How Ready-Mix Concrete Is Made

View an interactive animation of the ready-mix concrete production process to learn how ready-mix concrete is made by CEMEX

Raw material used to produce concrete

Aggregates

Aggregates, which make up roughly 60% to 75% of ready-mix concrete’s volume, are obtained from quarries and aggregate banks.

Additives

Additives are solid or liquid chemical substances that can be added to ready-mix concrete before or during preparation. Most commonly used additives either improve a hardened concrete’s durability or reduce a concrete’s water content in an effort to shorten setting times.

Water

This is the mix’s vital fluid, which sets of a chemical reaction when it comes into contact with the cement.

Cement

No other material rivals cement’s importance in the mix; it’s the ingredient that gives concrete its resistance. Although types II and IV are also employed, the most widely used cements are gray Portland type I and Pozzolana Portland type C-2.

Concrete mixing

During the mixing phase the different components come together to produce a uniform mass of concrete. Mixing time is registered from the moment material and water are poured into the cement mixer, and it begins rotating.

While transporting concrete to a site, the cement mixer never stops revolving at a speed of two to six rotations per minute.

Transport

While transporting concrete to a site, the cement mixer never stops revolving at a speed of two to six rotations a minute.