Ready-mix concrete
Concrete manufactured to specification and delivered ready to use.
Ready-mix concrete (RMC) is concrete manufactured in a batch plant according to specific job requirements and delivered to the job site ready to use. It is a mixture of Portland or other cements, water, and aggregates such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone, often with admixtures to improve workability or setting time. Ready-mix concrete is supplied as a single product for construction projects, with two main delivery types: barrel trucks (in-transit mixers) that deliver concrete in a plastic state, and volumetric concrete mixers that deliver dry materials and mix on site. Some sources divide it into three types: Transit Mix, Central Mix, or Shrink Mix concrete.
- number_of_plants_in_US_by_1929
- Over 100
- average_lifespan_under_high_traffic
- 30 years
Lore & Background
Ready-mix concrete is bought and sold by volume, typically in cubic meters or cubic yards, and batching and mixing occur under controlled conditions.
Reader's Guide
Ready-mix concrete is significant for its role in construction projects where on-site mixing is impractical or uneconomical. It allows for precise mix designs, quality control, and reduced human error, with batch plants producing 30–60 metric cubes per hour compared to 4–5 for site mixers. Its use can reduce cement consumption by 10–12% through admixtures and cementitious materials, indirectly lowering environmental pollution. However, concrete has a limited lifespan between batching and curing—30 to 45 minutes in the US, up to two hours in the UK—and requires careful planning for transport and placement. The weight of delivery trucks (up to 32 tonnes) can limit site access, though smaller 'mini mix' trucks address this. Ready-mix concrete is often preferred for large projects like high-rise buildings and bridges due to its long lifespan (30 years under high traffic versus 10–12 years for asphalt).
Did You Know?
- Ready-mix concrete has an average lifespan of 30 years under high traffic areas, compared to 10–12 years for asphalt concrete.
- In the US, ready-mixed concrete should be placed within 30 to 45 minutes of batching, while in the UK up to two hours is allowed.
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