Starting a volumetric concrete business can help contractors overcome the scheduling challenges associated with concrete pours. If you are a contractor exploring a new revenue stream, volumetric concrete mixers tailor concrete delivery offerings to meet the most stringent requirements. Volumetric technology offers a unique competitive advantage over traditional barrel mixers on jobs where concrete quantities are in question or specialty concrete is needed.
Since volumetric concrete mixers haul unmixed ingredients, time constraints, and the resulting concrete quality degradation are eliminated. You can sell every yard of concrete produced with zero waste. Traffic delays or paving machine breakdowns are no longer friction points with your customers. Fresh concrete is always available at the touch of a button and mix designs can be changed on the fly. This allows you to provide customers with the ultimate flexibility, and quality that helps drive their success.
Introducing Volumetrics
Educating customers is critical to the success of a volumetric concrete business. Many are unfamiliar with volumetric concrete mixers. Perceptions exist that volumetric concrete mixers are best suited for small pours. While these applications allow you to only charge for the concrete used, volumetric concrete mixers provide a wide range of benefits for jobs of all sizes. As contractors become aware of the advantages, the demand will increase.
To maximize the return on your volumetric concrete mixer, focus on contractors who will realize the greatest benefits. These include applications where quality, travel time, and wait time are critical to the project’s success. Volumetric concrete mixers are well suited to fill a wide range of needs from small residential projects to utility jobs to large continuous pours.
A New Revenue Stream
There are many ways to get into the volumetric concrete business. McQuay Concrete & Construction initially purchased a volumetric concrete mixer to improve concrete quality and gain more control over scheduling. The company wanted to stop paying crews to wait until concrete showed up.
McQuay started with one volumetric truck in April 2020 with no plans to expand into outside concrete sales and delivery. This one truck produced 60 yd3 per hour. As the business grew, the quantity fell short of McQuay Constructions’ internal demand, so they added another volumetric concrete truck was added. With two trucks, production capacity doubled to 120 yd3 per hour and added more opportunities.
To help cover truck and driver costs, owner Zach McQuay began selling to a few neighbors who needed concrete. The new business took off from there as word spread quickly and demand increased. McQuay is currently running 12 volumetric concrete mixers. He currently uses 40% of the concrete produced internally while 60% is sold to outside customers.
With the concrete delivery business booming, scheduling became the biggest challenge. Since McQuay owned all the equipment, it was just a matter of rearranging when the construction work was performed.
“I now try to work my schedule around everyone else’s,” said McQuay. “The good thing about owning the trucks, pumps, water trucks, and pneumatic cement powder trailers is we don’t wait on anybody else. If I need to take care of my customers during the day, I will start my pour at eight o’clock at night. Since I own the whole operation, I can start any time I want.”
McQuay tries to play to the strengths of volumetric concrete when targeting customers. This requires educating customers on the benefits of the method.
“Most people thought volumetric concrete mixers were only for small pours like a backyard patio or a sidewalk. I don’t want to sell to everybody’s sidewalk or everybody’s patio,” said McQuay. “I want to chase jobs where volumetric shines. My average pour is 200-plus yd3.”
The ideal jobs are where the concrete is tested. Volumetric concrete mixers excel in applications where temperature, slump, and air are important considerations. McQuay’s current customer list includes the Army Corps of Engineers and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Keeping a volumetric business running requires a good handle on logistics.
“You must delegate drivers and trucks. Every day at my yards in Stillwater and Henrietta, I have drivers hauling rocks and I have drivers hauling sand. We make sure we have enough cement powder for today and for tomorrow. You always try to think ahead and get everyone on a schedule.”
Volumetric concrete mixers offer a cost-effective opportunity to expand into the concrete delivery business. Mixing the ingredients on-site results in high-quality concrete and provides flexibility to change the mix design on the fly to meet customer demands. Once customers discover the benefits of volumetric concrete, including superior quality, unparalleled scheduling flexibility, and variable concrete mix designs, the business will be positioned for continual growth.
