Get FinancingWhat To Look For In A Concrete Pump
Concrete pumps are all about efficiently moving liquid concrete to the site where you need to pour it, greatly reducing the man-hours necessary to create concrete structures on a jobsite. Selecting the right concrete pump for a particular site depends on the site layout and how you’ll be pumping the concrete. For example, many truck-mounted concrete pumps feature booms that unfold and can vertically deliver concrete inside buildings. Line pump models, on other hand, are a better fit for feeding concrete into a pipeline. Keep the following tips in mind when looking for a new or used concrete pump.
Mobility
Jobs where timely delivery and maneuverability are critical sometimes call for a truck-mounted or towable concrete pump (mounted to a trailer) that you can easily move around the jobsite and quickly push the liquid concrete precisely where you need it. Track-mounted pumps are often chosen for civil projects and bored pile construction where the concrete pump is more likely to encounter rough terrain and steep grades.
Truck-mounted concrete pumps with built-in booms are ideal for vertically pumping concrete and are faster and safer than using a crane-hoisted bucket. EVERDIGM’s ECP70CS-6, for instance, features a six-section RZ-folding boom with a maximum vertical reach of 226 feet (69 meters). The folding boom can be configured for a wide working range, from extending straight across to pour concrete in hard-to-reach locations and vertical pumping for tall buildings. If the construction project is larger in scale and will require a concrete pump for a long duration of time, a stationary concrete pump that feeds concrete into booms or pipelines that are run to the concrete pump might be in order.
Power
Concrete pumps are available in a wide range of output pressures to match the required output of the project. Large-scale construction projects, for example, often call for extremely powerful concrete pumps that offer pressures above 3,000 psi (207 bar). Stationary concrete pumps, sometimes referred to as “line pumps,” generally offer the highest pumping power, although truck-mounted, track-mounted, and towable concrete pumps are also available in powerful configurations. The Putzmeister City Pump CP 2110 HP, for example, is a truck-mounted line pump with an output volume of 139 cubic yards per hour (106 cubic meters per hour) and an output pressure of 3,191 psi (220 bar). Less-powerful concrete pumps are also available for medium-sized and small jobsites. Multiquip’s C30HDGA is a towable grout and concrete pump that delivers up to 25 cubic yards (19 cubic meters) per hour and is powered by a 45-horsepower (33.5-kilowatt) fuel-injected Zenith gas engine.
Features
Truck-mounted concrete pumps with booms often feature built-in storage for pipe systems, booms, and other accessories. Many concrete pumps feature advanced hydraulic systems to precisely control pumping rates and avoid surges of concrete to the site. Hydraulics are also used on concrete boom trucks to set outriggers, similar to what you find on a crane, to stabilize the truck as the boom extends. Advancements in transfer tube design have improved how well a concrete pump can support different types of materials and deliver a uniform concrete flow.
Used Concrete Pump Considerations
Concrete pumps are typically built with robust, hard-wearing chassis, but because they are subjected to tough wear-and-tear, it’s a good idea to inspect a used pump’s structural components before purchasing. Key issues to look for include cracks, component deformation, and worn or loose connections. It’s also wise to ask for proper inspection documentation to check if the machine and parts where checked at regular intervals. Most important of all, work with a reputable seller that will provide you with as much information as you need to make a well-informed decision.
Time To Buy
Visit PavingEquipment.com for a wide range of new and used concrete pumps for sale every day. You’ll find pumps from popular brands like Putzmeister, Schwing, EVERDIGM, and Liebherr, just to name a few.