumping machines are also easily transportable because they are compact when not in use. The pumps fold into one of three configurations:

   • Rolling and foldingThe pump sections are folded one below the next in a curling motion. This configuration requires more space as it needs room to unfold.
   • Z and ZZThe pump sections fold in a zigzag formation like the bellows of an accordion. This configuration is perfect for fitting into tight spaces.
   • RZ or multifunctionThe pump has sections that combine both the roll-and-fold and Z-type configurations.

   With any configuration, you can move the pump wherever you need to pour.

4. PUMPS WILL KEEP YOUR PROJECTS MOVINGConcrete pump installation is quick and easy, requiring fewer employees and less equipment than other methods. After all, you need people to build a ramp before you can start pouring. You only need two people to operate a pump, one to watch the hose and one to operate the controls. And once they are ready, concrete pumps have a high hourly capacity.

   Concrete pumps are also safe to use even in adverse weather or low light conditions. You can complete tasks on days when you would previously have had to take a break. The durability and steady flow of a pump means you'll experience fewer construction delays and less downtime. The pressure pour process is much faster than ramp delivery, which relies on gravity to push concrete down into the pour site. As a result, you'll have more time to concentrate on other aspects of your project.

5. YOUR CONSTRUCTION SITE WILL BE SAFERBecause the pumps can spread over large areas, you can keep trucks and other large equipment out of reach of dangerous obstructions. Simply park the truck, extend the hose where you need the concrete to go and start pouring. The piston-operated system will take care of the rest until your space is full.

   Concrete pumping machines also require fewer people to operate, which reduces site congestion and improves safety and labour efficiency.

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The future of concrete pumping machine design

The construction industry is a dynamic sector that relies on innovation and efficiency to maintain its forward momentum. Every project seeks to create robust structures while investing as little time, resources and funds as possible. In this context, the equipment used must be modern and optimised for the specific tasks required on site.

Historically, pouring concrete was a laborious and time-consuming process. Before the invention of mechanised concrete pumping machines, workers had to transport wet concrete in wheelbarrows and buckets, a process that became even more complicated as structures grew in height. It was in 1927 that two German engineers, Max Giese and Fritz Hull, patented the idea of pumping liquid concrete through pipes, revolutionising the construction industry.

Concrete pumping machines represent a significant advance in the efficiency of concrete pouring, drastically reducing the time spent on transport and thereby accelerating the progress of projects. Since then, the technology has continued to advance and diversify to meet the demands of increasingly large, complex and varied projects.

Today, there are two main types of concrete pumping machine designs: boom pumps and line pumps. Boom pumps are equipped with extendable robotic arms that allow concrete to be accurately placed at elevated pour sites, making them the ideal choice for large-scale projects. On the other hand, line pumps, mounted on trucks, are more suitable for smaller projects due to their size and ability to work at lower volumes.

Although the basic design of concrete pumping machines remains the twin-cylinder design developed in 1957, the technology has undergone numerous upgrades in recent years. These innovations focus on improving the speed, efficiency and ease of use of concrete pumping machines, enabling contractors to complete their projects faster, safer and more cost-effectively.

In the modern world, where cities are growing at a rapid pace and the demand for construction is constant, reliance on state-of-the-art technology is essential. Companies like Manmachine, specialists in high pressure concrete pumping platforms, are at the forefront of innovative concrete pumping machine design. Their machines feature advanced hydraulics, operator-friendly controls and state-of-the-art technology for efficient pumping and cleaning.

The future of concrete pumping machine design is exciting and promising. With the continued advancement of technology and the industry's commitment to innovation, we can expect concrete pumping machines to continue to play a crucial role in building strong and durable structures in the future.