Concrete pumping is the process of pumping concrete in the specific areas where it is required. It is mainly used in construction sites where large and precise structures have to be made. Earlier the work of the concrete pump was done by hand where several workers would have to carry the concrete in large wheelbarrows to the site where the concrete would be mixed and then that mixture would be applied by hand to the desired place. This however led to several wasted work hours in transportation and increased labor costs while at the same time not providing accuracy as any process when done manually has to keep space for human error. The concrete can sometimes be too thick or too thin in certain areas and small or narrow areas are difficult to reach by hand and therefore this use of machines for concrete pumping was introduced.
The use of concrete pumping reduces labor effort and cost as the concrete can be moved and mixed inside the pump and the machine itself dispenses the concrete in the required area with the help of a robotic arm.
The Several Advantages Of Using A Concrete Pumping Machines Are Listed As Below:
- The amount of concrete placed per hour is significantly higher than when done manually. According to the type and capacity of machine used the amount of pumping that can be done is much higher than when the same is done by laborers
- There is constant pumping of concrete from the machine. As soon as the concrete pump receives the mixture it can provide a continuous flow in the areas desired therefore further reducing the time that will be required to complete the job.
- The crane that is generally used for the transportation of concrete buckets to labors working on high rise buildings can be utilized for other important purposes such as lifting of steel etc.
- The concrete will be placed evenly and right where it is required. Different type of concrete pumps come with different attachments so that the hose can be placed exactly where they need to deploy the mixture
- There is less requirement of labor as the number of people needed to operate the machine is lower than when the entire process of mixing, transporting and applying have to done manually therefore leading to reduced cost
- The machine can arrive and pump several floors of concrete in just a matter of a few hours which may require laborers several days. The setup of the machine can also be done quite fast and easily
There are different types of concrete pumping machines which are used for different purposes. Some of these types are listed below:
- Mobile pump: The mobile pump is a combination of a concrete pump and a specialized hose called a boom which may vary in its range of distance. Such a pump can easily reach construction sites wherever they are and start pumping within hours at a high volume resulting in fast work and lower costs
- Stationary pumps: The static or stationary pump requires a series of pipes to be attached to the machine which will take the concrete to where it is required. The advantage of using this kind is that the pipes can extend to whatever distance possible and therefore the machine can be kilometers away from the actual site providing a much larger range than a mobile pump.
- Truck mixer concrete pump: All other types of pumps require the supply of concrete by another mixer machine which form the concrete mixer but this hybrid provides the function of both the mixer as well as the pump
Concrete pumping is a very efficient way to get work done faster and with reduced cost. Such pumps are generally used by construction companies but they may also be hired from contractors who may complete small projects.