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At iMix Concrete, we are ready mix concrete specialists. We supply ready mix concrete to countless customers across London, Kent, Essex and the rest of the UK.
Ready mix concrete is concrete that has been pre-mixed at a batching plant. Your concrete supplier will mix the concrete following the specific requirements of the project (to achieve the desired concrete volume, strength and grade).
Then, once the concrete has been mixed, it is delivered to the concrete site, ready to be used on the project.
If you’re debating on using ready mix concrete for your upcoming project, keep reading. Below, we have outlined the process that we follow for preparing ready mix concrete, and the benefits of opting for this specialist construction material.
What materials are used in ready mix concrete?
Ready mix concrete is made by precisely combining:
- Cement
- Aggregates (this can either be coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, or a combination of both)
- Water
- Admixtures – while not essential, these chemicals are commonly used. For example, concrete mixers will often add plasticisers, accelerators or retarders, for example.
These elements are carefully measured, and then mixed following a specific ratio.
The ratio will be based on the type of project it is required for, and any specific construction requirements that the client has.
We use the best quality aggregates in our concrete mixes. Above is a delivery of sand to our batching depot in South Ockendon, Essex. This is one of many we have throughout the week – allowing our team to produce up to 400m3 of concrete every day!
What makes ready mix concrete different from other concrete varieties?
- It is pre-mixed at a batching plant
- It is made under carefully controlled conditions
- It is fully customisable, as the expert mixers can adjust the ratio, based on your requirements
- As it is produced in these specialist, carefully controlled conditions, ready mix concrete is extremely high quality and consistent
What is the process of making ready mix concrete at a batching plant?
The typical process for making ready mix concrete at a batching plant is as follows:
Batching
At the batching plant, the concrete’s constituent materials are proportioned into a ratio. This ratio is designed to achieve a concrete strength, type, volume and finish that aligns with all the client’s specifications.
Aggregates selected
Coarse and fine aggregates are selected, and their relative ratio is determined. These are then measured, either by weight or volume.
Cement measured
The cement is measured following the chosen ratio. This is done by either weight or volume.
Water and additives prepared
The water is then measured, in accordance with the ratio. Any additives that are being used are also measured, by either weight or volume.
Mixing
Once all the materials have been prepared, they are added to a mixer. This specialist piece of equipment thoroughly mixes all the materials, ensuring the cement correctly binds with the water and aggregates. Usually, this step takes between 1-3 minutes (depending on the type of concrete being made).
Loading
The concrete is taken to a discharge point in the batching plant, so that the concrete delivery vehicles can be filled with the concrete.
Transporting
The ready mix concrete is transported to the site. These specialist delivery vehicles keep the concrete in the desired state until it reaches the site, where it is ready to be poured.
At iMix Concrete, we are committed to quality control, and achieving products of the highest, most consistent and dependable quality.
As a result, we have a state-of-the-art batching plant, which measures and mixes concrete to an extreme degree of accuracy. This way, we can ensure premium quality concrete across all applications, strengths and usage requirements.
To order your concrete for delivery – if you need ready mix concrete or on-site mixed concrete, contact our team for today’s best prices!
